 | | The box. |  |  | | The paintwork and graphics look really good. |  | | The tractor rear end. |  | | Fine details are reproduced. |  | | Underside view showing the excellent proportional steering on the rear four axles. |  | | First class details on the trailer. |  | | The first axle can be raised out of service. |  | | Textured surface at the headboard. |  | | Straps checked and ready to roll. |  | | Paired with a Grove GMK 7450. |
| James Jack Lifting Services is a Scottish based crane hire and heavy lift specialist. It was established in 1970, and in 2008 it was taken over by Ainscough Crane Hire to become part of the largest crane company in the UK.
This model is a replica of a vehicle which is typically used for carrying the counterweight of large mobile cranes. It is a Nooteboom 6-axle ballast trailer designated the OVB-102-06 where 102 represents the total capacity of the trailer in tonnes, and the 06 means that there are six rear axles.
Packaging
The model comes in a generic WSI windowed box. Inside, the model is contained within an expanded polystyrene tray with the model held in place with clear plastic formers. There were no defects or missing parts on the review model.
There is no information on James Jack or the real truck and this would have added to the collectability of the model. No instructions are provided for the model although assembly is very straightforward, with the deck posts to be fitted if required.
Detail
The tractor unit is a DAF XF105 6x4 unit and visually it is very striking in the James Jack livery. The standard of the graphics on the cab is very high.
Detail underneath is very good with the transmission and suspension reproduced, and the gearbox and exhaust system is rendered well. The tyres have appropriate tread patterns on each axle and the hubs are very detailed.
The front of the DAF has numerous lights which have tiny lenses and the grilles look very convincing. A good looking light bar sits on the roof and the colour coded door mirrors match well. Inside the cab, the detail level is good and the truck has right hand steering. Behind the cab there are simulated coiled air lines which can be posed fixed to the trailer. Diamond plated walkways cover the wheel arches and the rear light clusters have nice plastic lenses.
The trailer is finished in a darker tone of green and has excellent and tiny graphics applied. Underneath, the structure is excellently represented and hosing extends from the front to each axle assembly which is a fully detailed unit with suspension and hydraulic features. Tyres and hubs are good and there are mud guards on each axle with 'Nooteboom' printed on the mud flaps. The pair of hydraulic landing legs has metal pads and hoses run to these too.
It has an excellent deck surface with the plastic rendered to look like timber decking complete with fixing screw locations. The main metal structure has diamond plating at the front end. Along the sides of the deck various tying points are present and at the rear the light bar has authentic looking detail complete with a number plate although strangely it is different from that on the tractor. A set of manual controls for the trailer is represented forward of the first axle, and the hosing runs to this panel. On the opposite side is a spare wheel holder. The headboard has the Nooteboom logo and a trailer number printed on.
A separate pack of metal deck posts is provided with the model and these plug into holes in the deck edge and these were a good fit on the review model.
Features
The DAF has a steerable front axle and it has a pretty good range of movement which is a nice change for a WSI model so it can be posed in more interesting ways. It has a fully tilting cab which opens up to a good angle revealing the detailed engine block.
The trailer has an opening holder for the spare wheel and the wheel itself is removable. The hydraulic landing legs can be screwed down and the piston is smooth so it looks realistic.
In terms of functionality the trailer axles are very good. Counted from the front, axle 1 and axles 3 to 6 steer, with the rear four being linked together and these give an excellent representation of the proportional nature of the steering with axle 6 steering the most. Each axle has independent working suspension powered by small springs and this allows very good ability to pose the axles on rough terrain and representing the suspension of the real trailer. As an additional feature, axle 1 can be raised and clipped out of service.
Quality
The model is a typical high quality WSI truck model, and where plastic is used it is carefully chosen to enhance detail.
The paintwork and graphics are very good quality, and the James Jack livery looks great.
Price
Although the model is a more expensive than other ballast trailers, as a limited edition it will be collectable.
Overall
This model is very good quality and a faithful representation of the James Jack livery. Although the decoration is simple, a striking model results. It is highly recommended.
Footnotes
The model became available in March 2010. It was made in a run of 200 models.
|
| |
|  | | The DAF tractor has a good range of steering movement so it poses well. |  | | Detail underneath is very good. |  | | Tilting cab. |  | | Coiled air lines connect to the trailer. |  | | First class details on the trailer. |  | | Spare wheel taken from the holder. Timber decking has screw holes reproduced. |  | | Loaded with ballast and jib sections from a Grove GMK 7450. |  | | Nooteboom on the mud flaps. The load is strapped down. |  | | Overall impression of the model is excellent. |
|
