|
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). |
|