 |
| Demag
branded box.
|
 |
 |
| Looking good.
Outrigger pistons cannot be fully retracted. |
 |
| Detailed
chassis. |
 |
| Boom winch has
a cage. |
 |
| Good looking
wheels and engine area. |
 |
| Mirror support
is modelled well. |
 |
| Full boom. |
|
|
 |
| Demag plate on
the hook. |
 |
| Two tone boom. |
|
The Demag
AC 45 City is a 45 tonne class
crane designed for city work. It has a main boom length of
31.2m, and a
maximum system length of 44.2m.
Packaging
The model comes in a Demag-branded box. The model parts are
held within expanded polystyrene trays which are clipped
together with plastic formers rather than being taped,
so this is much nicer packaging.
The review model had no missing parts. The
alignment of the connecting holes between the fly jib
and boom head was not good due to a workmanship issue.
The
manual is very good. It describes all aspects of
the model, with clear instructions. It mentions
different length pins but in practice they are all the
same length. Tools
are supplied to operate the model.
Detail
The chassis is very good with the transmission and
suspension fully detailed. The tyres are
also very good with a fine tread pattern and they
are mounted on very nice detailed wheels.
At the front is a hitching point for the hook whilst
travelling, and there are nice lights, metal handrails
and texturing. Tiny graphics add detail all around the
carrier.
At the rear the engine area is detailed with metal and
plastic parts. Two fold down ladders are fixed to the deck.
A large mirror support has excellent silvered mirrors.
The outrigger beams are nicely formed with structural
holes detailed. The pistons have visible
screw threads when the pads are lowered rather than
smooth faces, and this may in part be a compromise
driven by the thinness of the outriggers on the real
crane. The pistons also cannot be fully retracted which
is a pity. Nice metal spreader plates are also included with the model.
The crane cab has rather large window wipers, and the
interior detail is good although the steering wheel
seems very large. Small graphics enhance the
detailing around the cab and there are work lights and a
beacon light.
The counterweight is nicely decorated with chevrons and
the Demag name.
The main boom ram is a metal part. Detailing on the boom includes a couple
of spooling drums, and the hoist rope winch is modelled
well including a cage and hydraulic hoses and pipes.
The boom sections have a two tone decoration. The
pulleys on the model look very convincing. They
seem to be metal painted white to resemble the plastic
pulleys used on the real crane.
A bumper for the boom head is provided for use in
transport mode and it is a nice metal part.
A fly jib with swing away section is included. It is
metal throughout.
A single three sheave hook block is included and it is
good. The model really needs a separate smaller
hook to complement the fly jib. An optional Demag
plate is provided to keep tension on the hoist rope.
Features
The axles can steer independently with reasonable
movement although with some springiness so they try to
return to a straight pose which is a pity as the model
would look good with the wheels posed having a hard
lock. There is sprung
suspension on each axle.
Ladders on the carrier deck can be rotated and lowered
and this works really well.
The outriggers can be extended and lowered, and the
crane can just about be supported wheels-free.
Raising the boom is easy as the locking mechanism on the
main boom ram is by using a supplied key to tighten a
screw and this works well.
Telescoping the boom is smooth and easy with a spring
clip to lock each boom section at maximum extension.
A key is used to operate the main winch but there was
not much brake action on the review model.
The fly jib can be attached and reeved in two lengths.
Quality
This model is well made and very good quality.
The use of plastic is appropriate and
done well.
The paint finish is very good, and the
many small graphics are
sharp.
Price
It is moderate value for a three axle crane.
Overall
This is a really good looking model of
the Demag AC 45 City. The detailing makes for a high
degree of realism, and the features work well enough in
most cases. It is also a very well presented
model.
Footnotes
The model was first displayed at the Ede Model Show
in 2019. A version with small road wheels was also
produced as model 33-0114. |
|
|
|
 |
| Parts and
manual. |
 |
| Steering is
difficult to pose. |
 |
| Realistic. |
 |
| Many tiny
graphics. |
|
|
 |
| Profile view. |
 |
| Fold down
ladder. |
 |
| Decent boom
profile. |
 |
| A single line
hook would look better. |
 |
| Fly jib added. |
|
