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The box. |
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The model and two
leaflets. |
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Excellent hoses
abound. |
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Underside view.
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Very good detail
in the cab and engine. |
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Colour match on
the yellow hydraulic cylinder jackets is just slightly off.
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Posed on a
Goldhofer
low loader. In reality much too heavy for the
trailer. |
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The Vermeer Manufacturing Company was
founded in Iowa USA in 1948 and as the Vermeer Corporation
it is now a manufacturer of agricultural and excavation
equipment.
The T1255 Commander is a versatile machine and in this configuration
is used for surface mining / excavating rock. It weighs
up to 111 tonnes and with a 600 hp engine, can excavate
to a depth 0.8m (32 inches).
Packaging
The box reflects the green, white and black corporate colours
of Vermeer and has a photo of the real machine. Inside,
the two expanded polystyrene trays and other soft packaging
protect the model well. There are some delicate parts
on the model and it therefore needs to be handled with respect.
The review model had no defects or missing pieces.
Included are two small leaflets. One contains information
about the real machine, and the second is a simple instruction
sheet although no user assembly is required for this version
of the T1255.
Detail
Beginning underneath, the chassis is fairly plain but the
underside of the engine is clearly visible. The track
frames have lots of detail within the casting with many
rivets and plates reproduced, and there is a fine looking
drive sprocket. The track pads are metal and detailed.
The operator's cab is a very good piece of modelling.
On the outside there is an excellent thin grab rail, and
electric cabling. At the bottom a fine mesh platform
provides an entrance to the cab. Inside there is a
superbly detailed console and an excellent chair.
The whole cab can be elevated, and this in turn reveals
another view into the body and there is a ton of electric
cabling and other detail to be seen. Just behind the
cab is a tiny red emergency hammer which is an excellent
detail.
Further back, a set of mesh doors open to reveal the engine
block complete with many electric and hydraulic lines.
At the rear a large radiator block is beautifully rendered.
On the opposite side to the operator's cab is another
excellent mesh door which, on opening, gives further access
to the engine, and also contains an enclosure for a fan.
The roof of the model is highly detailed with mesh screens
and a wealth of tiny replica rivets as well as air intakes
and an exhaust stack.
The front half of the main machine is symmetrical on both
sides. The hydraulic cylinder jackets are plastic
and although the colour match is not perfect to the painted
metal, it is reasonably close. The terrain leveller
attachment has some first class cabling and hoses leading
to the drive motors. The cutting head is a tour de
force with superbly detailed cutting teeth and an excellent
wide drive belt. Much of this detail is visible from
underneath, but in normal view it is somewhat hidden by
the rubber skirt which surrounds the cutting head.
Behind the head is a pair of legs with metal rollers. The
top part of the legs is plastic however it is not obtrusive.
Features
The tracks roll freely on the frames, and one sprocket in
the frame is spring loaded to facilitate track removal if
required.
The operator's cab has an opening door and the whole
cab is elevating and can be posed at any height as the mechanism
is sufficiently stiff. The cab also features a sprung
seat which rotates.
There are further opening doors on both sides of the main
engine compartment.
The cutting head can be raised and lowered, although the
cylinders could not maintain the head high for long without
it bleeding down due to the weight. A small degree
of side to side tilt can also be made and this reproduces
the functionality of the real machine. The two support
legs can be lowered to set the height of the cutting head.
The cutters can be turned and this is a considerable piece
of model engineering as the wide drive belt is metal and
turns also.
Quality
This is a very high quality, highly detailed model..
The paintwork and graphics are faultless and very little
plastic is used with the only slight blemish being the colour
match of the cylinder jackets.
Price
This model is very good value considering the detail and
quality.
Overall
This is a very well executed model of a part of the mining
and earthworks sector which has not been well represented
previously. This is an excellent model.
Footnotes
The model first appeared at dealers in October 2008.
The run of the model is 4000 units. The model is distributed
in Europe as NZG model 745.
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It occupies the
same tray design as the Vermeer
Trencher. |
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Profile view. |
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The heavy rotary
levelling unit. |
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The terrain leveller
cutting drum peeks below the rubber skirt. |
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Hydraulic legs
and rollers control the cutting head. |
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Another door, more
detail. |
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'You know you
said you wanted something to clean the mud off the back
yard'. |
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