 | | The box. |  |  | | Blade details include anti wear strips. |  | | Chunky wheels. |  | | Perforated radiator. |  | | View underneath. |  | | Metal handrails are good. |  | | Detailed engine. |
| The Caterpillar 834 was introduced in 1963 and offered a wheeled dozer with an articulated frame. It weighed almost 40 tonnes and was sold throughout the 1960s.
Packaging
The packaging is to CCM's usual high standard. An outer cardboard box contains a presentation box wrapped in tissue. Inside, the model is wrapped in tissue and held between polystyrene trays. There were no defects or missing parts on the review model.
There is no information about the real machine or the model, and there is no assembly required.
Detail
The detail is quite good underneath with the rear drive differential having bolt details, and a couple of painted screws attaching the blade frame are modelling compromises.
The wheels are very good with chunky rubber tyres and good metal hubs.
The engine area is very good with a perforated radiator at the rear and a highly detailed plastic engine. Sharp graphics are applied.
In the centre the operator's platform has a smooth surface, and the seat has slightly overlarge controls. The handrails are all metal and look fine. Behind the seat are a couple of holes which look as though they are for the attachment of a cab.
Detail around the front axle is very good. There are counterweight slabs which look realistic, and the lift cylinder for the blade has plastic and rubber hydraulic lines. The blade and linkages are metal with good anti-wear plates on the blade, and the CAT name is applied to a tab above the blade. Rivets are painted and do not look obtrusive.
Features
Each wheel rolls independently.
The rear axle floats, and the wheel arches are pivoted so they can rise up if the wheel movement is significant.
The articulated steering performs well with an angle of around 30° to normal.
The blade can be raised and lowered, and it offers a significant amount of tilt forward.
Quality
It uses little plastic and the castings and paintwork are very good. The graphics are also very good.
Price
The 834 is good value.
Overall
This is another well executed model by CCM. The features work well and the detail level is pleasing. It is certainly highly recommended to anyone with an interest in historic Caterpillar machines.
Footnotes
This model was introduced in 2010 in a run of 1000 models.
|
| |
|  | | Profile view. |  | | Ready for work. |  | | Rear view |  | | Rear wheel arches 'float'. |  | | Tilting blade. |  | | Complexity around the front axle. |  | | Steering linkages. |
|
