When has the B model been superior to the A model?

Mynatt

After seeing new images of #42087 Mack Anthem I was really excited about the main model as it did an excellent job at capturing the look and overall form of the truck. However, when I saw the images for the second model, I found myself enjoying the dump truck much more than the main model. I really enjoy the main truck part of the mack anthem but the trailer is just mediocre for me. As for the dump truck, it has a great design in its entirety and would do well as a display piece. 

I had this same thought earlier in the year when images of #31081 Modular Skate House came out. It's not to say that I dislike the skate house but I'd have to say that I much prefer the arcade and skatepark as models. I enjoy the whole wacky and crazy kind of feel from the A model but I much prefer the realistic attributes of the skatepark and arcade. 

This got me to thinking, when have the B (or C) models been superior to the A models? 

woony2

#8859 technic tractor from 1981 was a decent set for its time, but the 'b' build was an all terrain truck that is still one of my favourite Lego vehicles of all time. I've probably only built the tractor twice, once when I first got it and then when I emerged from my dark ages. But the all terrain truck I remember building repeatedly as a child.

plasmodium

I don't know about better, but this one has always stuck in my mind since my childhood. Why build #7111 Droid Starfighter when you could build Robo-Jar Jar?

CCC

^ Looking at the A model, you'd think they couldn't do worse. How very wrong.

Astrobricks

I just noticed the truck crane build of #31060 Air Show Aces today, and I think it's better.

Robbzy88

I always thought the truck without the whole flying chomping stuff looked pretty damn good https://brickset.com/sets/70805-1/Trash-Chomper especially since its the B-model I believe.

Astrobricks

Robbzy88 said:

I always thought the truck without the whole flying chomping stuff looked pretty damn good https://brickset.com/sets/70805-1/Trash-Chomper especially since its the B-model I believe.

BTW, @Robbzy88, you can create a link to the brickset page for a set by just using a # followed by the set number, a la #70805.

MaffyD

The Lego Movie had a good B model for #70806 - Castle Cavalry. Yes, it's just a gate and 2 towers, but it's got the classic castle look perfectly, IMO.

MaffyD

Also:

#31007 - Power Mech has a cool truck which is arguably more impressive than the mech (which has no knees, which always annoys me).

#31023 - Yellow Racers has a great catamaran model which I think is better than the helicopter.

#31039 - Blue Power Jet has a speedboat which is just as good as the jet.

#31042 - Super Soarer has a sci-fi jet with forward-swept wings which looks more interesting than the 'normal' jet.

#31066 - Space Shuttle Explorer has a moon habitat and a rover; either of which could easily be the main model. Besides, everyone has a shuttle already, don't they? :-)