 | | Tii Group branded box. |  |  | | High detail on the modules. |  | | Very good finish. | |
|  | | Impressive. |  | | Modules line up well. |  | | Cutter heads and lifting tabs. |  | | Getting ready for a big lift. |  | | Nice mini diorama. |
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This set couples four Scheuerle SPMT modules and two power pack units with a Load.
The load appears to be modelled on a single shield Tunnel Boring Machine (TBM) made by Robbins, which is owned by the Chinese company Northern Heavy Industries.
Packaging
The model comes in a Tii branded box enclosing a number of individual expanded polystyrene trays holding separate parts.
The review model had no missing parts or defects.
There is a small generic booklet which describes the assembly of SPMT modules, but there is no information about the real machine or TBM.
Detail
The 6-line modules are the standard type made by IMC.
The hard tyres have 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 fixed-height metal support.
The structure underneath is strong and robust.
The edges of the modules are very detailed with tiny graphics on the sides and ends.
Plastic connectors enable the modules to be linked at the ends or sideways, with separate pins to secure lengthways connections, although the large steel pins would have looked better in black, and mounted in a holder like the real modules.
Each power pack is very detailed. It is mainly metal. There are very good etched grilles and highlighted controls. The top surface has anti-slip surfaces and there are nicely detailed shackle points. The hydraulic rams which adjust the angle of the PPU are non-functional.
The TBM load is mainly a precision plastic part. The cutter head is particularly nice, with the discs modelled realistically. However the four central cutting discs appear to be set in the wrong direction, against the rotation of the head. At the rear a segment erector and pusher hydraulic rams are simply modelled. Small red securing tabs are fitted to the outside. They are delicate and should not be loaded.
Features
The modules have individual steering on each wheel set but sadly there is no height adjustment. The range of steering movement is very good although there was variation of stiffness in the individual sets, with some fairly loose.
The modules come with connectors to enable them to be connected in series or in parallel.
The power packs can be fitted to the ends of modules.
The model can be displayed complete with the TBM load or the modules used separately.
The TBM can be separated from its transport supports by unscrewing them. The sections of the TBM, such as the cutter head, cannot be separated to form discrete loads.
Quality
This a good quality set and the modules have a high metal content. The TBM is a precision plastic part.
The paint finish is very good and the graphics are very sharp.
Price
The set is fully priced.
Overall
It is good to see a model provided with an interesting load, and the TBM is a good choice. It would have been even nicer if the sections could have been separated, but even so it looks great on display. The standard SPTM modules have good detailing, but miss out by not having height-adjustable wheel sets.
Footnotes
The set was announced at the Toy Fair 2016. |
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|  | | Robust module construction. |  | | Detailed power pack. |  | | TBM towers over the SPMTs. |  | | Detail inside the TBM tail. | |
|  | | The full set. |  | | Moved into position. |  | | Heavy civil engineering. |
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