Neat Pete

Sword’s Peterbilt 357 wears a mega-yard East Genesis dump body in this release, and the bright yellow Pete is slammed with visible detail even before you open the little bags of hardware, mirrors, and add-on parts it comes with. The photoetched grille, outstanding tamped-on and applied graphics and markings, and a beautiful metallized finish on the dump body make the model a head turner from moment one.

Closer in, the truck really comes alive, with a tilting dump (and telescoping ram beneath), a working suspension, poseable wheels, opening doors and a tilt-up hood. And no, that’s not it: while the dump is raised, you can haul the third axle up and lock it into place by twisting two tabs; if you’re feeling particularly sporty, you can also remove the real fabric dump cover, open the tailgate, and play around with the handles and cranks out back. I have to admit that I opted out of any such activity - I’m a little too ham-handed to have at the tiny, tight bungees at the rear of the cover.

Mounting the mirrors was easy, though, and the installed units didn’t get in the way of the opening doors, so seeing the cabin’s nice dash and seats, pedal detail, and headliner above was a snap. The engine is cabled, and Sword’s even put firewall detail into play under here. Beneath the truck, the brake hoses and that working, articulated beam suspension added finger fun and even more scale credibility to the model.  You have to love a model that can put “wow” in the palm of your hand.

Sword Peterbilt 357 w/East genesis dump body, item SW2042Y, $179.95.

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