 |
| Volvo style
windowed
box. |
 |
 |
| Nice detailing
on the body. |
 |
| Handrails are
thin low-grade plastic. |
 |
| Hydraulic
removal system for the counterweight. |
 |
| Opening cover. |
 |
| Piston is
plastic but it looks OK. |
 |
| Profile view. |
 |
| Loading a Volvo
A40F. |
|
 Comment on this model.
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.
|
|
|
|
 |
| Parked up. |
 |
| Overall look is
good. |
 |
| Undercarriage plate
is plastic. |
 |
| Detailing on
top is good. |
 |
| Nice bucket.
Silver rivets could have benefitted from a spot of
paint. |
 |
| Rams are stiff
enough to hold a pose. |
 |
| Folded up to a
transport size. |
 |
| Poses well with
other models. |
|
