The backbone of any power miner's operation, the Thunder Driller is usually used to drill new tunnels before any other Power Miner mining machine arrives. Its diamond coated titanium cast counter-rotating drill can drill through any rock it encounters. The loud noise produced when the drill is in operation is often said to be as loud as thunder, hence its name.

Set Name: Thunder Driller
Set Number: 8960
Year Released: 2009
Number of parts: 235
Theme: Power Miners
Price: RM 180.00

More info
Brickset: http://www.brickset.com/detail/?Page=2&Set=8960-1
Peeron: http://www.peeron.com/inv/sets/8960-1?withpics=yes
My photobucket: http://s3.photobucket.com/albums/y100/paanjang16/Lego%20Thunder%20Driller%208960/?start=0

The box

The front of the box shows the thunder driller in action. A power miner appears to be running away after taking the crystal from a rock monster. The drill shown is larger than the actual thing


The back of the box shows the key feature of the drill as well as an alternate build


The top of the box showing the minifigures included in this set. As proof that Lego oversizes its sets, the rock monster is smaller than illustrated on the left.


The instruction manual

The front of the manual is the same as the box.


A random instruction page showing the connection of technic rod to the drill piece. Finger to hold the drill piece not included in this set.


Parts list at the back of the manual


List showing which set has which rock monster. The thunder driller is the only set with Firox it seems.


Another page showing the alternate models you can build. Unfortunately you need another power miner set to do it.


Minifigures

The minifigures have printed torsos both front and rear, printed legs and helmets with aviator goggles. The power miner Doc is on left with the star on his torso while Duke is the one with the power miner icon. Both minifigures have another printed face at the rear. Lastly, the rock monster with its transparent orange body and printed sinister angry eyes.



Parts

Power miners introduced some new parts such as the large 8x8 wheels and 8x8 cones with spurs, the drill bit and many other lime green parts. There are no printed pieces as most use stickers. The lime green panel fairing, wedge, slope brick 8x8 and the black 2x2 plate are covered by stickers, which is a shame really since this set could be the best selling power miners set produced by Lego. Note the new red hot dynamite piece!


Leftover parts

Below are the leftover parts left. Lots of 1x1 plates or technic pins.


Key feature

The key feature of this set is the thunder driller which consists of a planetary gear system. A planetary gear consists of a sun gear at the center, planet gear in the middle and a ring gear on the outside. The arrangement is that when the sun gear spins, it will turn the planet gear. There are 2 planet gear on the planet carrier (the grey 5 hole technic beam). The planet carrier remains still and hence the gear will turn the ring gear (the large 8x8 technic wheel with internal gears).


The finish set

The finish set with all the minifigures. The thunder driller is large and imposing with its large drill.


If you are a rock monster, the sight of a large monster with a HUGE rotating nose will make you run! Imagine the large headlights shining/looking at you! Between the 2 front wheels you can see the gearing to transfer the wheel movement into the engine compartment.


Looking front the side, there are 2 exhaust pipes coming out from the engine compartment as well as the panels to protect the front wheels. The vehicle seem to have the "torpedo" look on it.


The cockpit for the thunder driller have a 2x2 monitor, 2 control sticks and a flame coming out like a furnace on a steam locomotive. Careful not to go to close or you might get cooked! The cockpit is quite open with only a ladder-like cover above their heads. 



On top of the engine compartment are 2 large headlights and engine details. The long 6x1 dark grey detail between the head lights is a sticker. A chain is provided to lift the engine cover I think.


Inside the thunder driller's engine compartment is another set of gears to transfer the motion from the wheels to the drill itself. The interior is surprisingly empty with no engine or machine or any sort.


Conclusion

The power miners got off to an amazing start with some of the best vehicles ever designed by Lego. Among them is the thunder driller with its signature counter rotating drill makes one of the best introductory sets to the Power miner's theme. A must have for anyone wanting to start collecting power miners!

Design: 10/10 Very rarely a toy mimics its real life counterparts and look so good
Playability: 9/10 No matter where it goes, this set will drill. The engine compartment can have some parts though
Minifigures: 9/10 Two miners to drive and guide the machine plus a rock monster to cause trouble
Overall: 10/10 Another gem from Lego. Just getting it for the planetary drill is worth it!

Extras!!

Doc: Duke, I thought you said it ran out of fuel! how come it is still running?
Duke: Oh, I had a little deal with the rock monster of ours.
Doc:  ..... What kind of deal? I don't suppose he brought us some oil?


Duke: Nah, have a look into the engine compartment. 
Doc: 
Duke: He is willing to "power" our machine provided he gets to keep some of the crystal we find.  Now I now why we have this huge hollow engine compartment!


Thank you for reading!

Ah crap, this set is in my wishlist too, coz of the rock monster.

Nice review btw. 

It may be slightly more expensive due to the number of unique pieces in this set like the drill, wheels, dynamite and rock monster.

The color to me is ok. Lime green is a very uncommon color in Lego but it is now used extensively in Power Miners theme.

Ever wonder why all the power miner's vehicles are lime green? Turns out our eyes are sensitive to colors such as lime green in low light conditions compared to red or some other darker colors. That is why some fire engines used this color instead of the usual red color.

Good review with very detailed info and photos!