 | | The large Hitachi box. |  |  | | The hydraulic lines at the boom connection can jump out. |  | | Detail on the underside of the body. |  | | Grilles look good although the rear ones look weathered because of the paint finish. |  | | Counterweights loaded, metal handrails and plenty of hoses. |  | | Opening door. |  | | The crusher is detailes. |  | | Poses well. |  | | The body would normally be transported on supports rather than the stabilisers. |  | | The Hitachi is sad because it wants to eat concrete not metal. |
|  Comment on this model.
The Hitachi ZAXIS 1000K-3 is sold into the Japanese market and is an equivalent size to the Hitachi ZX870 version sold into European markets. Depending on configuration, the machine can have an operating weight of over 100 tonnes.
The version reviewed here is in a short boom configuration with a heavy Okada crusher and is in the colours of Kibag, a Swiss construction company. They own a similar machine to the one modelled here.
Packaging
The model comes in a surprisingly large Hitachi branded box, and the reason for this is that it is the same for the larger high reach version of the model. There were no defects or missing parts on the review model.
It is nice to see some information about the real machine and a graph of the working range is included on the box side. A clear instruction sheet covers the main features of the model and a few spare track links are also included which is always a nice touch.
Detail
The track frames are good with working rollers on the top edge and inside the lower frame, and the drive sprockets are nicely detailed. The metal tracks are made to a high standard with detailed pads. Separate support outriggers are provided for when the tracks are removed.
The body is really good and there are fine casting details all around including panel handles and grilles. All of the hand rails and grab rails are metal, and a plastic walkway runs along the cab side although it cannot be folded or removed to reduce the transport width. The Kibag livery is distinctive and looks good, and it includes a realistic fleet number.
The cab is metal including the falling object protection and the windows are tinted with the rear side window completely dark, and inside the controls and seat are modelled well.
The counterweight consists of four separate slabs and the lifting eyes are represented but without holes, so they cannot be posed being lifted.
The boom sections have hydraulic pipes modelled within the casting and there are excellent rubber lines representing the flexible connections. The cylinder jackets are plastic with a good colour match. Friction rivets are mainly used for the connections on the three piece boom and arm so they are not obtrusive.
The Okada crusher is entirely metal and is a very nice piece. Again the rivets used do not detract from the look and the structure within the castings is really good.
Features
The tracks roll well on the frames and the idler is spring loaded so removing the tracks is straightforward. Although not documented as a feature in the instruction sheet, each individual track frame can be unscrewed and removed which facilitates the model being posed as a transport load. The track width is not extendible.
The outriggers can be rotated and pads lowered to support the undercarriage without the tracks.
The upper boom is removable by pulling out some pins although the Okada crusher is not designed to be removed.
A door on the cab side of the body opens to allow access to the centre.
The model rotates and has a full range of movement of the boom sections and the cylinders are stiff enough to hold any pose even though the tool is heavy.
The Okada crusher rotates freely and the jaws can be opened and closed.
Quality
This is a very nice quality model with very little plastic. The paintwork and graphics are very good but the quality of finish on the review model was not quite as good as seen on other versions. There was some glue spillage and uneven paint.
Price
It is good value overall, for the quality offered, and its limited edition status.
Overall
This is a fine model and a particular strong point is that it can be stripped down to make excellent transport loads. The detail level is very good, and it is another good edition to the Kibag collection. The model is outstanding.
Footnotes
The model appeared in 2010 in Hitachi colours and was a result of a co-operation between NZG and Ken Kraft in Japan. A high reach version was made as NZG 782. The Okada TS-W2200V crusher was available as a separate part NZG 824. Two versions were made in limited editions of 300 models and were announced at the Nuremberg Toy Fair 2012: Van Vliet and Van Groningen.
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|  | | The parts out of the box. |  | | Profile view. |  | | Stabilisers can be used when the tracks are removed. |  | | Nice track details. |  | | The cab has blue tinted windows. |  | | Robust cab guards. |  | | Nice hydraulics along the boom. |  | | The Okada TS-W2200V crusher rotates. |  | | Split down to make transport loads. It is shown here on a Nooteboom low loader, and 3-axle and 4-axle trailers. |  | | A mini diorama of Kibag models. |
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