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| Caterpillar
branded tin. |
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| Impressive
large dozer. |
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| Ripper parked
high. |
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| Ripper is well
detailed. |
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| Fire
suppression with coloured hoses. |
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| See through
perforations at the top of the blade. |
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| Inside the cab. |
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| Impressive
mining model. |
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The Caterpillar D11 Dozer - TKN Design has an operating
weight of around 104 tonnes. It is used for large 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. There was a
slight blemish which had been painted over in the
factory but was still visible.
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 using the included
tweezers.
Detail
The underside has some detailing including the transverse beam connecting the track
frames. It has the model number 85565 in the
casting with 85604 added as a graphic. The 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.
A tiny graphic is applied at the back end of the frames.
The triple-shank ripper assembly is metal and the teeth
are sharp. The rams are plastic but they are detailed, and there are many soft
hydraulic hoses.
The cab structure is metal and the side wipers are formed
within the casting. The black hand rails are metal and thin,
and the only plastic rails are on the track frame.
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 with
cabling highlighted in black. The folding access ladder
on the side is plastic.
The new style Cat logo is applied around the model, and
a number of incredibly small graphics provide enhanced
detail.
The walkway around the cab has a textured surface, and
there is fire suppression equipment at the rear with red
coloured hoses.
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 U blade has wear plates detailed at the
bottom and it is good to see perforations in 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, and the angle of the rippers can be
adjusted.
The blade can be raised and lowered and the mechanism is
reasonably stiff. Some side tilt is possible and the
forward tilting function has an excellent range of
movement.
The rotating access ladder sits well in the parked
position, and clips in while the dozer is operating.
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 good value for a large model.
Overall
This latest version of the D11 from Diecast Masters is
improved and in particular the detailing level is higher
with some tiny graphics added. Overall, the model
looks great.
Footnotes
The model was announced at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in
2020 and was released in May 2020.
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| The parts out
of the box. |
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Large blade. |
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| Detail
underneath. |
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| Opening engine
covers are on both sides.
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| Profile view. |
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| Ladder rotates
down. |
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| Big iron. |
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