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Large carry case.
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The radio control
parts. |
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Underneath.
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Opening cab door.
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Nice detail on
top. |
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Bucket has small
Volvo badges. |
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Opening panels.
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Parked up. |
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Opening engine
cover. |
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Depth of dig is
less than the real machine achieves. |
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Massive size compared
to a 1:50 excavator. |
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The Volvo EC160E is an excavator in the 20 tonne class.
The model is very large being around 30cm high in a parked
position, 60cm long end to end, and weighs around 10kg.
It is a metal model in 1:14 scale.
Packaging
The model comes in a large carry case which gives a professional
feel. It is a good design because of the heavy weight
of the model.
There were no defects or missing parts on the review model.
A set of Operating Instructions are included and it is printed
in English and Chinese. It covers the set up of the
model and the remote control. There is also some information
concerning the motors and mechanisms which will be useful
for any owner wanting to carry out maintenance.
The instructions refer to a smartphone being used as an
instrument display, and also to sound controls, but neither
are implemented on this version of the model.
Detail
The metal crawler tracks are cast well and individually
pinned. The track frames are large castings with good detail
and working rollers. The drive sprockets are detailed
too.
The body of the model is huge in 1:14 scale.
The cab has lights on top and a large windscreen wiper.
There is another light with protection grille at the bottom
and a large orange metal grab rail which lacks a mirror.
The door has shaped handles and although hinges are visible,
they are small. The cab is detailed inside in plastic,
with controls including foot pedals.
Behind the cab the panel doors are nicely detailed with
handles. There are sharp graphics, and small hinges.
The counterweight has an embossed Volvo name, warning graphics,
properly formed lifting eyes and a rear light housing, but
not the video camera.
On top there are nicely textured surfaces, an air intake
and exhaust, and other cast-in details.
The hydraulic rams have metal jackets, and hydraulic hoses
run to the stick. The connection rivets are reasonably
discrete.
The large bucket is a very nice casting. The teeth
are individually screwed in. There is no lifting hook.
Features
The main operating switch is located behind one of the opening
panels. There are three opening side panels, and another
one above the engine also opens. Small magnets are
used to keep the opening doors in the closed position and
these work very well.
The counterweight is removable.
The cab door opens to a full angle.
The tracks have powerful motors and they drive the model
well, and steering is possible. They also have some
variability in speed but would benefit from a very slow
speed. There is easily enough power in the
motors to achieve a gradeability angle to match the real
machine of 35 degrees.
There are working LED lights on the front and rear of the
top of the cab. They can be adjusted for brightness,
or switched off.
The rotation is very smooth with some variable speed and
it can rotate continuously in either direction.
The boom, stick and bucket hydraulic rams work by means
of motors driving screwed rods inside the pistons. These
work and are powerful, although the range of extension of
the rams is somewhat less than the real machine achieves.
Quality
The model has a very high metal content and is very robust.
The paint and graphics are very good.
The visual appearance of the model is not affected by the
remote control electronics or mechanics. The controller
is very good quality.
Price
Given the size of the model and that it is fully radio controlled,
it is fairly priced.
Overall
This model looks great as a stand alone model, and is impressive
because of its size. The radio control is implemented
well and it is a fun model to operate with plenty of power.
Footnotes
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Inside the case.
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Looks realistic. |
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Warning graphics
on the counterweight. |
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All metal parts.
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Hoses run to the
hydraulic rams. |
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Robust boom and
stick construction. |
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Removable counterweight.
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Opening panel. |
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Impressive. |
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Boom height
is good, the stick less so. |
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