Caterpillar MT4400D-AC Mine Truck
Presented here is the 1:50th scale Caterpillar MT4400D-AC mine truck which has been produced in China by Tonkin Replicas. The model is based on the earlier Terex / Unit rig MT4400 model which was produced by Bymo sharing a number of the original parts with updates made to reflect the latest design changes to the full sized truck which is now in the Caterpillar stable.
Unlike on the original Bymo release, all the metal safety railings are already fitted in place and these look good. One interesting omission on the update is the missing safety chains opposite the cabin door and I am not sure if this is the case just on the review sample or if the chains are missing for the entire production run.
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The cab is nicely detailed with replicated interior, complete with driver and passenger seats and control console. The cab exterior has roof mounted light pole display and front windscreen wipers with the addition of a fire extinguisher and weight measurement display fitted to the side railings. |
The electrical cabinets are mounted next to the cab with surface panel detailing complimented with silver colouring. A pair of exhaust silencers are located to the rear of the upper deck with silver finished ends with the large fuel tank fitted to the chassis and large rubber mud guards added for realism.
The cylindrical retarder housing really does look authentic with a photo-etched panel highlighted with silver printing really standing out and this area on the model is different to the original Terex version. The front grill is also produced from a photo-etched piece allowing the radiator block within to be seen, finished with the dominant printed Cat logo
The main visual difference between the Terex and Cat versions of the truck are the orientation and design of the access steps, with the Cat having additional ladders which wrap around the front of the engine housing with a pivoting lower section. The steps are certainly more basic looking over the original photo-etch steps and this is dissapointing although I suspect this is a cost cutting exercise to reduce the manufacturing costs of the model. The metal grab rails work well although the paint finish is a little hit and miss when looking close up with the way the masking of the yellow and black have been accomplished. The lower pivoting steps are also very loose, and it is difficult to keep them in the raised position.
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The rear of the model has replicated suspension connecting the chassis and drive motor housing. Small chains are fitted to the dump body and hang between the tyres and there is a simulated maintenance chain which would be used to keep the body in the raised position
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The hydraulic cylinders have been redesigned and are now made of plastic which I personally think is a real shame, as there is no resistance so it is not possible to position the body at any chosen angle. The fact that all the sections are yellow also detracts from the realism, as does the dimensions of the cylindrical sections which are very flimsy. Because Tonkin have acquired the original tooling, I find it strange that they would change this area of the model when they already had cylinders which looked far more realistic. |
The tyres have an authentic and detailed tread pattern moulded into them with side wall bulge and fully reproduced wheel hub detailing. The front axle features working steering with two small hydraulic rams driving the linkage although once again, the pistons are yellow rather than the silver colour they should be.
The single piece dump body casting has some very good detailing with side panel wheel protection plates, top deck protection plates and ribbed front edge. The flexible rubber mud guards are fitted to the underside of the body and the accurate placement of the Caterpillar markings and power edge stripe are crisply printed.
In conclusion, it is great to see the Caterpillar version of the MT4400D produced in model form, and having access to the original tooling is certainly a good starting point but I think the need to reduce the cost of the model has resulted in some engineering decisions by Tonkin which make this release less detailed over the original Terex version. There are some nice touches on the model but the reduced tipping height of the body, dissapointing hydraulic cylinders and more basic ladder design detract from what could have been an excellent release.
