Komatsu D51EX Bulldozer
Presented here is the limited edition 1:50th scale Komatsu D51EX dozer in Malcolm Construction Services livery from First Gear. The model is based on the standard version with ripper and narrow tracks.
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The front of the model has a PAT blade which has a very realistic range of movement. The dozer frame has integrated steps, complete with anti-slip texture with grab rails mounted to the front engine housing to assist in safe entry to the cab for the operator.
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Flexible hydraulic piping has been added to the hydraulics mounted on the blade and the cylinders are stiff enough to hold the blade in any position chosen. The blades cutting edge has bolt detailing visible and the blade can be tilted left/right and angled to each side of the machine. |
The cab interior is highly detailed with a fully replicated operator station which is finished in a light grey colour which gives good contrast to the bright yellow cab paintwork. The roof has front facing work lights with two aerials towards the rear and an air conditioning unit fitted to the rear of the cab frame. The undercarriage has nicely reproduced, freely rotating all metal linked tracks with grouser and bolt detailing visible on each track pad.
The rear radiator grill is well defined with the updated Malcolm logos printed on each side while the company website is printed along the sides of the model. The rear of the model has a three shank ripper fitted which can be raised / lowered with good shank detailing and painted pin heads.
The paint finish is excellent with accurate replication of the Malcolm Construction Services markings and decoration although I believe the yellow colour is way off. From discussions with an employee at Malcolm, when equipment is painted, if it is already in a yellow colour, that colour remains and the blue and green colours are painted over the original yellow. This explains why the yellow shades change across different machines and from these discussions, I would have expected the yellow on the model to be the original Komatsu shade. Still, it does match the Terex TA40 in Malcolm livery from NZG.
