 | | High quality Liebherr box design. |  |  | | The many parts out of the box. |  | | Heavy body. |  | | Mounting the attachment. |  | | It is stable with the boom horizontal. |  | | Good tracks and frame. |  | | Tilting cab. |  | | Underneath. |  | | A big model with very good hydraulics detailing. |  | | Fitted with a sorting grab. |  | | Big excavator. |  | | Reaching up. |
|  Comment on this model.
The Liebherr R 960 Demolition Excavator was introduced at the Intermat Exhibition in 2015. It has an operating weight in the range 77 - 94 tonnes depending on configuration.
The model appears to be equipped with the 33m demolition attachment.
Packaging
The model comes in a high quality Liebherr-branded box which opens up to reveal the model packed within good quality foam rubber.
There were no defects or missing parts on the review model.
A simple instruction sheet is provided which describes the assembly of the storage racks, and there is no information about the real machine.
Detail
The undercarriage has detailed metal tracks mounted on detailed frames which include steps. There are no working rollers.
The body is metal with some nice casting details such as grilles and recesses for panel handles. Additional counterweight is provided at the rear to match the big demolition attachment. The Liebherr graphics on the body are very good. The hand rails and grab rails are thin metal and strong, and smaller details include a video camera at the rear. A bank of soft hydraulic hoses run to the boom.
The cab has an access step and plastic grab rail and the windows have the seals marked. A large plastic debris guard adds to the appearance, but the cab mirrors do not have silvered surfaces. Internal detailing is good.
The boom foot has excellent hydraulic detailing and the main lift cylinders have hoses running to them.
The demolition attachment is in three pieces, with the top two parts modelled in plastic, presumably to improve the stability of the model. However the colour match is so good that the use of plastic is not obvious. The hydraulic detailing continues the very high standard with a busy and realistic appearance. A quick fit attachment for tools is provided.
The crusher is also plastic, but again it does not look it, and it looks convincing. A sorting grab is also included which is metal and has small hydraulic cylinders modelled inside.
The metal storage rack for the demolition attachment is modelled well and includes ladders and platforms.
The separate excavator boom and arm also has very good hydraulics detailing. It has a large detailed bucket, and also comes with its own metal storage rack.
Features
The tracks roll well on a rough surface and are tensioned by springs in the idlers.
The model rotates well.
The cab tilts to a good angle and it holds any pose well.
The demolition attachment has a good range of movement and it is stable even when the whole assembly is horizontal. There is a small plastic clip which fixes the booms together for stability during transport. The quick coupler allows either tool to be fixed with a pin.
The crusher rotates and opens and closes also. The jaws are spring loaded so they will grip or remain in the closed position.
The sorting grab rotates and opens and closes with the two sides linked together so that they move in unison.
The excavator boom can be attached to the boom foot in two different positions using a plastic pin. It has a good range of movement on all rams.
The provision of storage racks allows the model parts to be posed as interesting transport loads.
Quality
The model is typically strong and robust. The use of plastic for parts of the demolition attachment is appropriate.
The paintwork and graphics are very good.
Price
The model is reasonable value overall.
Overall
It has been a long time for a new Liebherr demolition model to appear and it has been worth the wait. The R 960 is a very good looking and functional model.
Footnotes
The model was introduced at the Intermat Exhibition in 2015.
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|  | | High quality packaging inside. |  | | Excellent transport loads. |  | | Demolition attachment on the rack. |  | | Storage rack is realistic. |  | | Profile view. |  | | Metal handrails and grab rails. | |
|  | | Good cab detailing. |  | | No visual difference between metal and plastic elements. |  | | Detailed crusher. |  | | Looks good in a diorama. |  | | Excavator boom on the rack. |  | | Big machine for loading a road tipper. |  | | At rest after a hard day's work. |
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