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Volvo EC480D Crawler Excavator

Maker:  Motorart
Model No:  300032
Scale:  1:50
Review Date:  September 2013


Motorart Index
Earthmoving Equipment Index


Cranes Etc Model Rating
Packaging   (max 10)7
Detail   (max 30)23
Features   (max 20)12
Quality   (max 25)17
Price   (max 15)10
Overall   (max 100)69%

Footnotes


Volvo EC480D Crawler Excavator Video
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Volvo style windowed box.
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Nice detailing on the body.
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Handrails are thin low-grade plastic.
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Hydraulic removal system for the counterweight.
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Opening cover.
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Piston is plastic but it looks OK.
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The Volvo EC480D is a medium size crawler excavator with an operating weight of between 48-50 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. A good photo of the real machine is printed on the reverse side.

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 undercarriage is simple with a plastic base plate underneath.  The narrow crawler tracks are metal with the triple grouser pads having 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 on the door handle.  The yellow of the cab appeared to be a slightly different shade from the body under some lighting conditions.  Inside the cab the detailing is good.  Handrails and grab rails are thin gauge soft plastic.

The detailing of the body is good with decent looking painted grilles and textured walking surfaces.  The hydraulic counterweight removal mechanism is modelled and there are warning signs at the rear with a video camera on top.

Under the engine cover is a reasonably detailed plastic engine. 

Plastic hydraulic hoses run up the boom and across to the stick and they look fine.  The hydraulic rams have been modelled entirely in plastic including the pistons.  As a result the pistons can bend so care has to be taken to pose the model realistically.  Silver rivet heads would have looked less obtrusive with a dab of paint.

The bucket is a nice metal part.

Features

The tracks roll but were stiff on the review model.  They are spring loaded to maintain tension.

The body rotates smoothly without rocking.

An opening engine cover allows the engine to be seen.

The boom, stick and bucket all move and most poses can be held by the rams.  The main boom rams have a restricted range of movement preventing the boom being positioned digging at depth.

Quality

Much of the model is a good quality although some aspects are less good with certain plastic elements being lower grade quality.

The graphics and paint are reasonable. 

Price

The model price is on the high side for the quality offered.

Overall

This is a good looking model with some nice detailing.  The functionality is not quite so good due to the material choices and some of the model engineering.  However overall it can be recommended as a display piece.

Footnotes

The model appeared in September 2013.

  
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Parked up.
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Overall look is good.
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Undercarriage plate is plastic.
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Detailing on top is good.
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Nice bucket.  Silver rivets could have benefitted from a spot of paint.
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Rams are stiff enough to hold a pose.
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Folded up to a transport size.
Poses well with other models.