Small Digger
The Small Digger is an inexpensive vehicle used by the Rock Raiders for mining. It is a four-wheeled motorized vehicle equipped with two chainsaw blades for cutting rock at a moderate speed. It also has a Cargo Hold for hauling the minerals it excavates. Although the vehicle was not featured in its own set, it does appear in the set 4980 Tunnel Transport, where it can be carried by the titular Tunnel Transport with a magnetic connection.
In the Windows game
In the Windows version of LEGO Rock Raiders, the Small Digger is classified as a small vehicle, and requires only one Energy Crystal for power. A Rock Raider must be trained as a driver to use a Small Digger.
The Small Digger can drill through all types of drillable rock at a faster speed than a Rock Raider, though nowhere near as quickly as the Chrome Crusher can. Without upgrades, it takes 2 seconds to drill Dirt, 4 seconds to drill Loose Rock, 180 seconds (3 minutes) to drill Hard Rock, and 32 seconds to drill Seams. It moves at a decent speed of 2.0 blocks per second. Players will most likely use a Small Digger early on in most longer levels, and may even keep it through the entire level if there isn't much Hard Rock.
Despite the vehicle having a cargo hold, it can't carry anything in-game.
Appearances
- In 7. Drilling With Vehicles, a Small Digger is behind the first wall the player must drill, to demonstrate how it can drill faster than a Rock Raider.
- In Explosive Action, a Small Digger is trapped in an exposed cavern next to, but inaccessible from, the cavern containing the Tool Store. The objective of this level is for the player to use dynamite to blast through Hard Rock to reach the vehicle, and drive it back to Rock Raiders HQ.
- In Water Lot Of Fun, a Small Digger can be found in the winding cavern hidden on the other side of the river, near the destroyed Rock Raiders HQ.
- In Run The Gauntlet, a Small Digger can be found in the second hidden cavern, along with a Small Transport Truck. The player can use the Small Digger to move the Rock Raiders quickly through the tunnels without having to exit to drill walls. There is a second Small Digger in the penultimate cavern, which serves little purpose as only one rock remains to be drilled.
Upgrades
There are three upgrades available for the Small Digger:
- Drill: Costs 10 pieces of Ore
This adds a third chainsaw to the vehicle. It now only takes 1 second to drill Dirt, 2 seconds to drill Loose Rock, 150 seconds (2.5 minutes) to drill Hard Rock, and 16 seconds to drill Seams. - Engine: Costs 10 pieces of Ore
Adds a third pair of wheels to the vehicle, doubling the vehicle's route speed from 2 blocks per second to 4 blocks per second. - Scanner: Costs 5 pieces of Ore
Installs a radar aboard the vehicle, with a scanning radius of 4 blocks.
Dependency
The Small Digger costs 1 Energy Crystal and requires the following for teleportation:
- Rock Raider
- Tool Store [UP1]
- Teleport Pad [UP1]
- Power Station [UP1]
- Support Station
In the PlayStation game
The Small Digger is a very common vehicle in the PlayStation version of LEGO Rock Raiders, though it does not appear in any of the later, more challenging levels of the NTSC-U/C version. It can usually be found near the start of any levels that it's in, and can't ever be teleported down. Unlike in the Windows game, it can't drill through Hard Rock, essentially making it a faster Rock Raider with an extra health bar. The advantage to this, unlike with other mining vehicles, is that the player can afford to lose it without causing the mission to instantly be marked incomplete.
