 | | Volvo box. |  |  | | Backhoe parks reasonably well in a transport position. |  | | No steering. |  | | Clamshell bucket. |  | | Using the forks to shift barriers. |  | | The backhoe backhoeing. |  | | Profile view. |  | | Opening engine hood, but it will not pose like this. |
|  Comment on this model.
The Volvo BL71B is a backhoe loader with an operating weight of between 8 and 10 tonnes.
In this model configuration it is fitted with a clamshell bucket and forks.
Packaging
It comes in a Volvo branded box with a window allowing the model to be seen, and there is a nice photo on the rear. The model is contained between a pair of clear plastic formers.
There were no defects or missing parts on the review model.
There is no information about the real machine or model.
Detail
Looking underneath much of the base plate is plastic with some simple detailing. The tyres have a decent tread pattern and the wheels have good detailed outer faces, but the inner faces are fairly crude mouldings.
At the rear the backhoe is represented well with some fine detailing on the boom and stick, and the connection rivets are small and inconspicuous. The bucket is good too although the backhoe ram pistons have hooked end connections. The side shift arrangement and stabilisers appear to be plastic.
Inside the cab the detailing is very good with the controls modelled really well. On the outside the cab has wipers front and rear and plastic mirrors. The steps leading up to the cab are thin and realistic, but also fragile so careful handing is required.
The engine cover has a plastic exhaust and tiny BL71B graphics. Underneath the hood is a plastic engine with coloured components.
The loader mechanism has a number of plastic elements with discrete connections. A red non-functioning safety bar is modelled for when the engine is being serviced and the loader needs to be locked in the up position. There are no hydraulic hoses.
The metal clamshell bucket is nice although the plastic forks are thin and a bit weak.
Features
The wheels roll easily but there is no working steering.
The engine cover opens but it is loose so it will not stay open.
The stabilisers lower but they are also loose so will not hold a position.
The backhoe sideshift is sticky but it does work. The movement of the backhoe is stiff with a reasonable range, although the bucket range is a little constrained. A working boom lock fixes the boom in a transport position.
The loader mechanism raises to a shallow height so it will not load a high-sided tipper, and the tilting angle is not full. The clamshell bucket opens widely.
The forks can be folded in and out of the work position although their width cannot be altered.
Quality
The model feels quite light probably because of the relatively higher plastic content.
The paintwork and graphics are very good.
Price
The model is moderately priced.
Overall
This is a rework of an earlier model first introduced over 10 years ago, with the opening engine cover added and surprisingly the working steering removed. Overall it still looks good with some nice detailing. However the high plastic content and some aspects of the functionality are not the best.
Footnotes
This version of the model first became available in July 2014.
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|  | | CChunky tyres. |  | | Loader arm is challenged for bucket height. |  | | Cab detail is good. | |
|  | | Stabilisers down. |  | | Bucket height is ok for a low-sided tipper. |  | | Backhoe loads a tipper. |
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