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Large carry
case.
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The radio
control parts. |
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Underneath. |
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Opening cab
door. |
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Nice detail on
top. |
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Bucket has
small Volvo badges. |
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Opening panels. |
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Parked up. |
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Opening engine
cover. |
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Depth of dig is
less than the real machine achieves. |
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Massive size
compared to a 1:50 excavator. |
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The Volvo EC160E is an excavator in the 20 tonne class.
The model is very large being around 30cm high in a
parked position, 60cm long end to end, and weighs around
10kg. It is a metal model in 1:14 scale.
Packaging
The model comes in a large carry case which gives a
professional feel. It is a good design because of
the heavy weight of the model.
There were no defects or missing parts on the review
model.
A set of Operating Instructions are included and it is
printed in English and Chinese. It covers the set
up of the model and the remote control. There is
also some information concerning the motors and
mechanisms which will be useful for any owner wanting to
carry out maintenance.
The instructions refer to a smartphone being used as an
instrument display, and also to sound controls, but
neither are implemented on this version of the model.
Detail
The metal crawler tracks are cast well and
individually pinned. The track frames are large castings with good detail and
working rollers. The drive sprockets are detailed
too.
The body of the model is huge in 1:14 scale.
The cab has lights on top and a large windscreen wiper.
There is another light with protection grille at the
bottom and a large orange metal grab rail which lacks a
mirror. The door has shaped handles and although hinges
are visible, they are small. The cab is detailed
inside in plastic, with controls including foot pedals.
Behind the cab the panel doors are nicely detailed with
handles. There are sharp graphics, and small
hinges. The counterweight has an embossed Volvo
name, warning graphics, properly formed lifting eyes and
a rear light housing, but not the video camera.
On top there are nicely textured surfaces, an air intake
and exhaust, and other cast-in details.
The hydraulic rams have metal jackets, and hydraulic
hoses run to the stick. The connection rivets are
reasonably discrete.
The large bucket is a very nice casting. The teeth are
individually screwed in. There is no lifting hook.
Features
The main operating switch is located behind one of the
opening panels. There are three opening side
panels, and another one above the engine also opens.
Small magnets are used to keep the opening doors in the
closed position and these work very well.
The counterweight is removable.
The cab door opens to a full angle.
The tracks have powerful motors and they drive the model
well, and steering is possible. They also have
some variability in speed but would benefit from a very slow speed.
There is easily enough power in the motors to achieve a
gradeability angle to match the real machine of 35
degrees.
There are working LED lights on the front and rear of
the top of the cab. They can be adjusted for
brightness, or switched off.
TThe rotation is very smooth with
some variable speed and it
can rotate continuously in either direction.
The boom, stick and bucket hydraulic rams work by means
of motors driving screwed rods inside the pistons. These
work and are powerful, although the range of extension
of the rams is somewhat less than the real machine
achieves.
Qualitystrong>
The model has a very high metal content and is very
robust. The paint and graphics are very good.
The visual appearance of the model is not affected by
the remote control electronics or mechanics. The
controller is very good quality.
Price
Given the size of the model and that it is fully radio
controlled, it is fairly priced.
Overall
This model looks great as a stand alone model, and is
impressive because of its size. The radio control
is implemented well and it is a fun model to operate
with plenty of power.
Footnotes
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Inside the
case. |
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Looks
realistic. |
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Warning
graphics on the counterweight. |
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All metal
parts. |
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Hoses run to
the hydraulic rams. |
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Robust boom and
stick construction. |
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Removable
counterweight. |
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Opening panel. |
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Impressive. |
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Boom height is good, the stick less so. |
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