When I was out looking for my next LEGO set, this was not my first choice. The Monkie Kid Demon Bull King set was on sale with a 40% discount, but I could not find it anywhere. But, what I did find everywhere are Monster Trucks. Good job to whoever is licencing out Monster Jam. We don’t have that show here but the toys are all over the toy’s stores.

The LEGO Technic Monster Jam Grave Digger has a price tag of RM89 and builds one of the most iconic monster trucks in the roster. I don’t know when it happened but Grave Digger replaced Big Foot as the face of monster trucks in the last few decades.

This is also a 2-in-1 set and its alternative build, the off-road buggy is only available LEGO’s digital build instructions. I think this is a nice touch, cutting down on paper usage.

My experience of putting all 212 pieces together to make Grave Digger was tainted by the Instructions app. I had it loaded up on my iPad and since there is an option for 3D build instructions, I tried that.

And that was a mistake.

I appreciate the 3D view. The ability to rotate the parts around to see how exactly they fit is especially useful on a Technic set.

However, the whole thing needs polish. Instead of animating the instruction that some components have to be built twice, just put a notation and animate how pieces fits together. Instead of displaying the pieces needed in full screen, show a list of parts and figure out a way to show some important parts, like those Technic rods at a 1:1 scale, to avoid confusion. And fix the way sticker instructions is presented, there has got to be a better way.

I switched to the traditional instructions half way through the process after noticing that I had done so many mistakes.

The end result made up for all that frustration. The completed set looks really good. That lime green on black looks excellent. Considering the price, scale, and the fact that this is a LEGO model, I ended up liking the set more than I thought I would.

When compared side by side next to a photo of the Grave Digger, the LEGO version of the truck looks more basic. Take a way the stickers and it would just be a generic truck. I think that’s because it lacks the curves of the 1950 Chevrolet Panel Van that the Grave Digger’s body is based on.  

For me the pullback gimmick is negligible. Still, I understand it is makes up the bulk that makes the back of the model looks solid and more than just a Technic skeleton of a truck. Perhaps LEGO could make a larger version with suspension, differentials, and even steering next.

In the end, the LEGO Technic Monster Jam Grave Digger is worth the price tag and I am very satisfied with the end result.