 | | Potain branded box. |  | | On the road. |  | | Not all of the available counterweight is on the truck. |  |  | | Potain name embossed in the counterweight. |  | | Folded with a short jib. |  | | One jib section unfolded. |  | | Jib straightness is very good. |  | | Fully set up with an inclined jib. |
|  Comment on this model.
The Potain Hup 32-27 is the first of a new series of self-erecting cranes, and it first appeared at the Bauma exhibition in 2016.
The crane has a maximum capacity of 4 tonnes, and a maximum reach of 32m. A feature of the crane is flexibility, with different jib lengths, angles, and mast heights.
Packaging
The model comes in a Potain branded box sleeve which encloses a cardboard-backed foam holder.
The review model had no defects or missing parts.
There are some details about the real crane printed on the box sleeve. There is an instruction sheet for the model which is entirely pictorial and it shows the various parts.
Detail
The base is simple with four outrigger beams each having a screwed post with a plastic pad. The bottom of the crane has a metal equipment cabinet and the Potain and Hup names are rendered sharply.
The mast is metal and is in three pieces. Two are hinged together and the third section is telescopic. It has nice casting details and includes the hoisting winch which has a plastic hoist motor.
The back ties are made in a fairly soft plastic with a reasonable (but not exact) colour match.
The counterweight consists of three identical blocks, each representing four blocks of the real crane. The Potain name is nicely embossed, and the ladder rungs are more crudely formed. There is no self ballasting arrangement modelled.
The lattice jib is metal and in three sections. It is very straight when unfolded and is supported by soft plastic ties which were not fully under tension on the review model. Plastic Potain sign boards are attached.
The trolley is plastic with tiny metal pulleys, and the hook is metal. There is an intricate arrangement at the top of the mast for directing the hoist rope from the winch drum to the trolley.
Two transport axles are supplied. One clips to the mast and has very nicely detailed wheels. The other has a tow bar and is much simpler.
Features
The model can be displayed in transport mode with the axles fitted. The axles can be detached.
The outriggers rotate out from the transport position although they cannot be locked in an operating position. The pads can be screwed down.
The erection mode replicates that of the real crane and it works well.
It rotates but was very stiff on the review model.
The mast can be set at one of two heights.
The jib can be set at three different extensions.
The jib can be pinned horizontally or at different angles as per the real crane.
The trolley can be positioned anywhere along the jib by hand.
The winch can be operated by a finger turning the drum. However there is too much friction in the system for the hook to lower under its own weight.
Quality
This is a well engineered model with metal for the mast and jib, and plastic parts elsewhere.
The paintwork is very good.
Price
It is reasonable value.
Overall
It has been many years since a self-erecting Potain crane model was introduced, and this one reflects the flexibility of the real Hup crane well. It has good functionality.
Footnotes
The model was introduced at the Bauma Exhibition 2016. |
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|  | | Parts and instruction sheet. |  | | Ready for work. |  | | Folds up well. |  | | Nice equipment cabinet. |  | | Being erected. |  | | Jib inclined for maximum height. |  | | Hydraulics control the unfolding. | |
|  | | Intricate pulley arrangement at the mast top. |
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