| The box. | | Shears are good, although large and heavy. | | | The boom cannot be laid down horizontal so it does not look quite right on a low loader. |
| The Case 1488 LC is a long-boom excavator with a hydraulic shears attachment.
Packaging
The model is packed in a small box in Case colours with schematic pictures on the outside. Inside, the model is wrapped in foam rubber using the same kind of materials Conrad model trucks are often packed in. There was no damage on the review model.
Detail
The undercarriage is a relatively simple casting with the only moving parts being the main track sprockets. The tracks are plastic and relatively free rolling with their look tarnished a little by the amount of small plastic moulding burrs present on the review model.
The body casting has fine grille and pipework details. Inside the cab the operator's controls are represented and on the outside the cab is covered by a plastic debris guard.
The booms are simple with hydraulic piping within the casting detail except across moving parts where plastic piping is provided. Moving to the hydraulic shears, they seem a little large on the model, although they have some good details.
Features
The model can be posed in a variety of ways using the hydraulic cylinders, all of which are functioning. The cylinders can be expected to bleed over time. It is however a little unstable with the boom unfolded, particularly when over the side of the tracks. A little more weight in the body or undercarriage would have improved the stability.
The jaws of the hydraulic shears open and close and they rotate well.
Quality
The tracks on this model are not the best but with that said there is relatively little plastic elsewhere other than the cab guard and, as usual, the cylinder bodies. Paintwork is satisfactory and some of the graphics are finely detailed although their application on the review model was not the best work.
Price
The model is reasonable value.
Overall
This model looks good posed in action. It would be improved by the addition of some weight, and if this was by the provision of metal tracks the overall impression of the model would improve markedly.
Footnotes
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| | Cab detail is good, complete with debris guard. | | Don't try this at home. | | Model poses well and is stable if the reach is not too far. |
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