 | | Caterpillar branded box. |  |  | | Engine side grille is understated. |  | | Front end detail is sparse. |  | | No hoses crossing the pivot point. |  | | Big tyres on detailed wheels. |  | | Cat logo on the seat back. |  | | Wheel arch would have looked better with some black to represent rubber. |  | | Big rock bucket but no top perforations. |  | | Loading a Caterpillar MT4400D. |
|  Comment on this model.
The Caterpillar 994H is the largest wheel loader in the Caterpillar range. It has an operating weight of around 195 tonnes and bucket capacities in the range 14 - 36 m³, with a rated payload of 32 tonnes.
This model is of the 'High Lift' version which has extended loader arms.
Packaging
The model comes in a typical Caterpillar-branded box style with windows. Inside however the packaging is different from other Tonkin Caterpillar models with a pair of factory sealed expanded polystyrene trays holding the models. The model is also secured to the base with tightly wound twist ties, which is a disappointment given the frustrations of this type of packaging.
The review model had no missing parts or defects.
The box includes a small collector card which has some information about the real machine and a nice photo.
Detail
The underside has some detailing with the transmission drive shafts present for both axles. The rubber tyres are good. They are solid and not shiny, with a decent tread pattern. The metal wheels are very good with fine detailing on both faces, although the inside faces have black extension rims.
At the rear the grille is metal and lights add to the detail. The grilles on the left side is detailed in the casting surface but as it is painted over it is indistinct and some black paint or real perforations would have looked better.
Small plastic access ladders are fixed on each side. The rear wheel arches are metal and yellow, and black paint highlighting rubber flaps would have improved the look. All the rest of the handrails and stairs are high quality metal and nice and thin. The anti-slip walkway surface is formed well. On top of the engine block the air intakes and exhausts are plastic.
The metal cab is detailed with a wiper, plastic mirrors and decent light assemblies. The beacon lights on the roof are good. Small warning graphics complete the detail. The interior detail has the CAT logo on the seat back and the trainer seat is present.
At the pivot point the front axle drive shaft is visible, but the addition of hydraulic hoses would have made it more complex and interesting.
The front axle arches lack rubber flaps but there is a plastic light assembly on top. The front view of the axle assembly is fairly plain.
The loader arm with the Z-bar linkages is generally modelled well with hoses running to the rams. Rivets and pins are painted and unobtrusive. There are a couple of screwed connections visible on the loader arms but they are painted and relatively small.
The rock bucket is metal and of heavy construction. Teeth and wear plates look good but there are no visibility perforations in the top edge.
Features
The wheels roll well in a straight line with each pair of tyres fixed to a common axle. The rear axle is able to oscillate significantly on its mounting. However there is also a small amount of sideways movement of the rear axle and this impacts rolling the model when turning sharply with the tyres getting fouled.
The model steers across the pivot point and the overall steering angle is accurate.
The loader arm lifts the bucket to a realistic height and is stiff enough to hold most poses. The tipping angle is good.
Quality
This is a well-made model with a high metal content.
The paint finish is very good and the graphics are sharp.
Price
It is good value given the size of the model.
Overall
This is a solid reworking of the Caterpillar 994 with some pleasing details, although in some areas more detailing would have been a worthwhile improvement. It is a big and convincing model.
Footnotes
The model was available from September 2014.
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|  | | Dominating. |  | | Lights at the rear. |  | | Detail underneath. |  | | Walkway texture and metal handrails are good. | |
|  | | Profile view. |  | | Loader arm is big. |  | | Carrying rocks. |  | | Travelling. |  | | Decent tipping angle. |
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