 |
| Caterpillar
branded tin. |
 |
 |
| Operator does
not have to sit in the cab. |
 |
| Nice metal
tracks. |
|
|
 |
| Opening engine
cover. |
 |
| Removable roof
allows the operator in. |
 |
| Ripper down. |
 |
| Bit of a wide
load. |
 |
| No need for an
operator in the cab when loaded for transport. |
|
The Caterpillar D10T2 weighs around 71 tonnes. It is used for large earthmoving
and quarry operations.
Packaging
The model comes in the usual exemplary packaging. There is
an outer shipping carton which contains a tin which is
protected by a nylon bag. The tin is high quality
and includes pictures and details about the real
machine.
The review model had no missing parts or defects.
A mini
catalogue of the Diecast Masters range is included, and
a single sheet describes how to place the separately
provided operator inside the cab.
Detail
The underside has the structure detailed including the transverse beam connecting the track
frames. The metal tracks are nicely detailed with
bolt heads. The track frames have the rollers modelled
within the casting and they are non-functional. The
high drive sprocket is plastic with a good colour match.
The single-shank ripper assembly is metal and the tooth
is sharp. The rams are plastic but they are detailed
and have a good colour match. Soft hydraulic lines add
to the appearance. A very nice detail is the
fire suppression equipment at the rear.
The cab structure is metal and there are wipers on the
windows. The hand rails are metal and thin.
Grab rails are a mix of metal and plastic.
The inside of the cab is detailed with the Cat logo on
the seat back. The operator can be placed in the
seat. The roll over protection structure (ROPS)
has small lights. Thin metal handrails and grab
rails surround the cab.
At the front the engine cover has grille details formed
by graphics and the exhaust and air intake are plastic.
The front grille looks good.
The metal dozing blade has wear plates detailed at the
bottom although there are no perforations in the grille
on the top edge. There are hydraulic lines
running to all cylinders. The connection of the
side arms to the track frame is with a large screw head,
which although painted, is quite visible, and a cover
cap would have been a nicer detail.
Features
The tracks roll very easily in the hand and are
spring-loaded.
The ripper assembly is very stiff and has a moderate amount of
movement. It can be parked high or positioned with the
ripper down, although the depth of penetration is
fairly shallow.
The blade can be raised and lowered and the mechanism is
reasonably stiff. The tilting function is modelled
well with a large range of movement possible.
There are opening engine covers on each side and they
allow a view of some engine detail.
The ROPS and cab roof is removable allowing the operator
to be placed in, or removed from, the cab. This is
flexible arrangement allowing the model to be posed
working, or parked or carried on transport, with the
operator in the cab or out as appropriate.
Quality
It is a very good quality model with a high metal content.
The paint is good and the graphics are sharp.
Price
It is good value.
Overall
The packaging and presentation is top quality. The
model is nicely detailed with very good functionality,
and the ability to add or remove the operator is
excellent. It would be nice if larger dozer models
had a removable blade assembly to aid transport poses.
Footnotes
The model
was announced at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in 2017 and was
released in September 2017.
|
|
|
|
 |
| Imposing. |
 |
| Some detail
underneath. |
 |
| Heavy ripper
and nice fire suppression equipment. |
|
|
 |
| Blade height
angle is
very good.
|
 |
| Profile view. |
 |
| Demon dozer. |
 |
| Heavy tractor. |
|
