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Potain
branded sleeve. |
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| Metal blocks stabilise the bottom of the tower. |
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| Detailed
trolley and hook. |
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| The cab deck. |
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| Heavy counter
jib. |
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| Detailed
machinery deck. |
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The MDT 809 is a range of topless
cranes from Potain, and it was launched at the Bauma
Exhibition in 2019.
It has a maximum jib length of 80m and can lift up to 40 tonnes, depending on configuration.
Packaging
The model box is a Potain-branded sleeve enclosing a
pair of expanded polystyrene trays.
There were no missing parts
or defects on the review model.
The model comes as a kit and has to be assembled.
Very good assembly instructions are provided. It is
straightforward to build the model.
Detail
The cruciform base has a plastic access ladder and
platform and the
separate ballast blocks are metal and painted to
represent concrete.
The mast sections are made up as triples of the 5m sections
of the real crane, but without distinct detailing of the
section joints. Plastic ladder sections
and platforms are included. The mast sections join
together using a clipping system which provides rigid
and effective joints.
The slewing ring assembly is modelled particularly well
and includes a proper opening in the middle.
The cab has a windscreen wiper, and inside the seat has
joystick controls. It is mounted on a metal deck which
includes equipment cabinets.
The counter jib has the distinctive Potain profile, and
it looks very good, with the Potain name signs looking
particularly good. The
counterweight block is a single metal casting although
it is made to look like separate concrete slabs.
The machinery deck is impressive and is modelled in
metal. A maintenance lifting beam is a nice touch.
The jib is made up of four metal sections which
interlock to make the full jib, which scales as a
maximum 80m jib. It has a very good profile and
includes a mesh walkway along the jib length. A
trolley motor and winch platform is a separate metal
part. The trolley
winch drum would have looked nicer with some rope wound
on it.
The trolley frame is plastic, and the hook block is metal.
It looks good because it also has stands for when the
block is on the ground. Small metal pulleys are used throughout the model.
Features
The tower is made of three sections so the model can be
built to a variety of heights.
The crane rotates very smoothly.
The trolley can be positioned anywhere along the jib.
The hoist can be operated using a supplied key, but the
machinery deck is only slotted in place so it can be
easily dislodged. The hook does not have
enough weight to lower smoothly when the drum is
unwound, so a small load helps. The hook can be
reeved in 2-fall or 4-fall modes.
The model cannot effectively be shown in short jib
configurations and most parts are too large to be used
as realistic transport loads on 1:87 scale trucks.
Quality
This a very good quality model having regard for the small
scale and large size.
The paintwork is very good.
Price
It is fair value.
Overall
This is an impressive model due to its large size with
the real crane having an 80m jib. Conrad has
combined excellent model engineering with a very nice
level of detail. It would have been even better if
Potain had required that the model was made in the same
sections as the real crane to give more display
flexibility.
Footnotes
The model first appeared in July 2023.
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| Inside
the box.
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| Chains on the
hook are not included. |
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| Very good
profile. |
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| Looks
impressive. |
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Profile view. |
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