 | | Mammoet branded box. |  |  | | Tray holding the converter. |  | | Robust modules. |  | | Assembling the equipment. |  | | Placing a main gantry beam. |  | | Power packs are very detailed. |  | | Converter is nicely detailed. |  | | Use of plastic allows high detail, including bolt holes. |  | | Impressive line up of modules. |  | | Dominating display. |
|  Comment on this model.
This model celebrates a complex operation carried out by Mammoet at the Tata steel plant at Ijmuiden in Holland. It involved the repair of a converter which is the the top part of a blast furnace, and it was to be done whilst the plant was operational. It was also planned and executed within a 2 month timeframe.
Packaging
The model comes in a large Mammoet-branded box. The model parts are held within a large number of separate expanded polystyrene trays.
The review model had no missing parts or defects.
There is a small booklet which is a generic manual for IMC's SPMT modules. The main manual is very good. It describes the real project, and has step-by-step instructions for building up the model, which has a large number of components.
A Mammoet certificate is also included.
Detail
Two 4-line and four 6-line modules are supplied, and they are detailed to the same level. Two separate power pack modules are also included.
The rubber tyres of the modules are good with a realistic tread pattern and they are mounted on metal hubs which are different on the driven and non-driven axles. Each pair of wheels is mounted on a metal support with a non-functioning hydraulic cylinder.
The structure underneath is strong and robust.
The edges of the modules are very detailed with many tiny graphics on the sides and ends. The surfaces are nicely textured with finely detailed tie-down points. A particularly nice touch is that each of the modules and power packs has a unique fleet number.
Plastic connectors enable the modules to linked at the ends or on the sides, with the pinning mechanism of the real modules also utilised, although the large steel pin would have looked better in black, and mounted in a holder like the real module.
The power pack has metal sides and top with a plastic underside. There are pipes detailed within the casting at the module connection end. The hydraulic rams which adjust the angle of the PPU are non-functional.
The sides are highly detailed with etched grilles. The top surface has a variety of anti-slip textures and there are nicely detailed but non-functional lifting eyes in the corners.
The support equipment consists of a variety of plastic and metal parts. The jacking system and towers are particularly good as they are metal and have detailed graphics. The main gantry beams have lifting points detailed but they are not useable. Most of the parts have tabs so they interlock, meaning the whole structure is quite stable.
The converter is a large heavy plastic element made of a number of parts which are already assembled. The detailing is generally very good, and it looks convincing.
Features
Each module wheel set steers independently with a full range of movement although there was variation of stiffness in the individual sets, with some fairly loose.
There is no height adjustment of wheel sets which is a pity as this is essential functionality of the real SPMT modules.
The modules come with connectors to enable them to be connected in series or in parallel, and special clips to maintain the width for the converter lift.
The power packs can be fitted to the ends of the modules.
The set can be posed complete, or with other models assembling it. Conceivably, it would be possible to build different configurations for other loads.
Quality
Once assembled the model exudes high quality. There are quite a number of plastic parts in the lift assembly.
The paint finish is very good and the graphics are sharp.
Price
It is a large limited edition model, but relatively pricey overall.
Overall
It is a very nice modelling approach to tell the story of a significant real-life operation, and this model does look really good. It would have been even nicer to have more information about the real job, such as a USB containing film of it. As a model it is unique and makes a great display piece, although it will be too expensive for many collectors.
Footnotes
The model was announced at Bauma 2016.
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|  | | Many more parts. |  | | Brochures and collector certificate. |  | | Makes an interesting pose with other models. |  | | Busy worksite. | |
|  | | Fully assembled. |  | | Each module has an individual fleet number. |  | | Detailed graphics. |  | | Power packs drive it all. |  | | Where do you want it delivered? |
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