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| Liebherr-branded
box. |
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| Excellent track
frame details. |
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| Underside view
showing the pivoting beam linking the track frames.
|
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| Blade raises
high.
|
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| Big ripper
assembly is detailed.
|
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| Good details around
the cab. |
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| Blade and
ripper removed. |
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| Without the
blade it fits nicely. |
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| Sitting on a
Nooteboom trailer. |
|
The PR 764 is the largest dozer in the
current Liebherr range and it is also claimed to be the
world's largest hydrostatically driven tractor.
It has an operating weight in the range of 44 to 53 tonnes,
and has a maximum travel speed of 11km/h.
This model is in the colours of
Hilti,
a construction company based in Liechtenstein.
Packaging
The model comes in the usual Liebherr-styled box and it
is securely held between expanded polystyrene trays.
There were no defects or missing parts on the review model.
No information is provided about the real machine and as
the model is complete in the box no assembly is required.
NZG thoughtfully provide some spare track links with the
model which is a nice touch.
Detail
The PR 764 is satisfyingly heavy which gives
it a very robust feel.
The metal tracks are excellent and very well detailed with
each link showing bolt locations. A particularly nice
detail is the oscillating rollers which are beautifully
engineered and replicate the real machine in a convincing
way.
The body is finely detailed with numerous grab rails and
printed grilles, and the cab has slightly tinted windows
together with windscreen wipers and lights. Internal
details are good too, with the controls clearly visible.
The exhaust pipe would have looked better if it had a hole
rather than appearing solid, but other small details abound
including a nice fuel filler cap.
At the rear, there is a heavy duty ripper attachment complete
with hydraulic cylinders that have authentic looking hoses.
The ripper looks sharp and businesslike. The pinned connection
of the moving parts is first rate with no unsightly rivets,
and this is replicated at the front also.
The semi-U blade looks good with wear plates on the bottom
edge, and the top edge has perforations on the sides for driver visibility.
The blade mounting beams are cast well and include textured
stepping points. The hydraulic ram jackets are plastic
and well detailed, although the colour match is not
quite perfect.
Features
The tracks are stiff but can be made to roll and
they are tensioned by spring loaded idlers. Each track frame is linked and
can oscillate to facilitate travel on rough terrain.
The single shank ripper is pinned, allowing three different
settings, or it can be fully removed. It has a reasonable
range of movement.
At the front the blade has a good range of movement up
and down, and it also can be angled forward and backwards.
A degree of side-to-side tilt is also possible.
It would have been good if the blade and ripper were
easily removable so the model could be posed in a
transport configuration. In fact it is possible to
detach the blade assembly by carefully removing the
covers at the rear of the mounting beams and undoing the
screws, but it appears NZG has not intended that
collectors do this.
Quality
The model is high quality in terms of the manufacture and
paintwork and the graphics are of a high standard too.
The Hilti colour scheme looks good.
Price
The model is good value having regard for its limited
edition status.
Overall
This is a very nice dozer model and the quality of the
model engineering around the tracks is really very good
indeed. The functionality of the model is good
and the model is highly recommended.
Footnotes
The model first appeared in prototype form at the Nuremberg
Toy Fair in 2009. It became available in
Liebherr colours in mid 2009.
This version in the colours of Hilti appeared in mid 2012 in a limited run of
300 models.
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Profile view. |
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| Imposing blade. |
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| Imposing from the
back too. |
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| Hilti colour
scheme is interesting. |
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| Blade tilts too |
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| Blade has wear
plates at the bottom. |
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| The shank is removable,
or has three settings.
|
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| It's a big
heavy tractor. |
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| Large radiator. |
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