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| Wolff branded box. |
 |
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| Unloading
tower sections. |
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Most parts make good transport loads. |
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|
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| Assembling the
jib. |
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| Looks great. |
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| Detailed City
Portal. |
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| Realistic. |
|
The Wolff
166 B is a tower crane with a hydraulic luffing jib. It
can have a maximum jib radius of 55m and a maximum load
capacity of 12 tonnes.
Packaging
The model comes in a high quality Wolff branded box with
the parts held in foam rubber.
The review model had
no defects but there were two missing walkway and ladder
parts.
There is a very detailed instruction manual for the model
which has a comprehensive parts list and 21 steps to
build the model. However, some of the steps are
not in the right order.
The
possible jib configurations of the real crane are shown
and can be copied with the model.
Assembly of the model can be a little frustrating.
The City Portal relies on a number of friction-fit parts
and installing these can disturb other parts already
fitted. Also the P1 plastic pins used in various
places are just too thin so they buckle and bend easily.
Detail
The base of the model is a City Portal and it is made up
of a number of metal and plastic components. Full
ladder access is modelled. Four large ballast blocks are single pieces shaped like
separate slabs and the Wolff name is on each slab.
The
double-height tower sections are very good with the fixing
positions rotated at each corner like the real crane.
Plastic bolts are used for the connections and these
work but can be hard to install and remove. Inside each section there are
plastic ladders and platforms. The
bottom section of the tower is a larger width section
and there is a special reducer section to connect the
rest of the mast sections.
A detailed capacity board clips on to the tower.
The slewing ring and
tower top are modelled well, and it is all one piece
with the top section of jib so it cannot be used as a
transport load. The hydraulic ram is a realistic
looking part.
The cab
deck is very good considering the scale, and
windscreen wipers are replicated by graphics. There
is an equipment cabinet and
plastic handrails, and a slewing motor.
The counter jib has a
nice mesh walkway. The
counterweight is made up of separate blocks.
The jib is excellent
and is made up of separate sections just
like the real crane. The lattice work is fine
quality, with mesh
walkways on the first section. A trolley motor
adds detail. A plastic rigger's basket fits at the end
of the jib.
Two metal hook blocks are provided; a single line and a
two-fall block .
A Wolff branded plate is provided for use
as a load.
Features
The crane rotates smoothly.
The
jib luffs by rotating the jacket of the hydraulic ram.
It works precisely.
The hoist winch works using a key, but the winch motor
mounting is loose so care in operation is needed.
The tower can be built in different
heights, and all of
the jib lengths of the real crane can be replicated.
Most parts can also be used as loads.
The crane can also be accurately displayed during
various stages of erection.
Quality
This is a high quality tower crane
model, with a high metal content.
The paintwork is very good as are the graphics.
Price
It is reasonable value given the quality and
flexibility.
Overall
This is an excellent tower looking crane model,
with some very good details. Assembly of the model
can be a little frustrating, but it is reasonably
straightforward.
Footnotes
The model first appeared at the Bauma exhibition in
2022. |
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|
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| Erecting the
City Portal. |
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| Very
realistic. |
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| Erecting tower
sections. |
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| Adding the
counterjib. |
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| Adding the jib. |
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| Jib sections
have lattice work on all three sides. |
|
|
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| Tower is
straight. |
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