 | | The box. |  |  | | Trolley is metal, so is the hook - and what a fat hook it is. |  | | Convincing view looking up. |
| This model is a version of a Wolff tower crane with a trolley (for a picture of the real machine click here).
Packaging
The model arrived in a picture sleeve which enclosed the usual two halves of a polystyrene box. The model is securely held and there was no damage to the review model. An instruction sheet is provided with the model which describes all of the assembly stages by means of clear pictures.
Detail
The base of the crane is a standard cross frame onto which fit two ballast weights which make the model stable. The bogies under the cross frame are plastic. The mast sections are well represented with each model section representing two real-life sections. They fit together with the usual pins which push into small holes in the mating section of mast. This works reasonably well although care needs to be exercised to join the sections in a true fashion. There are no ladder inserts within the mast sections.
The climbing frame is modelled well and can be positioned anywhere on the mast, not just at the top. Although the platforms and handrails are plastic they look the right scale and the colour match to the rest of the model is very good. The only detail lacking here is a jacking cylinder and a receiving frame to hold the new mast section during jacking.
The cab looks very good and the triangular section at the mast head includes a pulley for the winch line. Slewing motors are also modelled. The jib is a one piece casting and fixes to the mast head with a pin. It scales at a length of around 40m which is shorter than the 60m jibs that are common. The trolley is metal and contains a couple of tiny pulleys. Unfortunately the hook is a dreadful single cast piece with just an eyelet to feed the winch rope through. The counterweight jib is particularly good and includes metal hand railing and equipment boxes. It also attaches to the mast head with a pin. The horizontal latticework frame of the counterweight jib looks excellent when viewed from 'ground' level. The counterweight itself looks a little small on the model and a larger one would have improved balance.
Both jibs are intended to be held in position with pre-bent wires that are supplied with the model. However it is better to replace these with some black string which has small wire hooks fitted at each end as this makes it easier to take down and re-erect the model.
Features
The crane turns smoothly and the trolley can be manually positioned anywhere along the jib. The winch is worked by means of a cranked handle although this detracts from the look a little. The friction in the model is such that the winch line has to be manually pulled out when lowering the hook, rather than it smoothly operating. As usual with a model of this scale it is more for being posed than being 'played' with.
Quality
The casting on this model is good and there is relatively little plastic. The red paint makes the model look quite striking. The overall effect is only tarnished by the inappropriate hook supplied.
Price
The model is reasonable value.
Overall
This model looks good largely due to its strong paint colour. The appearance would be markedly improved with the provision of a proper scale hook and some improved detailing in areas such as mast ladders.
Footnotes
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|  | | The tray of parts. |  | | The winch handle detracts from the look. A removable one would have been better. |  | | No ladders in the tower sections. Good structure in the counterweight jib. |
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