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| Not as big as a house - it's bigger. |
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| Drop down ladder works. |
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| Floodlights have bulbs and their angle can be adjusted. |
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| All things on this model are huge. |
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| View from the top. |
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| Excellent heavy looking strops supporting the boom. |
TWH 012 - Bucyrus 495HR Rope Shovel
Model Review June 2008
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. Collectors will also be pleased with the addition of a spare set of tracks in black, which are relatively straightforward to fit as the track sprockets are spring loaded.
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 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 (the 'crowding' action). This has a brake and the key has to be pushed in to operate it. A very good job has been done to keep the pair of crowd ropes taut, although a little more string on the drums would have have allowed the dipper to take up poses at maximum extension. The tubular handle is worked by a separate winch at the front which is frictional and controls it well.
The dipper flap can be opened by turning the small winch at the base of the boom and this mechanism is very pleasant to operate. Closing the flap gives a satisfying 'clunk'.