Caterpillar 637E Motor Scraper
Presented here is the 1:48th scale Caterpillar 637E twin engined motor scraper from classic construction Models. Providing more power, the 637E scraper has the same loading capacity as the 631E so uses many of the same castings including the front engine and cabin along with the operation of the bowl and articulated steering.
The Goodyear branded tyres have a very authentic and crisply moulded tread pattern and again, all the fine bolt fixing details have been added to the wheel hubs. The drive housing on the front axle is finished with hose detailing and fine surface engraving, complete with a protective cover to prevent damage.
The Caterpillar 8-cylinder 3408 diesel power plant has been fully replicated within the engine bay of the model, visible by opening the side service door while the large front grille is very finely etched to highlight the intricate pattern of holes hiding the radiator block within.
The sides of the chassis have hanging access ladders with authentically scaled metal grab rails for safety. Light housings are fitted to the sides of the engine bay, complete with silver painted lenses while the black finished exhaust stack and air cleaner are visible above the engine bay.
The fully enclosed cabin with opening door has a modelled interior highlighting the driver’s seat, side control levers, steering console and foot controls topped with finely printed dials and gauges. The light tan interior colour has been faithfully replicated with the windows having painted rubber seals and painted on windscreen wipers.
The cushion hitch linkage has been authentically replicated offering realistic movement between front and rear sections coupled with both fixed and flexible hydraulic hoses to the steering cylinders which offer 90 degree rotation of the gooseneck to each side.
Hose lines are also added across the gooseneck for the hydraulic cylinders controlling the bowl, apron and ejector which are fully functional, allowing the model to simulate all stages of operation from loading to discharging. The ejector plate has a full sized hydraulic cylinder visible within the rear frame of the chassis providing the full range of motion for discharging the load and this slides relatively smoothly.
The main structural cross member of the rear frame has very nicely engineered bolt fixing details visible at both ends while the hydraulic cylinders also have intricate end sections showing the bolt detailing. Steps and grab rails are added throughout the model for exceptional attention to detail with all bolt heads visible on the arms of the scraper bar with excellent printing of the period correct markings and logos.
The bowl is fitted with a raised mesh screen towards the rear to prevent material falling towards where the second engine is located. The open sides of the rear engine compartment allow the internal 6-cylinder, 250hp 3306 engine block to be seen, with a rear mesh grille hiding the radiator and a push block integrated into the chassis frame.
To utilise the power of several scrapers, it is common to operate them in a push pull configuration and for this, the front of the model has a hydraulically operated tow bar and hinged strike plate allowing it to authentically connect to the rear hitch point of another scraper. The model is supplied with a serial numbered specification brochure providing details of the full sized machine.
