 |
| 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.
|
|
|
|
 |
| 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. |
|
