 |
| The packaging is huge.
This is the outer box. |
 |
 |
| The model in the tray.
It is best to mark up the packaging so it is easy to repack. |
 |
| Graphics and paint job
are very good. |
 |
| Parked up. |
 |
| It is a huge machine.
|
 |
| Excellent cab detail
inside. |
 |
| Interesting dipper
handle. |
 |
| Sometimes you feel so
small. |
 |
| Roof details. |
 |
| Detailed warning signs. |
 |
| Loading a
Caterpillar
797 Mining Truck. |
 |
| It's not oil sands, but
rocks will do. |
|
 Comment on this model.
Caterpillar took over Bucyrus International in 2011 and
rebranded the Bucyrus line into its own colours. The 7495 Series are high
performance electric mining shovels, produced in two versions.
The 7495 HR is a hard rock version and the 7495 HF reviewed here is a high
flotation version used where a low ground pressure is required
such as in oil sands excavation. The shovels are capable of
excavating 100 tonnes of material at a time and can load large
mining trucks in two or three passes. The dipper (shovel)
capacities range from 27-61m³ (35-80yd³).
Packaging
It comes in a very large black outer container and inside is an inner box
separated by spacers which is a giant picture sleeve enclosing two expanded
polystyrene trays. Care has to
be taken removing the model from the box as there are plenty of
separate pieces to the packaging and its worth marking these up
as you go so that the model can be put back in the box again if
required. Also the model is secured by a large tie to the tray
underneath which is awkward to release.
There is no information about the model or the machine, and
there were no missing parts on the review model. One of
the hoist ropes for the dipper was tangled on the winch drum
inside the body and required significant effort to resolve.
A couple of metal handrails had slight bends but were easy to
correct back to shape.
Separate from the model two winding handles are provided
together with some handrails which have to be fitted. A simple
instruction sheet would have been a useful inclusion with the
model.
Detail
Starting with the lower works, the crawler tracks are
massive with pads which are large heavy links individually
pinned together. Each set of tracks is carried on huge track
frames which have various bolt, lifting eye and bearing
details. Between the track frames is some extraordinary detail
and heavy construction. At one end there are huge track drive
boxes with heavy interconnections and various cables of
different gauges and types. There is also a boom with a feeder
cable to trail off to an electricity supply.
Above the turntable there is a large slewing motor on each side
of the model. Although this is a hard to see without getting your eyes to crawler track level, the detail is
outstanding. Numerous cables are run and clipped at various
points. On one side the access walkway runs under the body
complete with mesh floor and handrails and there is an adjacent
radiator grille.
Starting at the bottom of the cab side, a boarding ladder has
excellent mesh tread steps and this detail is reproduced
throughout the model together with metal hand railing which is in a realistic thickness for the scale.
Excellent quality graphics result in legible warning notices and
these are sprinkled across the model. The walkway leads up
stairs to a mid level which has orange beacon lights and a horn
loudspeaker, together with a door and access ladder to the
dipper flap release winch. A pair of floodlights hang down from
under the cab and these are beautifully modelled with the bulbs
clearly visible inside the lamps. More floodlights like these
are located at various points around the model.
Another flight of stairs leads to the cab deck. Here, first
class air-conditioning machinery is modelled complete with grilles and cabling. Doors lead into the cab and this is
highly detailed too. The operator's station has joystick and
pedal controls, and tiny graphics are visible on the
workstation. An additional seat is provided and behind there
are various cabinets as well as a refreshment station where a
coffee machine and microwave oven are visible. Outside, the cab
has a windscreen wiper, mirror and fire extinguisher.
The roof of the machine has various access hatches
detailed within the casting. A detailed generator complete with
high voltage sign sits in one corner and there are three
giant filters towards the rear. Handrails surround the roof area and
further ladders with safety cages ascend the A-frame where the
strops supporting the boom are attached. These strops
reflect those on the real machine with an appropriate
steel-coloured choice of thread.
On the opposite side of the body from the cab a vertical ladder
provides access to further walkways and these include a large
convex mirror at the front which allows the operator to see if
anyone is on the walkway from his position in the cab. In fact
on the model looking through the operator's cab at the mirror
you can see how this works. This side of the model is where the
winding keys are inserted to operate the model. One is a hole
in the body and the second is skillfully designed to be accessed
through the window of a doorway.
The back of the model
has a large CAT graphic. A pair of floodlights and vents complete the detail in this
area. The boom is of suitably heavy box beam construction and
includes stairways which lead to the top where two pairs of very
large pulley wheels carry the rope for raising and lowering the
dipper. The tubular handle consists of a silver tube which has
a pulley mechanism at one end and a complex arrangement for
holding the dipper at the other end.
The dipper is a very heavy piece of modelling. A pair of excellent and fully linked
pulley connections hold the dipper, and painted heavy duty
riveted connections fix the dipper to the tubular handle. It
has very thick walls and at the cutting edge has six teeth which
are complete with rivet details. The door at
the rear has heavy structural members finely recreated.
Features
The tracks on the model work really well considering the heavy
weight resting on them and this is in part helped by the working
rollers on the track frame.
The electric feeder cable boom attached to the lower works can
be rotated to different angles. Access to the machine is
provided via a pair of ladders. One is a stairway which is
controlled by a hydraulic cylinder and this mechanism works, and
the second is a vertical ladder which can be lowered and raised.
The two doors to the operator's cab can be opened, and the
various floodlights around the model can all be adjusted for
angle.
The main functions of the shovel work well. It rotates smoothly
although care needs to be exercised in terms of not pushing on the
handrails to turn the model as these will likely bend before the
mass of the model gives in to moving.
The dipper functions are
operated using two long keys supplied with the model. One
operates the raising and lowering of the dipper. This has a brake and the key has to be pushed in to
operate it. The tubular handle is worked by a separate winch at
the front which is frictional and controls it well.
The dipper door can be opened by turning the small winch at the
base of the boom although on the review model the door was not
quite free swinging.
Quality
This is a very high
quality model which is mainly metal and the castings are all first rate, with graphics and
paintwork that enhance the model. Functionality is very good,
with smoothly operating parts not troubled by the significant
weight and loads on them.
Price
This
is a very large and impressive model and it is very
good value for money overall.
Overall
This model is a good-looking reworking of the original Bucyrus
model in Caterpillar colours. The rear counterweight has
been changed to remove the Bucyrus name but in other respects
the model is unchanged so some of the more recent developments
of the real machine such as the cab design are not reflected.
However this is one of those models that will impress anyone -
even those with no interest in the subject. It remains an
outstanding mining shovel model.
Footnotes
The model first appeared in 2006
as a Bucyrus-branded model.
The HF
'Fastfil' bucket
was available separately from Sword Models and was produced in a
run of 1000.
|
|
|
|
 |
| Inside, the Caterpillar
sleeve. |
 |
| Profile view. |
 |
| Looking smart.
|
 |
| Ladders and handrails
are high quality. |
 |
| Air conditioner behind
the cab and opening door.
|
 |
| Access ladder folded
down.
|
 |
| Large metal rope
wheels.
|
 |
| No place to hide.
|
 |
| Bucket is impressive.
|
 |
| Wide high flotation
tracks. |
 |
| Fine details even in
hard to see places. |
 |
| Ladder lowered. |
|
|
| |
|
