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| Caterpillar
branded tin. |
 |
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| Huge bucket. |
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| Large slick
tyres. |
|
|
 |
| Plastic grille. |
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| Impressive
bucket. |
 |
| With a load. |
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| Handrails can
be raised. |
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| Loading an
AD45. |
|
The Caterpillar R2900 XE weighs around 78 tonnes with a
loaded bucket. It is
designed for underground loading
operations.
Packaging
The model comes in very high quality 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.
An instruction sheet for fitting the
operator is included, as is a mini
catalogue of the Diecast Masters range.
Detail
The underside has reasonable detailing within
the plastic baseplate. The tyres are slick and they
are mounted on plastic wheels with a detailed outside face and
hollow inner faces.
At the rear the radiator grille is plastic, and there
is a heavy duty towing hitch. There
are some small sharp graphics. The numerous handrails are
soft plastic with a very good colour match. The
top has highlighted walkway surfaces and textured
grilles.
The cab windows have black seals
with windscreen wipers and inside the cab an operator
can be installed who sits facing sideways in this machine.
Rivet heads are highlighted with black paint.
Detail at the pivot point is
simple with a driveshaft, but no hoses are crossing.
At the front the bucket is large and impressive, and
well detailed including holes in the sides. The lift
arms have lights attached.
Features
It rolls very smoothly on the big wheels which each
rotate independently.
Steering across the pivot point has a very good angle.
The bucket raises to a good height, and can reach over
the side of an AD45 articulated truck and, although the
tipping angle is excellent, the lift height is not
enough to discharge the bucket fully into the truck.
The model features numerous handrails which can be posed
flat for low headroom work, or raised. However, it
is tricky to align them all straight.
The operator can be fitted, or left out for posing in a
transport situation.
Quality
It is a good quality model and is well made.
The paint is good and the graphics are sharp.
Price
It is reasonable value overall.
Overall
This is a very good model from Diecast Masters, and
it pose well with a matching dump truck or as a
transport load.
Footnotes
The model first appeared in early 2025.
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|
 |
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|
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| The parts. |
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| Low headroom. |
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| Heavy
counterweight rear end. |
|
|
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| Lift height.
|
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| Profile view. |
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| Detailed top. |
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| Nice mini
diorama. |
|
