 | | Caterpillar branded box. |  |  | | Track details. |  | | Rear view. |  | | Hydraulic lines at the boom foot. |  | | Parked up. |  | | Good bucket detail. |  | | A big load for a Rogers Trailer. |
| The Caterpillar 374D is one of the larger Caterpillar excavators and has an operating weight of around 70 tonnes.
Packaging
The model comes in a typical Caterpillar box style and is fixed to the plastic base with tightly wound ties. The review model had no defects or missing parts.
The box has no information about the real machine, but some of the features of the model are described. There is no assembly of the model required as it is complete out of the box.
Detail
There is little detail underneath but the tracks are metal and reasonably detailed though the rollers on the track frames are non-functioning.
The body details are good with some nice grille textures and there are textured walking surfaces. There is an unusual mix of both metal and plastic handrails, whilst the cab has a detailed interior and falling object guard systems on the windows.
Norscot has paid attention to some of the hydraulics with plastic lines at the boom foot, and running to the cylinders on the boom and stick although strangely the main boom lift cylinders do not have this detailing. Rivets on the boom, stick and bucket are painted so they do not look too obtrusive.
The large metal mass excavation bucket is a detailed casting with good wear plates and teeth.
Features
The track frames are spring loaded for easy removal of the tracks, and the tracks roll well.
Full body rotation is accommodated, and the boom, stick and bucket have a good range of movement although the cylinder controlling the stick cannot be fully closed. Care is needed when folding the stick over fully so as not to snag the plastic hydraulic lines on the pivot point.
Quality
This a strong model which is mainly metal. The paintwork and graphics are good.
Price
The pricing level is reasonable for an excavator of this size.
Overall
It is good to see a model of a larger Caterpillar excavator and this is a reasonably good effort. Some additional features such as extendible tracks would have been a good inclusion. Overall it is recommended however.
Footnotes
The model was shown at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in 2011.
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|  | | Big machine with a big bucket. |  | | Window protection on the cab. |  | | Underside view. |  | | Hydraulic lines. |  | | Profile view. |  | | Stretched out at the maximum on level ground. |  | | Track frames cannot be closed for transport so it sits wide on a low loader. |
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