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| The Sword style
box. |
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Configured as a flatbed. |
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| Smart Mack
front end. |
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| Cones stored
under the flatbed.
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| Tilting hood. |
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| Opening door,
with a fire extinguisher beside the seat.
|
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| Accessories -
cones, shovel and wheel chock. |
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| Tilt angle is
very good.
|
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| Beams strapped
down on the flatbed. |
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This is a model of the Mack Granite
Flatbed Truck with additional Titan Tipper side
panels and tailgate. There is no information
provided about the real truck and the review version is in a red colour
scheme.
Packaging
The model is very well packed with a plain cardboard
outer box enclosing the Sword branded box wrapped in
tissue. Inside, the model is held within
polystyrene trays. The review
model had no defects or missing parts.
The only parts to fit are the door mirrors and tipper
side panels and although there are no instructions it is
easy to do. Some accessories are included and It is
good
to see that some spare door mirrors and a pointer tool are
also provided.
Detail
The truck chassis is very detailed underneath with the
suspension and transmission parts modelled in metal.
There are excellent brake lines to each of the wheels. The wheels have very good metal hubs with finely treaded
tyres which have a different width on the front and rear
axles.
The Mack Granite radiator looks great with a Bulldog
mascot mounted on
the hood. The headlights have plastic lenses.
Under the hood the engine is detailed and made of a
number of components.
The cab detail is excellent with air horns and lights on the roof.
The door mirrors are improved from previous Sword Mack
models with a fine wire structure which is stronger too. Inside, the seats and
instruments are very good and there is a fire
extinguisher also. The seats have a Mack logo
printed on the back.
Behind the cab, the exhaust stacks are excellent, and
the chassis has some large equipment holders and very
fine quality diamond plate surfacing between the rear
wheels.
The flatbed has a well formed surface with red and white
striping along the side edges. At the front the
headboard has superb fine mesh inserts. At the
rear the lights look good and the mud flaps are flexible
rubber. The optional tipper panels are a one-piece
item with only the rivet holding the tailgate looking a
little large.
Some accessories are included with the model.
Three different length sets of three rubber tie-down
straps allow loads to be secured. Four small cones
with detailed graphics are provided as well as two
rubber wheel chocks and two nice metal hand shovels.
Features
The front wheels on the tractor steer, with a good
range of movement which only fouls at the extremities. The steering
is notched rather than smooth. All axles have
working suspension.
The hood opens forward completely and the cab doors can also
be opened. The seats have a degree of 'spring'.
The flatbed deck can be tilted to a good angle and can
be held at any pose.
The tipper side panels can be clipped into place and the
tailgate opens or can be clipped in the closed position.
The towing hitch at the rear can be opened and closed.
Quality
This is a high quality model with particularly fine mesh
work. The plastic content is very low.
Price
The model is priced to reflect the high quality.
Overall
Sword have produced another model in keeping with their
high quality standards. It is well presented, and the
accessories and features of the model provide plenty of
flexibility which do enough for the model to be
considered outstanding.
Footnotes
The model was much delayed from its initial announcement
and finally appeared in July 2011. It was also
produced in yellow, black and white.
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|
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| The parts in
the box. |
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| Door mirrors
have very fine gauge supports. |
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| Chassis detail
is really good. |
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| Detailed
engine. |
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| Excellent mesh
screens. |
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| Tailgate opens. |
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| A
Potain MDT
178 tower section as a load. |
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| Good detail at
the rear. |
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