 | | 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. |
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