 | | Caterpillar style box. |  |  | | The colour of the ejector belt is noticeably different from the rest of the model. |  | | Rubber mud flaps at the rear. |  | | The elevator tilted back and the steering shown at maximum lock. |  | | Underside is fairly plain. |  | | Excellent amount of rotation between tractor and bowl. |
| The Caterpillar 613G is an elevating scraper which has a rated load of 12 tonnes and can carry 11yd³ (8.4m³) of material. The elevator allows the cut material to be lifted from the cut surface and deposited on the top of the heap for self loading capability. The machine as modelled also includes an AccuGrade receiver which is technology which allows satellite control of the earthworks operation.
Packaging
The model comes in the usual style of Caterpillar box style with a window, and inside it is held between clear plastic formers and tied to the cardboard base. These ties 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 underside of the model shows some rudimentary detailing, but the detailing on the rest of the model is good. The wheels have nice chunky treaded rubber tyres, and they are mounted on detailed hubs which are a different design on the front and rear axles.
The tractor has some very good texturing on the walking areas and some of the details are quite fine within the casting. Hand rails and grab rails are plastic but the quality is satisfactory. Details around the cab include an air horn, wipers and aerial, and the internal detail is fine too. Behind the cab, the linkages to the steering mechanism are modelled well and the transmission block is modelled in plastic.
The scraper body is cast in metal with a thoughtful amount of detail in the casting including a nice cutting edge on the bowl. On the front edge is the AccuGrade receiver which is plastic.
Also mainly in plastic is the elevator and the belt is yellow rubber but the colour match is off to the rest of the machine. The bowl ejector is also plastic but with an excellent colour match. At the rear there are a couple of nice rubber mud flaps.
Features
The articulation between the tractor and bowl is good allowing significant rotational movement however the range of steering movement seems a little restricted.
The bowl can be raised and lowered for cutting and the cylinders are stiff enough to hold any pose set. The whole elevator mechanism can be placed forward for loading or moved back. It is possible to rotate the belt but it is very stiff and not recommended.
Quality
There is a fair amount of plastic used on the model, and for the most part it is used well. The casting is very nice and the paintwork is too.
Price
It is good value for money given its reasonable price.
Overall
The 613G is a good scraper model and perhaps if it had a working ejector it would have represented a step forward also. Nonetheless it looks the part as an earthworks machine and collectors of Caterpillar plant will want it in their collections.
Footnotes
The model first appeared in 2009.
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|  | | High ground clearance is modelled well. |  | | Nice heavily treaded tyres. |  | | Inside the bowl. |  | | The bowl lowered for cutting. |  | | Loaded on a Rogers Trailer. |
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