 | | The Atlas branded box. |  |  | | The parts out of the box. |  | | Good quality paint and graphics. |  | | Good details underneath. |  | | Big cab has room for a passenger. |  | | Track section is good with nicely detailed rail / sleeper connections. |  | | Tow bar is removable. |  | | On the rails. |  | | Being transported to site. |  | | Convincing load. |
|  Comment on this model.
The Atlas 1604 ZW is a dual mode excavator capable of travelling on road using its tyres, or on rails using the rail bogies. It weighs around 22 tonnes.
Packaging
The model box is Atlas-branded but it does not have any information about the real machine. Inside the model is wrapped in foam rubber. There were no missing parts on the review model but the bar for supporting the grab during travel was broken off. It was easily glued into place.
The only assembly required is to fit mirrors.
Detail
The underside of the machine is good with the transmission to each axle modelled. The double-tyred wheels are detailed and they have a good tread pattern. At each end the rail wheels are plastic but they look fine.
The outrigger pads are plastic but again they look fine and the rivet connections are very small and hard to see. A metal tow bar is provided so the machine can connect to a rail trolley by hitches at each end.
The large cab has lights and a mirror, and the interior detail is good with a passenger seat also. The body casting is good and it is enhanced by painting of panel handles and the application of small graphics such as warning signs. There are metal handrails and textured steps leading to the engine cover. A small air horn sits on top.
The modelling of the hydraulics is very good with soft plastic hoses and pipes on the ram jackets. More small graphics enhance the boom and although the rivets used are small, tiny friction rivets would have been even better.
Two tools are provided, a digging bucket and a grab. The bucket is a metal part and it has reinforced cutting edges. The grab is a plastic part but the colour match is very good so it hardly notices.
A section of track is provided and it has metal rails and plastic sleepers (ties). It looks good as the fastening plates are detailed.
Features
It rolls well on its road tyres and the steering works well and turns to a reasonable angle. The rail bogies can be lowered and the machine can travel on the supplied track.
The outriggers can be lowered and the pads are pivoted. The mechanism is good as the pads can right reach down to land between the sleepers.
The model rotates well.
The movement of the boom and stick is very good and the cylinders have enough stiffness to hold any pose.
The bucket can tilt sideways and it is removable by unclipping it from the stick although it is a tight fit.
The grab rotates on the connection and can swing in two dimensions. It opens and closes smoothly.
The tow bar is removable but it is hard to fit it in the towing hitches.
Quality
Conrad's production values are maintained with this model. It is robust and well made.
The paintwork is very good and it is nice to see smaller warning graphics which add realism.
Price
It is good value.
Overall
This is a very nice model by Conrad. It has some very good detailing and the model engineering is very good too. It is easy to highly recommend it.
Footnotes
The model first appeared in Q3 of 2012 in a version for Atlas with one work tool as model 2933/0, and at the end of 2012 this collector version appeared.
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|  | | Foam rubber packing. |  | | Mounted on the track. |  | | Wheels and bogies look good. |  | | Red handrails are metal. |  | | Small air horn on top of the body. |  | | Rigged with grab and set in travelling mode. |  | | Grab is a nice part with good hydraulics. |  | | Loading a tipper. |  | | Loading with a bucket. |  | | Very good hydraulics on the boom and stick. |  | | An excavator that is a train. |
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