 | | The box. |  |  | | Big single tooth ripper at the back. |  | | Detail on the high drive sprocket is great. |  | | Seals on the windows are replicated. |  | | A mean piece of metal. |  | | Unobtrusive friction rivets at the blade connections. |  | | Bolt head details look good. |  | | Ripper assembly is suitably heavy. |  | | Small metal grab rails add to the detail. |
| The Caterpillar D10 was announced in 1977 and was the first modern dozer to use a high drive sprocket. This was designed to produce a more robust drive mechanism with the resulting additional track wear not being significant.
It initially weighed around 82 tonnes (180,000lb) with later versions weighing more. At the time of its introduction it was the largest tractor in the world and in the period 1978-1986 around a thousand units were built in the USA.
Packaging
The model is packaged really well with an outer cardboard box containing a presentation box wrapped in tissue. Inside, the model is contained within polystyrene trays and has its own tissue wrapping. There were no defects or missing parts on the review model.
There is no information about the real machine or the model which is a pity. The only assembly required is to fit the ripper and this simply pins into place.
Detail
The metal track pads are individually linked and detailed. They are mounted on excellent track frames and the high drive sprocket is really good with fine bolt details. The rollers are represented by moving parts.
The engine is plastic but with an excellent colour match and there are many components and cables modelled so it looks realistic. There are excellent metal grab rails and mesh grilles, with high quality anti-slip surfaces on various platforms around the cab and engine. Lights at the front are represented by silvered surfaces.
The cab has very good windows with replica seals and wipers, and there is a fire extinguisher on the outside. The interior of the cab is good too with authentic looking levers and pedals.
The U-Blade is a large and heavy piece with anti-wear plates represented along the bottom edge. Hydraulic lines run to the controlling cylinders and the cylinder jackets are of above average quality with good detailing and excellent colour match. Unobtrusive friction rivets are used at the connection points.
At the rear the ripper assembly maintains the high quality. Hydraulic lines run to the cylinders and the component parts are metal.
Features
The tracks roll smoothly after some initial stiffness probably caused by excess paint. Each track set rolls separately as the drive sprockets are not fixed to the same axle so realistic turning is possible. The two track sets are linked transversely so they can move up and down alternately over rough terrain. The track tensioners work and are the most realistic mechanism seen on a model of this type.
The ripper shank fixes into place with a pin, and can be set at one of three positions, or removed entirely. The whole ripper assembly moves up and down with a very good range of movement, and the ripper can be angled also.
The U-Blade raises and lowers, and can be tilted forward and back. A small degree of side-to-side tilt of the blade is also possible. However it cannot easily be removed in order to pose the model in a transport configuration.
Both the blade and ripper mechanisms are stiff enough to hold any pose set.
Quality
This is a high quality model with little use of plastic, and where it is used it is hard to tell. The paint finish is generally very good although there were a few very small chips. Combined with the sharp graphics the paint makes the model look special.
Price
The model is good value given its high quality and detailing.
Overall
CCM have produced a very good replica of the D10 and the high quality sets it apart from other mass produced Caterpillar models. Some information about the real machine would have completed the package but overall is an outstanding example of this type of machine.
Footnotes
This model was introduced in 2010 in a run of 1000 models. A version was also made in a push blade configuration.
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|  | | Profile view. |  | | This is a big dozer. |  | | Detail underneath. |  | | Fire extinguisher on the side of the cab. |  | | Excellent walkway surfacing outside the cab. |  | | Big U-Blade with anti-wear plates on the bottom. |  | | Engine detail and mesh grille is very good. |  | | Width extension boards fitted. |  | | Blade up. |  | | Nice hydraulic lines. |
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