Caterpillar 568GF General Forestry Excavator
Presented here is the 1:50th scale Cat 568GF tracked excavator from Tonkin Replicas. The Cat 568 is an interesting machine specifically designed for forestry use and available in several different versions including the ‘General Forestry’ configuration reviewed here with a stick mounted thumb.
The tracked undercarriage is constructed of individually linked track pads with dual grouser shoes and surface bolt detailing with the upper-carriage mounted higher than normal for additional clearance. The track frames have engraved lower roller detailing with bolt heads visible on the final drive housings
The specially designed angular cabin has a modelled interior with painted seat and tiny printed Cat logo on the seat back with printing used to good effect on the windows to simulate the safety screening. the front of the cabin is hinged, with a hydraulic cylinder operating to tilt the cab forward to a horizontal position to reduce the overall height during transport.
All the safety and grab rails are made from metal, as with the other Cat models from Tonkin which is certainly good to see, and the main carriage has re-enforced extending side platforms with a front protective panel to prevent damage when handling timber.
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The general purpose toothed bucket has a very good range of movement and the working thumb is a great addition, typical in forestry applications.
The movement is accurately captured, using a linkage with painted rivet heads and the tines of the thumb align well with the teeth of the bucket, with the hydraulics stiff enough to allow it to grab objects, like the log in the image below. The flexible hydraulic hoses are fitted to the stick for added realism with painted piping on the back of the boom. The paint finish is to a good standard with accurate placement of the Cat markings and logos on the counterweight, body sides and boom. It is a good companion to the Cat 568LL Log Loader |
