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Cattaneo CM 221 Fast-Erecting Tower Crane

Maker:  CGMmodels
Model No:  -
Scale:  1:50
Review Date:  August 2020


CGMmodels Index
Tower Crane Index


Cranes Etc Model Rating
Packaging   7
Detail   21
Features   15
Quality   19
Price   12
Overall   74%

Footnotes


Cattaneo CM 221 Fast-Erecting Tower Crane + Accessories video.  [Youku video]
Cattaneo branded box.
Steering angle is very good.
Fairly simple underneath.
 
Crane parked.
Counterweight slides out.
Mechanical connections are precise.
Overall geometry is very good.
Working with a folded jib.



Cattaneo is an Italian maker of fast-erecting tower cranes. 

The CM 221 has a maximum jib length of 22m and can lift up to 1.8 tonnes.

The crane model first appeared at the Bauma Exhibition in 2019 and is in high quality engineered plastic, with the metal parts limited to the counterweight filling and small mechanical parts.  The Actros tractor is made by Holland Otto and is a diecast model.

Packaging

The model box is Cattaneo-branded and it encloses  foam rubber trays with the parts inserted. 

There were no missing parts or defects on the review model.

The model includes an instruction sheet which is lightly printed.  It covers the crane but does not include a reeving diagram.  The Actros comes with mirrors which are separate and have to be fitted.  Some were loose fitting.

Detail

The Actros is a fairly simple model underneath with purely functional steering and the same tyres all around.  The wheels are detailed.

The cab has a decent-looking grille with the Actros name rendered in graphics.  The plastic mirrors are unsilvered.  There are Cattaneo graphics on the doors.  At the back of the cab there are many details in the casting but no coiled lines.  Textured plates lead to the fifth wheel.

At the back the lights are painted and there are no number plates on the Actros.

The CM 221 has nice wheels and there is a decorated bumper bar at the back which has a dummy number plate and also a speed limit sign.

The outrigger beams are complete mouldings with no height adjustment at the pads.  The pads are detailed and look very good.

The equipment boxes are plain but other parts of the detailing are delicate.  The counterweight blocks have the Cattaneo name on them and are filled with metal to add weight.  The folding mast has some precise model engineering with support cables accurately modelled for length.

The jib looks realistic with full triangulation of the lattice on all sides, and the use of plastic improves the stability of the model.  There is a Cattaneo sign board.

The trolley and hook are plastic with tiny metal wheels.  The rope used on the model is relatively thick so weight is needed on the hook for it to hang realistically.  There is enough rope to fully lower the hook.

Features

The Actros has an excellent range of steering movement.

The crane can be displayed in transport configuration connected to the Actros tractor.  It can be separately parked on a landing leg fitted to the the tower.

The outriggers fold out, but the pads cannot be adjusted for height.  The pads can clip to the beams in transport mode.

The crane can be erected with the jib folded for short radius work, or extended for maximum radius.  There seems to be no easy way to display the jib at an angle for extra height.

The counterweight blocks slide from the transport position to the operating radius.

The crane rotates easily.

The trolley can be positioned anywhere along the jib by hand.

The hoist can be operated using a supplied key, with limited friction on the drum.   A load is required on the hook to operate the winch successfully.

Quality

This an almost entirely plastic model, although the engineering plastic used is high quality.

The paintwork is very good with detailed graphics.

Price

The pricing level is reasonable.

Overall

This is a realistic looking tower crane model and the use of plastic allows some precision work which is matched by the mechanical parts.   The Actros tractor is not the best quality, but it pairs well to make a transport configuration. 

Footnotes

The model first appeared at the Bauma Show in 2019.
 
The parts.
Stepping plats and tanks, but no coiled lines.
Nice transport configuration.
Pads clip to the outrigger beams.
 
On the road.
At work with a concrete bucket (not included).
Lifting blocks on forks (not included).