 | | The large Hitachi box. |  |  | | The parts out of the box. |  | | Counterweights are contained within the holder at the back. |  | | View underneath. |  | | Metal handrails all around. |  | | The Ohsumi FE500 Crusher. |  | | The big main boom is heavy and impressive. |  | | The body looks great on a low loader. |  | | Interesting mini dioramas can be made. Here both versions of the model appear. |
| 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 high reach configuration with an Ohsumi FE500 Crusher.
Packaging
The model comes in a surprisingly large Hitachi branded box containing two trays, with the lower tray containing the body and the top tray has the long reach boom.. 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 surprisingly also inside the bottom of the frames, 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 cab is metal including the falling object protection and the windows are tinted, 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. It is interesting to see the main boom is made up of four separate parts but they are not easily separated which is a pity.
The Ohsumi crusher is entirely metal and is a nice piece which looks realistic.
Features
The tracks roll 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 lowered to support the undercarriage without the tracks.
The upper boom is removable by pulling out some pins although the Ohsumi 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 most poses although the model wants to tip when the boom is lowered significantly.
The Ohsumi 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 set a high standard.
Price
It is good value overall, for the quality offered.
Overall
There is no doubt this is a fine model by NZG and a particular strong point is that it can be stripped down to make excellent transport loads although it is a pity the high reach boom does not split down further. The detail level is very good, if not quite best in class, but all things considered the model is outstanding.
Footnotes
The model appeared in 2010 and was a result of a co-operation between NZG and Ken Kraft in Japan. A smaller boom version was made as NZG 781. The Ohsumi FE500 Crusher was available as a separate part numbered NZG 823. A version in the colours of Avenir Deconstruction appeared at the Nuremberg Toy Fair 2012 and was made in a limited run of 300 models.
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|  | | Profile view. |  | | Detailed tracks. |  | | Opening door provides access to the interior. |  | | The cab has lightly tinted windows. |  | | Good hydraulic lines at the boom foot. |  | | The main boom is made up of separate sections. |  | | These Cranes Etc guys do not have a clue about rigging this load. They have been given warnings about their poor performance. |  | | The 40m reach scales to about 80cm. This is a big model. |  | | Long reach comes into its own. |
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