 | | Nice box. |  |  | | Articulated steering. |  | | Detailed wheel hubs and rubber mud flaps. |  | | Rollover frame to protect the driver. |  | | Loaded on a Nooteboom low loader. |
| The Thwaites company has been in business in the UK since 1937 and specialises in dumpers of up to 10 tonne capacity. This model is the 9 tonne version with a front tipping skip. It has an unladen weight of 4.8 tonnes and a maximum speed of 30km/h.
Packaging
The dumper comes in smart looking box and is held tightly held between plastic formers which protect it well. There were no defects or missing parts on the review model.
There is no assembly of the model required, and a small collector card is included which has some information about Thwaites and the real machine, and has a unique serial number for the model.
Detail
Underneath, the dumper has some simple but effective transmission detail, and the axles have metal wheel hubs which include fixing bolt details, and nice fat chunky tyres. There are treaded steps leading up to the operator's seat with metal grab rails. The controls are particularly nicely done and include a gear lever and foot pedals, and the seat has a textured back.
The engine bay has some nice casting although the towing hitch is a little crude. A plastic roll over protection frame is provided complete with orange beacon light.
At the front hydraulic rams control the articulated chassis and tipping of the skip. The skip is cast well and is a good representation of the real machine. A couple of rubber mud flaps and front spot lights and indicators complete the detail.
Features
The steering works well and gives quite a good angle.
Behind the operator's seat the roll over protection frame folds down for when the dumper is being transported between sites.
The skip tips forward well, and the rams on the review model were stiff enough to hold any angle of tip. The forward angle is not quite as much as the real machine can achieve however.
Quality
Corgi have produced a good quality model with little plastic, and a very good finish in terms of paint and graphics.
Price
The model is reasonable value.
Overall
Dumpers of this type are rarely modelled and Corgi have done a good job representing the real machine. It is a solidly made and pleasing model which is recommended.
Footnotes
The model first appeared in 2009. It was made in a run of 1500 models. It was also included as a load for a Nooteboom step frame trailer and packaged as model 14014.
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|  | | The model inside the box. |  | | Chunky tyres. |  | | Dumper tips forward well, but a little short of the angle achieved by the real machine. |  | | Lights at the front. |
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