| The box. | | | Painted details and embossed Liebherr name. | | Rubber block pads. | | Nice body detailing. | | Grilles formed of graphics. Restricted tail swing. | | Profile view. | | High detail. | | Cleaning out a tipper. |
| Comment on this model.
The Liebherr R 914 Compact Excavator is a machine in the 15 tonne weight class and it is aimed at civil engineering and road construction activities.
Packaging
The model comes in the standard Liebherr box design with the model held within two separate expanded polystyrene trays and protected with clear plastic sheets.
There were no missing parts or defects on the review model.
There is no information about the real machine or model. Unusually the model box has two model numbers on it, 04-1125 and 02-1563.
Detail
There is some simple detailing underneath the undercarriage and the track frames look good with silver highlighted elements. The rollers are modelled but are non-functioning. The plastic tracks are detailed to look like they have rubber blocks fitted, and they have a slightly rubberised feel.
There is a simple metal stabilising blade.
The cab is metal with small casting details such as the door hinges. The grab rails are metal and there is a thin aerial. Inside the cab detailing includes a console with switches.
The curved body is highlighted with careful paintwork and graphics which gives it a very detailed look. At the rear the Liebherr name is embossed in the casting and some of the grilles are represented by graphics. The hydraulic hoses running from the body are very good and this high standard of detailing continues up the two-piece boom. Rivets are painted.
At the end of the boom is a tilting bucket although the hydraulics do not reach the tilting mechanism.
Features
The tracks roll reasonably well although one was a little sticky on the review model. They are slightly tensioned by spring-loaded idlers.
The dozing blade raises and lowers with a good range of movement.
It rotates fairly well with a little stickiness in certain places on the review model.
The boom has a good range of movement although the connection at the first joint is a little loose so the boom can sway from side to side a little although in practise it settles straight. The cylinders are stiff but some of the jackets also show signs of yielding as the pistons move inside them.
The bucket tilts from side to side. It is also removable.
Quality
This model has a high metal content with plastic used appropriately including the rubber-style track pads.
The paintwork and graphics are generally very good.
Price
The R 914 is reasonable value.
Overall
As one of the first excavator models for Liebherr by WSI this is a nice model with a very good level of detailing. Hopefully more such models will follow including some limited edition colour schemes.
Footnotes
The model first appeared at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in 2014 and the first release occurred in Q3 of that year.
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| | Travelling. | | Tilting bucket. | | Blade up. | | Good hydraulics and painted rivets. | | Detachable bucket. | | Makes a good load. |
| | Looking good. |
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