 | | Picture sleeve. |  |  | | Out of the box. |  | | Looks very good on the road. |  | | This shows the correct configuration of the fly jib support brackets. |  | | 'Weighting' for the ballast carrier. |  | | It can be posed loading the counterweight on to the carrier deck. |  | | The short heavy lift fly jib with raking mechanism. |  | | Derigged and ready for the road. |
| Tadano Faun was formed in 1990 when the Japanese company Tadano acquired a 100% shareholding in the German company Faun.
The Tadano Faun ATF 160G-5 is a five axle mobile crane with a maximum lifting capacity of 160 tonnes. It has a 60m telescopic boom and can lift to 100m with the maximum length fly jib. In standard road-going configuration the vehicle weight is 60 tonnes. The crane features an electronic 'Lift Adjuster' which takes account of the flexing of the boom by simultaneously raising its angle when a lift starts in order that the load does not swing uncontrollably.
Packaging
The model comes in a two piece expanded polystyrene box held together by a picture sleeve which has basic data about the crane together with a good photo of the real machine. Inside the box, the model is held securely and the review model was undamaged.
There are no instructions provided with the model and although it is essentially straightforward to assemble a simple instruction leaflet would certainly be appreciated by a new collector of this type of model. The three brackets for attaching the fly jib to the boom are all different and it is trial and error to work out which one goes where without instructions. For the correct configuration see the photo later in the review.
Detail
First impressions of the model are that it is a typical Conrad model, solid, heavy, and with a good level of detail.
Underneath, the model has no detail for the most part except under the driving cab where there is a ladder modelled within the casting. The tyres and wheel hubs are the standard Conrad type and the use of the same hub detail on every axle does not differentiate the differing detail seen on axle three of the real crane. The white plastic hubs look a little less good than if they were painted metal. At the front the driving cab looks good with steps, door mirrors (different on each side), orange beacon lights and very good small headlight lenses. There is a loop for attaching the hook during transport. Inside the driving cab the detail is fairly simple.
The carrier deck has a nice textured surface and the detail is fine behind the cab with a metal exhaust stack and various boxes. Moving along the deck, the two stage outrigger beams are basic and plastic, as are the pads. Unfortunately the blue colouring of the plastic makes this part of the model appear cheap, although they work perfectly well. At the rear of the carrier deck there are painted light clusters and a towing hitch.
The crane cab has simple internal detail with joysticks and a computer screen visible. Outside there are grab rails which are in plastic and reflect Conrad’s move away from die casting such elements. The crane body has a slewing motor and a fuel tank filler cap within the casting. At the rear there is an orange beacon light above the winch. The counterweight is good as it consists of a number of slab plates which have lifting lugs, and also two cheek blocks which unfortunately cannot be posed being lifted by the model crane as the lugs are not properly formed.
Detail on the boom is fairly simple with a few details contained in the casting and, for example, there is no cable drum on the side of the boom which is a more common detail on newer models. The main lift cylinder has a plastic jacket. At the boom head the usual Conrad plastic pulleys are provided. The fly jib is a very good piece of casting and the two parts fit together and to the main boom very well indeed.
The hook is a three sheave block with a double hook which is fine for the main boom but does not look quite right for the fly jib where a single line hook would have been ideal.
Features
Each of the front and rear pairs of axles are linked and steer as a pair and as usual this feature works well on Conrad models as a good hard lock can be obtained. As on the real crane axle 3 does not steer, but it is not a lift axle as on the original and this would have been an interesting additional feature.
The two stage outriggers extend well and the pads can be screwed down to hold the crane’s weight. The crane cab does not tilt on this model but that is because on the real crane the tilting mechanism is inside the cab and affects the seat and controls only. However this function has been implemented on the model. Under the cab is a small switch and moving this causes the seat and controls in the cab to tilt a little.
Various counterweight configurations are possible by using different arrangements of the slabs. The lowest of the slabs is recessed to accommodate the boom lift cylinder of the crane and this allows this slab to be carried on the carrier deck during transport. The scaling of all the parts allows this to be achieved perfectly on the model.
The boom is a six stage telescope and all parts work very smoothly. The fly jib offers two configurations; a short heavy lift section and a longer more conventional fly jib. All parts are pinned together using either plastic or metal pins. The fly jib also includes a raking mechanism so it can be straight or set at one of two angles and this is a good feature.
Quality
The model is made well and all parts fit together fine. Although the level of detail breaks no boundaries, the model looks good nonetheless. The only area letting the model down a little is the plastic outrigger beams.
The paintwork and graphics are of a very good standard. In fact this is one of the model’s strong points as it does look very sharp in the blue and white Tadano Faun livery.
Price
The model is reasonable value.
Overall
This is a welcome model from Tadano Faun and looks very good when displayed particularly because of its colour scheme. It has enough detail and features to keep collectors happy and is recommended as a result.
However there are a number of areas where the model could be improved and hopefully this will come through in future models.
Footnotes
The model first appeared at BAUMA in April 2007. It was available at retailers from September 2007. In January 2008 a version appeared in Link Belt colours as type number ATC 3200.
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|  | | The parts inside the box. |  | | Good steering gives a hard lock. |  | | Detail is a little sparse at the back. |  | | As on the real crane the cab does not tilt, but by moving the switch under the cab both the seat and controls inside the cab tilt. |  | | Various counterweight pieces. |  | | The ballast carrier has arrived. |  | | Ready to go to work. |  | | The model poses well. Here it is with a Goldhofer Trailer. |  | | A piece of the counterweight can be carried on the deck as it is recessed to allow the boom lift cylinder to lay down horizontal. |
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