 | | Usual Sword box style. |  |  | | The distinctive Peterbilt front. |  | | Opening hood and removable battery box cover. Tiny warning notices on the dump body. |  | | Good detail underneath. |  | | The small shutter in the tailgate opens. |  | | With the tarpaulin removed the support ribs and timber edging is revealed. |  | | 'I hope dropping this beam doesn't dent the ally body'. |
| Peterbilt of the USA has a long history as a truck maker having been founded in 1938. This is a model of the type 357 chassis mounted with an East Genesis Dump body. The East Trailer company was founded in 1968 and is one of the larger trailer manufacturers in the US. All its dump trailers are made of aluminium.
Packaging
The model is packed in a standard Sword Models box which has the model name on it but no pictures or other information. Inside, the model is well packed within a couple of expanded polystyrene trays and polythene wrapping. The review model had a small pin missing from the rear of the body but this was replaced by using a spare, and a further pin was sent by the manufacturer straight away without quibble.
Included in the box are some small bags of parts to fit including the wing mirrors and air horns, a cover for the batteries and, thoughtfully, some extra tie downs and pins. It is fairly intuitive where the parts go but a simple instruction leaflet would benefit the novice collector.
Detail
The chassis is very detailed. At the rear the two driving axles are complete with prop shafts and differentials and replicated suspension details, and the working lift axle has a simple beam arrangement. The rear driving wheels have very good metal hubs with finely treaded tyres, and there are rubber mud flaps on the rear wheels. Towards the front the underside of the engine is visible and the exhaust pipe trails out to the side of the body. Pleasingly, the front wheels and lift axle wheels are on different metal hubs, and these are also different to those on the rear wheels.
The imposing front of the Peterbilt is modelled very well with a superb finely etched radiator grille. The bumper is metal and the headlight clusters have lenses incorporated for both headlamps and indicators. Both on the top of the radiator and on the sides of the bonnet (hood) there are tiny Peterbilt badges which are perfectly legible. The wheel arches have an excellent rubber lining which become mud flaps behind the wheels. Under the bonnet is a detailed engine, with a separate radiator, and there are various pipes and hoses.
The cab detail is all of an excellent standard. On one side batteries are modelled underneath a removable cover. On the opposite side there is a top notch fuel tank. The steps to the cab have nicely patterned treads. The exhaust stack has a grab handle and it is good to see an exhaust pipe that has a hole and looks like a pipe. There is lots of chrome work around the top of the cab with very good metal wing mirrors, lights and air horns. The model makers have chosen to leave the main windows off of the cab doors presumably to replicate the truck appearing 'in use' but it would probably look a little better with the windows in. Inside, the cab is also detailed with the steering column having a tiny stalk below the wheel.
The East Genesis dump body is very detailed. On the driver's side there are tiny warning notices, and step irons allowing access up the side of the body and both sides of the body have very good ribbing. At the rear the tailgate has small locking latches and a chain, with a mechanism for opening a small shutter.
Underneath, the body structure is replicated very well and there are rubber mud flaps front and rear which bear the East logo. The hydraulic cylinder which lifts the body is a metal multi stage piston. On the top of the body there is imitation timber edging as a protection to both edges of the body, and these are removable.
An unusual detail of the model is the tarpaulin which is provided. This is a stitched piece of material which is secured into place with long metal pins, and at the rear is held down by tie downs which hook into eyelets sown into the tarpaulin. Removable metal ribs span across the dump body to support the tarpaulin.
Features
The front wheels steer but the steering is 'notched' rather than variable so the wheels can only be posed in one position when pointing left or right. Also the steering fouls the wheel arch slightly so that the model does not roll smoothly when turning which is a pity.
The lift axle works and can be clipped out of service if not required.
The hood opens in a very easy action and the cab doors can be opened too. On the driver's side the cover to the battery box, which forms part of the steps, can be removed to reveal the batteries.
The tarpaulin can be removed together with the supporting ribs to create a fully open dump body. A particularly nice feature is the elastic tie downs, each complete with tiny hooks. However replacing the tarpaulin takes some skill as it is a bit fiddly to fasten into place.
The tailgate has two modes of opening. It can open as a conventional tipper tailgate or, by switching a pin, it can swing open sideways like a door. Included within the tailgate is a working small shutter which can be opened and closed. The tipper mechanism is very smooth and can hold the body up at any desired angle. There are also a couple of stays which can be used to prop the body up at full tilt.
Quality
This is a high quality model with a very significant attention to detail and there is almost a complete absence of plastic. The inclusion of the tarpaulin is a quality feature. The paintwork and graphics are all to a high standard.
Price
As with other Sword Peterbilt 357 models this is not the cheapest truck model around and is not one to put in the sandbox. However the price reflects the high quality of the model.
Overall
At the time of the review this is probably the most detailed rigid dump truck around. Built around the standard Peterbilt 357 chassis, the dump body is exceptionally good. Many interesting poses are possible by pairing the model with others.
Footnotes
The model was released in 2007 and the following versions were produced:
Colours: Red - 500; White - 500; Yellow - 500.
Badged: Rick Kuntz - 250; Kokosing - 250.
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|  | | The model and bags of small parts. |  | | Excellent detail on the tailgate. |  | | Engine and opening cab door. |  | | Tarpaulin cover, tie downs and ribs. |  | | The tailgate can open in the usual tipper style. |  | | Interesting poses can be created, here with a Joal Liebherr 564 Wheeled Loader. |  | | 'I changed the pin and look!' |  | | Being loaded by a Liebherr 954. |
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