 | | The Sword style box. |  |  | | Profile view. |  | | Mack front end. |  | | Complex hosing at the distributor. |  | | Battery cover removed. |  | | Opening door. |  | | Nozzles are painted. |  | | Tank gauge at the rear. |
| This is a model of the Mack Granite Flatbed Truck with an Etnyre Asphalt Distributor. E D Etnyre is a company based in Oregon Illinois with a history in road building equipment that began in 1898.
The asphalt distributor sprays tar spray over a road or car park surface. It is operated by the driver of the truck with the discharge rate being relative to the speed of the truck to ensure an even coverage.
Packaging
The model is very well packed with a plain cardboard shipping box enclosing the Sword branded box wrapped in tissue. Inside, the model is held within polystyrene trays. The review model had no defects or missing parts.
The only parts to fit are the door mirrors and the battery cover. Included in the box are spare door mirrors and air horns, and a pointer tool. There are no instructions for the model and no information about the real machine.
Detail
The truck chassis is very detailed underneath with the suspension and transmission parts modelled in metal. There are excellent hoses to each of the wheels and the hydrostatic pump. The wheels have very good metal hubs with finely treaded tyres which have a different width on the front and rear axles. At the front the chassis is extended to hold the hydrostatic pump.
The Mack Granite radiator looks great with a Bulldog mascot mounted on the hood. The headlights have plastic lenses. Under the hood the engine is detailed and made of a number of components.
The cab detail is excellent with air horns and lights on the roof. The door mirrors are improved from earlier Sword Mack models with a fine wire structure which is stronger too. Inside, the seats and instruments are very good and there is a fire extinguisher also. The seats have a Mack logo printed on the back. Behind the cab, the exhaust stack is excellent.
The tank looks great with its lacquered finish. There is very fine rivet detailing denoting the panel edges and the top has a mesh walkway and a finely etched measuring stick. The cap to the tank has some very small graphics and there are many tiny graphics all around the asphalt apparatus. There are gauges at each end of the tank.
At the rear the distribution gear is a complex piece of modelling with many hoses in different colours and patterns. The spraying arms have individually painted nozzles.
Features
The front wheels steer with a notched mechanism, but they rub against the wheel arches when turned. The front axle has working suspension.
The hood opens but movement is restricted by the hydrostatic pump at the front. The cab doors open and the seats have a degree of 'spring'.
The cover to the batteries can be removed although it is tricky to fit in place properly. The cap on the tank top opens and closes.
The spreaders at the rear can fold down to simulate spraying although it takes some effort to get them to sit horizontally. There is a small amount of side to side movement possible.
Quality
This is a high quality model with very good attention paid to the tank. The paintwork and graphics are of a very high standard.
Price
The price reflects the quality of the model.
Overall
This is an unusual and interesting model which has been executed well by Sword Models. The appearance of the model is really good and it is easy to highly recommend.
Footnotes
The model was much delayed from its initial announcement and finally appeared in August 2011. It was also produced in red, black and white.
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|  | | The parts. |  | | Door mirrors have fine gauge supports. |  | | Chassis detail is really good. |  | | Hood cannot fully open. |  | | Opening tank cover. |  | | Spreader open. |  | | At work with a Peterbilt East Dump Truck |  | | Lacquered finish on the tank looks good. |
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