 | | 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
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|  | | 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. |
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