 | | CAT style box. |  |  | | Good quality metal tracks. |  | | Detail of the boom, stick and bucket. |  | | Hosing at the base of the boom. |  | | Loading an East Dump Trailer. |
| The CAT 323D L is an excavator in the 25 tonne class. This is a general utility machine with a wide variety of applications in civil engineering and construction.
Packaging
The model comes in the usual Caterpillar box style and has a window, with the model secured inside between clear plastic formers. The model is tied to the cardboard base and these have to be carefully removed to free it from the packaging. The review model had no defects or missing parts.
There is no information about the real machine, but the box does describe the main features of the model.
Detail
The tracks are metal and are mounted on reasonably detailed frames. The rollers are represented within the track frame casting but are not moving parts. The cab has a metal frame and this includes forward facing lights. Mirrors and grab rails are in plastic. Inside, the cab detail is good with the main controls replicated.
The rest of the body is nicely cast, with grilles and access panel handles formed. The counterweight slab has tabs for lifting eyes but these are solid and without a hole.
The boom and stick are well formed with hydraulic pipe work within the casting, and neat hydraulic hosing at the base of the boom, and to the hydraulic cylinders. At the end of the stick the bucket is a detailed casting with good detail. A nice facet is that the rivets are painted so they do not appear obvious spoiling the look of the model.
Features
The tracks roll very freely, and one of the sprockets on each track frame is spring loaded which keeps the tension in the track, and allows it to be removed easily.
All the usual functions can be operated. It rotates, and the boom, stick and bucket are all adjustable using the hydraulics which are stiff enough to hold any pose. The range of movement on the boom and stick is very good, and close to that of the original machine.
Quality
The C323D is well made and robust. Paintwork and graphics are fine, and plastic has been used sparingly.
Price
The model is relatively inexpensive and so represents good value.
Overall
This is a decent release from Norscot with enough detail and functionality to attract collectors. It poses well with other models and would be good in general construction dioramas. It would have been nice if the bucket had been removable and other tools could have been attached to demonstrate the versatility of the real machine.
Footnotes
The model first appeared in 2009.
|
| |
|  | | Hydraulic hosing on the boom and stick. |  | | Rear end with large graphics. |  | | Detailed cab. |  | | Getting onto a Rogers Trailer. |
|
