Volvo EC480E Tracked Excavator
Presented here is the 1:50th scale Volvo EC480E tracked excavator which has been produced in China by Motorart. The E series range of tracked excavators was introduced at the ConExpo show in 2014 and the EC480E reviewed here is one of two models from Motorart based on the latest design, the other being the smaller EC300E. What is interesting is that only 12 months ago, the EC480D was released and the E-series is a completely different casting.
The cabin interior has been modelled with the operator's seat, armrests with integrated joystick controls and floor mounted pedals with levers for track movement all present and correct. The door handle is engraved and a Volvo logo has been printed. Grab rails inset into the cabin frame, front windscreen wiper and roof mounted amber beacon are just some of the exterior cab details.
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The opening engine cover, complete with inset handle opens up easily revealing a modelled and decorated engine block and exhaust system within. The side grill engraving has been done very well with a crisp mesh texture which looks authentic while the upper surfaces of the engine housing have a textured anti-slip finish The door handles on the engine panels are engraved and look good while the upper panel grille detailing is also convincing. |
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The large counterweight has captured the contours of the full sized machine well, with an inset area presenting the Volvo name and red safety markings while lower down, printed warning labels have been added. A centrally mounted rear facing camera housing is located above the counterweight and the strange shaped exhaust stack gives the upper deck an interesting and angular appearance.
The safety railings fitted to both sides of the model are made from metal and are fairly accurately scaled. safety features are apparent on the model with the addition of several safety mirrors, one fitted to the main body casting and one integrated into the safety railing. Dark coloured panels are printed on the upper surface to simulate the anti-slip mats found on the full sized version.
The track frames have reasonable surface detailing with the lower rollers integrated into the main casting. the linked tracks rotate freely with twin upper rollers allowing the tracks to sit convincingly while not being over taut. the pads have triple grouser ridges with raised bolt heads for added realism.
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The bucket has some very crisp surface detailing including ridged wear plate detailing on the bottom of the bucket. the linkage is assembled with rivets which have been painted over, a real improvement over some earlier models The tips of the teeth are indented which actually looks very good while side cutter plates are integrated into the bucket. The boom and stick are fairly plain with very little surface detailing. There are several ridges on the stick for added protection and the model is populated with very fine hydraulic piping which does not look overly realistic and is much too thin to represent an authentic hydraulic circuit. |
The overall paint finish is of a high quality with good crisp printing of the Volvo markings and safety labels. This is a good addition to the Volvo excavator model fleet and fits between the previously released EC300E and EC700 models.
