 |
| Volvo style
windowed
box. |
 |
 |
| Narrow metal
tracks are good. |
 |
| Loose plastic ram
pistons mean that the boom will not pose like this. |
 |
| Good details on
top of the body. |
 |
| Opening cover. |
 |
| Silver rivets
on this side are smaller and acceptable. |
 |
| Profile view. |
|
 Comment on this model.
The Volvo EC220D is an excavator with an operating
weight of around 22 tonnes.
Packaging
The packaging is a Volvo-branded outer box enclosing
clear plastic trays and there is a window allowing the
model to be seen.
There were no missing parts or manufacturing defects on
the review model.
There is no information about the real machine or model
included.
Detail
The underneath is simple with plastic base plates on
both the undercarriage and the model. The narrow
crawler tracks are metal with the double grouser
pads having some finer details such as tiny bolt heads.
They are mounted on reasonable track frames with no
moving rollers.
Detailing of the cab is quite good with door hinges in
the casting and a tiny Volvo graphic. Inside the
main controls are modelled well. Handrails and grab
rails are thin gauge soft plastic.
The detailing of the body is good with mirrors and
textured non slip surfaces on top, and a rear video
camera adds to the look. There was a slight
mismatch between the yellow of the cab and that of the
body and some of the graphics was not
the sharpest.
Under the engine cover is a reasonably detailed engine.
Plastic hydraulic hoses run up the boom and across to
the stick and they look good. What is not good however
are the hydraulic rams which have been modelled entirely
in plastic including the pistons. As a result the
pistons are grey and are soft so they bend a little
meaning they do not look right at all.
Needlessly large silver rivet heads also spoil the look
somewhat and a spot of paint on them would have made a
difference.
The bucket is a reasonable metal part.
Features
The tracks roll well and are spring loaded to maintain
tension.
The body rotates without rocking although it was very
stiff on the review model.
An opening engine cover reveals the engine.
The boom, stick and bucket all move but the flimsy
plastic hydraulic rams are too loose so few poses can be
held. The main cylinder rams also have a restricted
range of movement preventing the boom being positioned
digging at depth.
Quality
Most of the model is very good, but the plastic
hydraulic rams in particular detract from the feel
rendering this aspect closer to a toy.
The graphics and paint are not the best.
Price
The model is on the expensive side for what is offered.
Overall
At first glance this model looks good but a couple of
poor modelling choices really take the edge off what
would have been a very good model. The plastic
hydraulic ram pistons feels like modelling from the
distant past and it is hard to believe that any cost
saving achieved was worthwhile. This model is one
for hard core Volvo fans.
Footnotes
|
|
|
|
 |
| Parked up. |
 |
| Body details
are generally good. |
 |
| Chassis
detail. Plates are plastic. |
 |
| Slight colour
difference between the cab and body. |
 |
| Decent bucket. |
 |
| Big rivets on
this side. |
 |
| The review
model would not pose like this without 'cheating'
because of loose hydraulics. |
|
