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| Caterpillar
branded tin. |
 |
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| Menacing
ripper. |
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| Operator in the
cab is optional. |
|
|
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| Opening engine
cover. |
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| Removable roof
allows the operator in. Detailed interior. |
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| Very large
machine. |
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| Tracks are
wider to lower the ground pressure on softer material. |
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| At work. |
|
The Caterpillar D11T Carrydozer has an operating
weight of around 113 tonnes. It is used for large
quarry operations on softer materials such as coal.
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 some detailing including the transverse beam connecting the track
frames. The wide metal tracks are very good and have
bolt head details. The track frames do not have working
rollers, and 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, and there are many soft
hydraulic hoses.
The cab structure is metal and the wipers are formed
within the casting. The black 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 and graphics for the instrument clusters
which is a nice enhancement of detail. The roll
over protection structure (ROPS) has small lights. The
folding access ladder on the side is plastic and
unfortunately has some untidy moulding.
The walkway around the cab has a textured surface, and
there is fire suppression equipment at the rear.
The standard Diecast Masters operator can be placed in
the seat.
At the front the engine cover has grille details formed
by graphics and the exhausts and air intakes are
plastic. The front grille is very good and there is a
tiny Cat logo on top.
The metal Carrydozer blade has wear plates detailed at the
bottom and it is good to see perforations in part of the grille
on the top edge even though that part is plastic. There are hydraulic lines
running to all cylinders.
Features
The tracks roll very easily and are
spring-loaded.
The ripper assembly is very stiff and has very good
movement. It can be parked high or positioned with the
ripper down.
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.
The rotating access ladder sits well in the parked
position, but is difficult to position in a vertical
pose without slanting to the side.
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 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 very good and the graphics are sharp.
Price
It is reasonable value for a large model.
Overall
As usual for this range from Diecast Masters the
packaging is exemplary. It is good to see
incremental improvement in some aspects of the
modelling As with other dozer models it would be nice
if there was a removable blade assembly.
Footnotes
The model was announced at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in
2018 and was released in October 2018.
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| Huge blade. |
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| Some detail
underneath. |
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| Heavy ripper
and nice fire suppression equipment. |
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|
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| Second opening
cover.
|
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| Profile view. |
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| Rotating access
steps. |
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| Heavy machine. |
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