 |
| Liebherr branded
box. |
 |
 |
| Blade
down. |
 |
| Nice boom rams. |
 |
| Detailed
hydraulics. |
 |
| Decent cab
detail. |
 |
| Removable bucket. |
 |
| Good haulage
load. |
|
 Comment on this model.
The Liebherr A 918 is a smaller
wheeled excavator with a weight of under 20 tonnes and
its compact dimensions make it ideal for work in
confined spaces. The machine was a
Red Dot Design Award Winner in 2012 and a small
sticker on the model box celebrates the fact.
This version of the model is in the colours of
Hentschke, a German construction company founded in
1857.
Packaging
The model comes in a Liebherr branded box which is
unusual as it has a window. Inside the model rests
in an expanded polystyrene tray with a clear lid.
There were no missing parts or
defects on the review model.
It is fully assembled so no instructions are supplied,
and NZG have usefully supplied a bag containing spare pins.
Detail
The undercarriage is very nice with excellent rubber
tyres on detailed wheels and the full transmission is
modelled. A stabilising blade is attached.
The cab is high quality with tinted windows and smart
frames, and there is a nicely detailed interior with
controls. On the outside are wipers, mirrors and
aerial. The rest of the body casting is very good
with exhaust and other details. Of particular note
is the careful use of
paint highlights details such as panel hinges, and tiny
dots indicate the indicators and reversing lights within
the rear light clusters.
Excellent small graphics add to the realism. The
Hentschke colour scheme looks good and the logos are
rendered well.
The boom and stick have very detailed hydraulic pipes
and hoses and the model sets a high standard in this
regard. At the end of the stick is a quick coupler
arrangement.
The supplied bucket has a cutting edge.
Features
The model rolls well and one axle steers and also has
plenty of floating movement to cope with rough terrain.
The stabilising blade tilts so it could be used for
dozing or as a stabiliser.
The model rotates and the boom and stick have a full
range of movement possible.
The bucket tilts on its mounting and is attached to a
quick coupler which allows it to be removed by
withdrawing steel pins. The bucket can also be
reversed to face forwards.
Quality
NZG has produced another high quality model. There is little plastic used, and the
paintwork and graphics are very good.
Price
It is good value as a limited edition.
Overall
This is very nice excavator model from NZG with the
hydraulics detailing of particular note. It is an
attractive model in the Hentschke colour scheme and is
easy to highly recommend.
Footnotes
The model first appeared in
Liebherr colours at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in
2012 and became available later in the year. This
version in Hentschke colours was made in a run of 300 models
and was a Winter 2013 release.
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|
|
|
 |
|
Profile view. |
 |
| Parked up. |
 |
| Very good
graphics. |
 |
| Good detail underneath. |
 |
| Hydraulic hoses
throughout.
|
 |
| Bucket can be
angled. |
|
