 |
| Caterpillar branded
box. |
 |
 |
| Nice graphics.
Upward movement on the hammer is limited to the pose
shown. |
 |
| There is some detail
on the underside of the body. |
 |
| Handrail is plastic
and a little thick. |
 |
| Hydraulic hoses
add detail. |
 |
| Loaded on a
Rogers
trailer. |
|
 Comment on this model.
The CAT 323D
L is an excavator in the 25 tonne class. It is a
general utility machine with a wide variety of
applications in civil engineering and construction.
This model is fitted with the Caterpillar H120E S
hydraulic hammer
which weighs 1.6 tonnes.
Packaging
The model comes in a Caterpillar box style with windows
on two sides and it is fixed to the plastic base with tightly
wound ties. The review model had no defects or missing
parts, and there is no assembly to perform.
The box has no information about the real machine, but some
of the features of the model are described.
Detail
The tracks are metal and are mounted on reasonably detailed
frames, but without working rollers.
The cab has a metal frame with forward facing lights, and
the mirror and grab rails are in plastic. The roof
window is a separate part and feels like it might open but
it is not hinged. 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 rams. A neat
touch is that the rivets are painted which improves the
look of the model.
The hammer is a quite good metal part with a plastic
chisel and it has the rock edge modelled at the bottom, but it lacks any hydraulic connections.
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.
It rotates smoothly , and the boom, stick can be posed in
any position as the rams are stiff enough.
The range of upward movement on the hammer and stick is limited and
appears to be because the end of the piston clashes
internally with
the hydraulic hose connection points, so posing opportunities
are limited.
The chisel in the hammer is spring loaded.
Quality
The model is solidly made with good casting.
The paintwork and graphics are also good.
Price
It is on the expensive side compared to the bucket version
of the model.
Overall
A variant to the usual Caterpillar excavator models is welcome
and this one is implemented reasonably well.
Footnotes
The model was first shown at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in 2012.
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|
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|
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| Hammer is metal,
chisel is plastic. |
 |
|
Track frames look fine, but they do not have working rollers.
|
 |
| Window on top looks
like it should open but it does not.. |
 |
| Engine cover detailing
is good, with hydraulic hoses at the boom foot. |
 |
| Profile view. |
 |
| Convincing load. |
 |
| At work with a
big CAT Shear. |
|
