View source for Granite Grinder

[[File:RR manual Granite Grinder.png|thumb|Art of the Granite Grinder from the ''LEGO Rock Raiders'' video game]]
The '''Granite Grinder''' is a fictional mining vehicle in the [[LEGO Rock Raiders]] theme. 
It is depicted as a large but speedy walker vehicle with a powerful drill, and is the only vehicle in the theme with legs. The Granite Grinder was released as its own LEGO construction set in the summer of 1999. It appears in LEGO Rock Raiders books and comics and can be used in the theme's [[LEGO Rock Raiders (video game)|tie-in computer game]].

== Design and origin ==
The Granite Grinder is a two-legged walker vehicle. Its pivoting legs consist of two large feet connected to each other and the vehicle body by [[Technic]] liftarm pieces. Attached to its front is a chrome-coloured Rock Raiders drill, exclusive to it and the [[Chrome Crusher]].<ref name="BL drill"/> Its body largely consists of a large [[Wikipedia:Cockpit|cockpit]] and brown [[Wikipedia:Roll cage|roll cage]], which are also used by other large Rock Raiders vehicles.<ref name="BL cage"/> On its back are two dark turquoise wheels meant to represent [[Wikipedia:Turbine|turbines]].<ref name="HADU building"/> The rear end is topped by a large Rock Raiders arch piece<ref name="BL arch"/> that widens the vehicle's profile.<ref name="4940 manual"/><ref name="4940 inventory"/> It seats one [[minifigure]], and has two clips on each of its feet at minifigure height for holding tools.<ref name="Slugger"/>

The Granite Grinder was designed by Jens Kronvold Frederiksen at [[LEGO Futura]].<ref name="Frederiksen AMA"/>
The pivoting technic liftarm leg design was previously used in the 1997 Roboforce sets Robo Raider (2151, designed by Henrik Rubin Saaby)<ref name="BL Henrik"/> and Robo Raptor (2152);<ref name="Slugger"/> prior to Roboforce, brick-build walker legs had been used in LEGOLAND Space sets going back to the 1985 set Xenon 2 Walking Machine (6882).<ref name="c85uk"/> Two earlier prototypes of the Granite Grinder are shown in ''[[The Ultimate LEGO Book]]''. One photograph shows an early prototype featuring a design with a blockier build, smaller legs, a narrow roll cage, and tubes on either side like the [[Chrome Crusher]] has; an early Rock Raiders [[minifigure]] is also shown with it. A later Granite Grinder design with two drills and legs closer to the final version's can also be seen on a table in another photograph. Two earlier versions of the Rock Raiders drill used by the Granite Grinder and Chrome Crusher are also shown in the book. The drill piece was originally much smaller and had a regular plastic appearance to it. Later, it was made larger and given a chrome look, but had a sharper point and a [[Technic]] pin on its rear end: the final version replaces the sharp point with a LEGO stud, and the pin with a hole for a pin to be inserted into.<ref name="Ultimate Design"/> Two other prototypes are known and will be added later. While the final model uses only one drill, the upgraded version in the video game uses two, positioned on each side of the front, similar to some prototype designs.

<gallery widths="180px">
File:ULB 4940 Granite Grinder Prototype.jpg|Early prototype model
File:ULB 2x3 Slope & Prototype Sets (Granite Grinder).jpg|Later prototype model
</gallery>

== Set information ==
The Granite Grinder was released as LEGO set #4940 '''The Granite Grinder''' in 1999.<ref name="c99uk"/> It was advertised as containing 108 pieces and includes a minifigure of [[Axle]]<ref name="SAH"/> and three tools. It is the only main Rock Raiders set to not contain a power crystal.<ref name="Slugger"/> It was released in the United States as '''Granite Grinder''' on 1 July 1999 with a retail price of $16.50 and a recommended age range of 7–12.<ref name="c99am"/><ref name="SAH"/> In the United Kingdom it was released in August 1999.<ref name="c99uk"/> In Russia it released in September 1999.<ref name="c99ru"/>

== Depiction ==
In the story of the LEGO Rock Raiders theme, the Granite Grinder is one of the mining vehicles used by the spacefaring Rock Raiders to drill for [[power crystal]]s. It is referred to as the "big brother" of the [[Small Digger]].<ref name="PC manual p79"/> Its robotic pivoting feet can traverse rocky debris and rough terrain safely and with ease.<ref name="HADU building"/><ref name="PC manual p79"/> The vehicle is powered by its two turbines.<ref name="HADU building"/> It can be turbo boosted to run faster, and in one instance is shown using this ability to leap across a small river (though it sustains damage from doing this).<ref name="HADU ch3"/> Its large chrome drill can quickly cut through hard rock and large boulders.<ref name="Mania Sep99"/> While the physical model has no storage capabilities besides its tool clips, one book describes it as having some kind of space in its back that can carry small objects,<ref name="Race 20"/> and another states that it has an emergency grappling line.<ref name="HADU ch3"/>

[[File:HADU Granite Grinder jumping.jpg|thumb|The Granite Grinder jumping over a river]]
In chapter 3 of ''[[Rock Raiders: High Adventure Deep Underground]]'', [[Bandit]] and [[Jet]] take two Granite Grinders on an expedition underground to find [[Docs]], who has gone missing. The Granite Grinders are stated to be slower than Hover Scouts, but offer more protection and can drill new routes while searching. After finding some [[power crystal]]s, the two Granite Grinders are attacked by a [[lava monster]] and an [[ice monster]], which they escape from with a "turbo boost". Upon finding Docs on the other side of an underground river, Jet runs her Granite Grinder towards the river at full power and leaps over it into a group of lava monsters. Jet's Granite Grinder is damaged from the jump, so she takes its emergency grappling line out and uses it to carry herself and Docs back across the river while the lava monsters salvage the power crystals from the wrecked vehicle.<ref name="HADU ch3"/> A Granite Grinder driven by [[Sparks]] is also seen mining in chapter 2 and on the book's front cover,<ref name="HADU 15"/> although Sparks is shown remaining on the [[LMS Explorer|LMS ''Explorer'']] for the entire book.<ref name="HADU 6"/> At the back of the book is a collection of LEGO models resembling some of the LEGO Rock Raiders sets but constructed out of different pieces, shown to give inspiration to readers who do not own the sets but want to build the Rock Raiders models out of the LEGO pieces they have. The Granite Grinder model shown uses several [[Insectoids]] elements, including the theme's electric stinger as the vehicle's drill and two transparent neon green domes as its turbines.<ref name="HADU building"/>

In ''[[Race for Survival]]'', Sparks drives a Granite Grinder into the winding tunnels under a mountain in Quadrant 14 to find [[Axle]], who is trapped behind a rockfall two miles underground. Axle hears the Granite Grinder's engines and communicates through the boulder pile with [[Wikipedia:Morse code|Morse code]].<ref name="Race 14"/> Sparks and Jet (who had followed him on a [[Hover Scout]]) use a blue 1×12 LEGO plate that the Granite Grinder had been carrying in its back to (unsuccessfully) try to clear the boulders.<ref name="Race 20"/> After later rescuing Axle, Sparks drives the Granite Grinder at its top speed back to the surface while outrunning an impending volcanic eruption.<ref name="Race 40"/>

== Game information ==
[[File:Granite Grinder drilling Crystal Seam (lava).png|thumb|The Granite Grinder drilling in-game]]
In the Windows version of [[LEGO Rock Raiders (video game)|''LEGO Rock Raiders'']], the Granite Grinder is classified as a Large Vehicle.<ref name="CFG WalkerDigger"/> It costs three [[Energy Crystal]]s to teleport down one Granite Grinder.<ref name="PC manual p79"/> It teleports down at the [[Super Teleport]].<ref name="PC manual p70"/> Rock Raiders must be trained as drivers to use it.<ref name="PC manual p79"/> Like other large vehicles in the game, its roll cage is opaque and its driver is hidden inside it.<ref name="CFG WalkerDigger"/>

The Granite Grinder can travel across land and moves at a speed of 0.5 blocks per second.<ref name="CFG WalkerDigger"/> This speed is equal to that of the [[Loader Dozer]] and [[Small Mobile Laser Cutter]] and faster than only the [[Chrome Crusher]] and [[Large Mobile Laser Cutter]]. It can [[Wikipedia:Strafing (video games)|strafe]] (move to the side rather than turning)<ref name="CFG WalkerDigger"/> by pressing {{Key|Z}} or {{Key|X}}, an ability shared only with the [[Rock Raider]], [[Hover Scout]], and [[Tunnel Scout]]. It takes the Granite Grinder 0.8 seconds to drill Dirt, 2 seconds to drill Loose Rock, 180 seconds (3 minutes) to drill Hard Rock, and 4 seconds to drill Seams.<ref name="CFG WalkerDigger"/> While its speeds for drilling most rock types are between those of the Small Digger and Chrome Crusher, its Hard Rock drill time is identical to that of the Small Digger, and far slower than the Chrome Crusher's 1 second.

The Granite Grinder has the following dependency:<ref name="PC manual p79"/><ref name="CFG Dependencies"/>
* [[Rock Raider]]
* [[Tool Store]] (Level 1)
* [[Teleport Pad]] (Level 1)
* [[Power Station]] (Level 1)
* [[Support Station]] (Level 2)
* [[Super Teleport]]

[[File:RR manual Granite Grinder upgraded.png|thumb|Art of the Granite Grinder with Engine and Drill upgrades]]
The Granite Grinder has the following upgrades:<ref name="PC manual p79"/>
* '''Engine:''' Costs 20 pieces of [[Ore]] (4 [[Building Stud]]s). This upgrade increases the vehicle's speed to 0.8 blocks per second, a 60% increase.<ref name="CFG WalkerDigger"/> Two extra turbines are attached to the bottoms of the arch piece.
* '''Drill:''' Costs 20 pieces of Ore (4 Building Studs). This upgrade increases the vehicle's drilling speed to 0.4 seconds for Dirt, 1 second for Loose Rock, 150 seconds (2.5 minutes) for Hard Rock, and 2 seconds for Seams.<ref name="CFG WalkerDigger"/> This doubles the speed for most rock types, but is only a 16.67% increase for Hard Rock. The vehicle's chrome drill is removed and replaced by two drills positioned on each side of the original, held in place by two 2×10 plates (the top plate appears to clip through the cockpit piece).
* '''Scanner:''' Costs 5 pieces of Ore (1 Building Stud). This upgrade gives the vehicle a scanning radius of 5 blocks.<ref name="CFG WalkerDigger"/> A large scanner, identical to the one that the Chrome Crusher has, is attached to the top of the vehicle.

Internally, the Granite Grinder is uniquely made of two objects: <code>WalkerLegs</code> and <code>WalkerBody</code>.<ref name="CFG VehicleTypes"/> <code>WalkerLegs</code> serves as the main object, with <code>WalkerBody</code> and all upgrades mounted to it.<ref name="WalkerLegs AE"/><ref name="WalkerBody AE"/>

The Granite Grinder does not appear in the PlayStation version of [[LEGO Rock Raiders (PlayStation video game)|''LEGO Rock Raiders'']].

== Legacy ==
The 1999 visual encyclopedia ''[[The Ultimate LEGO Book]]'' prominently features the Granite Grinder in its entry on how the LEGO Rock Raiders theme was developed. The section contains a photograph of a prototype model of the vehicle, and a later Granite Grinder design can also be seen in a different photograph. Two earlier versions of the Rock Raiders drill used by the Granite Grinder and Chrome Crusher are also shown, detailing the piece's evolution.<ref name="Ultimate Design"/> The Granite Grinder is also one of the LEGO models featured on the front cover of the book.

The 2023 LEGO Creator set Cozy House (31139) features a miniature Granite Grinder model. Designed by Marin Stipkovic and released on 1 March, the set contains a number of "micro builds"; seven of these represent toys of the set's child minifigure and are based on previously-released LEGO sets. Six other toy builds are featured besides the Granite Grinder, representing themes ranging from 1979's LEGOLAND Space to 2010's LEGO Atlantis.<ref name="BL Marin"/><ref name="Rebrick"/>

== References ==
{{Reflist|refs=
<ref name="4940 inventory">[https://www.bricklink.com/CatalogItemInv.asp?S=4940-1 "Inventory of Set 4940-1"]. BrickLink Reference Catalog. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230730113830/https://www.bricklink.com/CatalogItemInv.asp?S=4940-1 Archived] from the original on 30 July 2023.</ref>
<ref name="4940 manual">LEGO Group (1999). [https://www.lego.com/cdn/product-assets/product.bi.core.pdf/4128317.pdf LEGO System 4940 instructions]. LEGO A/S.</ref>
<ref name="BL arch">[https://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=30296px1&in=S "Sets which Contain Part 30296px1"]. BrickLink Reference Catalog. 
[https://web.archive.org/web/20230730120949/https://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=30296px1&in=S Archived] from the original on 30 July 2023.</ref>
<ref name="BL cage">[https://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=30298&in=S "Sets which Contain Part 30298"]. BrickLink Reference Catalog. 
[https://web.archive.org/web/20230730120951/https://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=30298&in=S Archived] from the original on 30 July 2023.</ref>
<ref name="BL drill">[https://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=71612cx1&in=S "Sets which Contain Part 71612cx1"]. BrickLink Reference Catalog. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230730054412/https://www.bricklink.com/catalogItemIn.asp?P=71612cx1&in=S Archived] from the original on 30 July 2023.</ref>
<ref name="BL Henrik">Saaby, Henrik Rubin [HSaaby] (11 November 2022). [https://brickset.com/sets/designer-Henrik-Rubin-Saaby "Sets designed by Henrik Rubin Saaby"]. Brickset. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230730071627/https://brickset.com/sets/designer-Henrik-Rubin-Saaby Archived] from the original on 30 July 2023.</ref>
<ref name="BL Marin">Stipkovic, Marin [Marin_S_] (10 July 2023). [https://brickset.com/sets/designer-Marin-Stipkovic "Models Marin Stipkovic worked on"]. Brickset. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230729055458/https://brickset.com/sets/designer-Marin-Stipkovic Archived] from the original on 29 July 2023.</ref>
<ref name="c85uk">LEGO Group (1985). [https://images.brickset.com/library/view/?f=catalogues/c85uk&p=25 "The most exciting universe on earth!"]. ''LEGO and DUPLO Catalogue '85''. [[LEGO UK Ltd]]. p. 25.</ref>
<ref name="c99am">LEGO Group (1999). [https://images.brickset.com/library/view/?f=catalogues/c99am&p=8 "Rock Raiders"]. LEGO System catalogue (Americas). [[LEGO Systems, Inc]]. pp. 6–8. Item no. 4127017.</ref>
<ref name="c99ru">LEGO Group (1999). [https://archive.org/details/russian-Katalog_Lego-1999/page/n41/mode/2up "Rock Raiders"]. LEGO catalogue  "1999" (Russia). [[LEGO Russia Ltd]]. pp. 42–43. Item no. 4321375-SNG.</ref>
<ref name="c99uk">LEGO Group (1999). [https://images.brickset.com/library/view/?f=catalogues/c99uk&p=8 "Rock Raiders"]. LEGO catalogue "New for 99". [[LEGO UK Ltd]]. pp. 6–7.</ref>
<ref name="Frederiksen AMA">Frederiksen, Jens Kronvold [lego] (11 April 2019). [https://web.archive.org/web/20190415165704/https://www.reddit.com/r/lego/comments/bc2o7a/hello_there_im_jens_kronvold_frederiksen_im_the/ "Hello there. I’m Jens Kronvold Frederiksen. I'm the Design Director for LEGO and have been designing LEGO® Star Wars™ sets for the past 20 years. Ask Me Anything!"]. [[wikipedia:reddit|Reddit]]. Archived from the original on 15 April 2019. Retrieved 13 June 2023.</ref>
<ref name="HADU ch3">Grant, "What's up Docs?", pp. 30–39.</ref>
<ref name="HADU 6">Grant, p. 6.</ref>
<ref name="HADU 15">Grant, pp. 14–15.</ref>
<ref name="HADU building">Grant, "Let's Get Building", pp. 46–48.</ref>
<ref name="Mania Sep99">Staff (September 1999). "The Rock Raiders Really Rock!". ''[[LEGO Mania Magazine]]'' (US). Issue 30. [[LEGO Systems, Inc]]. pp. 2–4.</ref>
<ref name="Rebrick">JESmamamaakt (9 May 2023). [https://rebrickable.com/blog/592/review-31139-1-cozy-house/ "Review: 31139-1 - Cozy House"]. Rebrickable. [https://web.archive.org/web/20230729055448/https://rebrickable.com/blog/592/review-31139-1-cozy-house Archived] from the original on 29 July 2023.</ref>
<ref name="SAH">LEGO Shop At Home Services (1999). [https://archive.org/details/Lego-Shop-At-Home-Summer-1999-Rock-Raiders-Cover/page/n3/mode/2up?view=theater "Get the Brickonium Before the Rock Monster Gets You!"]. ''[[LEGO Shop-At-Home]]''. Summer 1999 "Rockin' Adventures". [[LEGO Systems, Inc]]. pp. 4–5.</ref>
<ref name="Slugger">R.R. Slugger (3 September 2021). [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Ar745DaMXA "LEGO 4940 Granite Grinder ~ R.R. Slugger's Rock Raiders Retrospective!"]. YouTube.</ref>
<ref name="Ultimate Design">Pickering, David; Turpin, Nick; Jenner, Caryn (eds.) (1999). "The Design Concept". ''[[The Ultimate LEGO Book]]''. [[Wikipedia:DK (publisher)|DK publishing]]. pp. 30–31. {{ISBN|0-7894-4691-X}}.</ref>
<ref name="WalkerBody AE">Data Design Interactive (25 September 1999). WalkerBody [[AE file]]. ''LEGO Rock Raiders'' (Windows). LEGO Media International. File path: <code>Rock Raiders\LegoRR0.wad\Vehicles\WalkerBody\WalkerBody.ae</code>.</ref>
<ref name="WalkerLegs AE">Data Design Interactive (25 September 1999). WalkerLegs [[AE file]]. ''LEGO Rock Raiders'' (Windows). LEGO Media International. File path: <code>Rock Raiders\LegoRR0.wad\Vehicles\WalkerLegs\WalkerLegs.ae</code>.</ref>

<ref name="Race 14">Birkinshaw, pp. 14–17.</ref>
<ref name="Race 20">Birkinshaw, pp. 20–21.</ref>
<ref name="Race 40">Birkinshaw, pp. 40–41.</ref>

<ref name="PC manual p70">Instruction Manual, p. 70.</ref>
<ref name="PC manual p79">Instruction Manual, p. 79.</ref>

<ref name="CFG VehicleTypes">Main Lego Config File, line 2016–2031. <code>VehicleTypes {}</code> section.</ref>
<ref name="CFG WalkerDigger">Main Lego Config File, line 2670–2697. <code>WalkerDigger {}</code> section.</ref>
<ref name="CFG Dependencies">Main Lego Config File, lines 3237–3265. <code>Dependencies {}</code> section.</ref>
}}

=== Sources ===
{{refbegin}}
* Birkinshaw, Marie (2000) ''[[Race for Survival]]''. [[Wikipedia:DK (publisher)|Dorling Kindersley]]. {{ISBN|0-7894-5458-0}}.
* [[Data Design Interactive]] (25 September 1999). [[Main Lego Config File]]. ''LEGO Rock Raiders'' (Windows). [[LEGO Media International]]. File path: <code>Rock Raiders\LegoRR1.wad\Lego.cfg</code>.
* Grant, Alan (2000). ''[[Rock Raiders: High Adventure Deep Underground]]''. [[LEGO Systems, Inc]]. {{ISBN|1-903276-05-5}}.
* McPhail, Jim (13 December 1999). [https://archive.org/details/LEGORockRaiders-manual-Win-EU-2299598/mode/1up?view=theater ''LEGO Rock Raiders'' Instruction Manual (UK FRONT, BACK, I/F & I/B COVER)]. [[LEGO Media International]]. Serial no. IB2G-ROC3 2299598.
{{refend}}

[[Category:LEGO Rock Raiders vehicles]]