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| The box.
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| BC 35 tray and
instructions. |
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| Access steps
can be lowered. |
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| Underneath. |
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| Textured
walkways on the sides and top. |
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| Rigged as a
crane.
|
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| Impressive BC
35 trench cutter. |
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| Cutter frame is
metal with plastic detailing. |
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| Cable guides at
the front. |
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| Detailed cutter
wheels. |
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| Hose wheels. |
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| Transport load. |
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| Realistic
headroom profile. |
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 Comment on this model.
The MC 96 is a duty cycle crane optimised for repetitive
foundation activities. Depending on configuration
it weighs around 120 tonnes. When used as a crane
it can have a maximum capacity of up to 130 tonnes at 4m
radius.
The BC 35 Trench Cutter is configured to a width of 1.2m with 1.5m cutting wheels and there are no extension
plates. In this configuration the real cutter
weighs around 33 tonnes.
Packaging
The packaging consists of an outer sleeve enclosing two
sets of trays, one of which holds the MC 96 and one
holds the BC 35, which potentially allows the two models
to be released separately in the future.
There were no missing parts on the review model although
the counterweight parts of the MC 96 had some chips on
the paint. The mirror on the cab was broken in the
box but easily re-glued.
A very good instruction book is included with the model
and it has parts lists, written instructions in German
and English, and reasonable annotated photos.
There is no information about the real machine which is
a pity.
Detail
The MC 96 has good quality metal crawler tracks with
detailed pads but there are no working rollers on the track frames.
The cab appears to be plastic but the interior is good
with the joysticks clearly modelled. The crane
body is metal with the exception of the plastic
removable side panel which allows access to the winches.
Casting detailing on the body is good with grilles and
panel handles, and small graphics add to the look.
The model features the optional walkways of the real
crane and these are metal although they seem a bit too
high. Each side has an add-on access ladder and these
are soft plastic. The handrails around the top of the
body are metal, but their plug-in connection to the body
is weak so it can be fiddly to get them aligned
straight. The plastic exhaust pipe seems a bit too
thin, but there is textured walkway on the roof.
At the rear the counterweight is a single large block
with six smaller blocks which can be optionally added.
They are easy to knock off however and some collectors
will prefer to insert a central pin (not supplied)
through the holes in the blocks.
The A-frame is metal with metal pulleys. On the
review model there was not quite enough thread on the
luffing drum to allow the A-frame to fully take up a
transport load position, and the connection to the boom
foot is not modelled. The
pendant connection has the equaliser modelled but it is
not functional which is a pity as it would have evened
the tension in the two pendant lines. The wire ropes
are good though, with interlocking connectors and nut and
bolt connections.
The boom sections are all metal. They are nicely
cast with riveted walkway mesh and tiny black bolts to
make the connections. Two boom heads are
supplied. One is for crane operation and it is a
very nicely made metal part with big pulleys. It
would have benefitted from a better pendant connection
however as they just bolt directly to one side of the
supplied lugs. A large metal hook is supplied with
two pulleys.
The other boom head is for trench cutter operation and
is an entirely plastic part.
The BC 35 Trench Cutter is a large detailed
model.
The rigid cutter frame is modelled in metal with
discrete bolt head details and sharp graphics. The
steering plates and cutter heads are plastic but they
are detailed and have a reasonable colour match to the
metal parts. Inside the frame the detailing is
very good including the inclinometer box and mud pump
which are in plastic.
The hoses look good although the large hose in
particular really needed a much more flexible material
to allow it to hang more naturally, and a heat source
such as a hairdryer is needed to help straighten the big
hose out. The hose guide
wheels are plastic, with the lower support frame being metal.
Features
The tracks roll well and are mounted on extendible
frames. The extensions are fairly loose so care
has to be taken to align the tracks in parallel.
The crane rotates smoothly.
The three winches are operated by plastic keys which are
stored behind the removable panel. They do not have
positive brakes but there is enough friction to hold
moderate loads, and the trench cutter can be held on
two winches even though it is relatively heavy.
The boom can be raised and lowered although because of
its weight it soon unbalances the model, so a fairly
upright pose is required.
The crane counterweight is detachable as are the
walkways so it is possible to pose the MC 96 as a
transport load, although there was not enough thread on
the luffing winch to allow the A-frame to be fully
lowered with full reeving.
The walkways feature folding stairs at their ends.
The BC 35 has rotating cutters. The hose wheels
can also be lowered using winches to simulate the cutter
going underground.
Quality
This is a reasonable quality model overall with some
smaller aspects less good. Plastic has generally
been used appropriately with a good colour match to
metal parts.
The paint and graphics are very good.
Price
It is good value given the complexity and flexibility of
the model.
Overall
As a foundation engineering model this is a
welcome addition as it it poses impressively because of
its complexity. Some aspects of the quality could be
improved and some more flexible hoses would enhance the
look significantly. Overall it is good enough to
highly recommend.
Footnotes
This model first appeared at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in 2014
and became available in August 2014.
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|
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| Profile view. |
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| MC 96 tray. |
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| Walkway
railings seem a bit over scale. |
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| Crawler tracks
are good.
|
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| Cab is mainly
plastic. |
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| High quality
pendants. Boom sections have mesh walkways and
black bolts are good too. |
|
|
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| Crane at work. |
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| Hoses are too
stiff to hang straight. |
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| Mud pump and
inclinometer box. |
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| Impressive
complex model. |
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