 | | Picture sleeve. |  |  | | All axles steer so 'crab' steering can be replicated. |  | | Main cylinder piston is visible even when the boom is down. |  | | 'I've tried lifting it but it's a bit heavy'. Counterweight slab and fixing bolts. |  | | Counterweight slab fitted. |  | | Plastic outrigger beams can hold the weight of the crane but they bend too much. |
| This is a model of the 5 axle crane produced by Tadano Faun. The Japanese company Tadano makes the crane and the German company it owns, Faun, makes the carrier. The model reviewed here is in 'Treffler' livery.
Packaging
The model comes in a two piece expanded polystyrene box held together by a picture sleeve cover. No instructions are provided with the model and assembly is limited to fixing together the fly jib and attaching the counterweight. There were no defects or missing parts on the review model.
Detail
Commencing with the carrier, the underside detail is sparse and the wheels are the standard heavy crane tyres mounted on plastic hubs. At the front, the cab has silvered surfaces as lamp lenses and there are no windscreen wipers or wing mirrors. There is however a loop to attach the hook during transport. The roof has a pair of orange beacon lights. Inside the cab, details are relatively simple.
Behind the driving cab the engine housing has a variety of textured surfaces, a metal exhaust stack and a plastic air intake. The carrier deck has an anti slip surface and includes a couple of cast in ladders as detail. At the rear, two sets of wheel chocks are attached and the brake lights are painted on.
Outrigger beams are two-stage and are plastic as are the outrigger pads.
Turning to the crane, the cab has metal grab rails and a foot bar and internally an operator's seat, controls and console. The crane body is robust with appropriate detailing of grilles and walking surfaces. At the back the counterweight is in two pieces. One is fixed and one is removable being held in place by two screwed rods.
The main hydraulic cylinder has the usual plastic cylinder casing. However it is noticeable that with the main boom lowered about a centimetre of the piston can still be seen. However this does not allow the boom to be lowered below a horizontal position. It appears related to carrying the counterweight slab on the carrier deck and the slab has a central groove to allow for the cylinder when the boom is horizontal. Unfortunately this does not work well because there is a modelling error between the slab and the carrier such that the slab does not actually fit on the two pins sticking up from the carrier deck. This seems to be a rare error by Conrad.
The boom is a five section telescope which is made to the usual Conrad high standards. The boom head has a bank of six individual plastic pulleys and connections for the lattice fly jib.
For transport, the fly jib is carried on a couple of plastic brackets which fit into the side of the boom, and connection is by the usual steel pins into the boom head. The jib itself is unusual as it consists of two sections which fit one inside another, and can be extended for the maximum reach. Thankfully the sections are made to fine tolerances as extending the inner section is smooth and does not scrape paint from the metal work. A pin is also included to prevent the sections sliding together when the jib is raised.
The hook is a standard metal Conrad version with three pulleys.
Features
All of the main functions of the crane can be operated as expected. The axles are linked in a front group of three and in a rear group of two. The steering operates well and a reasonable lock can be obtained. As all axles steer it is possible to replicate 'crab' steering with all wheels pointing in the same direction.
The outriggers can be extended and screwed down although the plastic beams are really a little too flexible and tend to bend under load. The boom can be elevated although the cylinder on the review model was particularly stiff. All telescope sections extend and have a spring locking system to prevent the telescope closing under its own weight.
The operator's cab tilts to enable comfortable driving when the crane is lifting at height.
The winch is mounted above the counterweight and is operated by turning the flanges of the winch drum by using a finger, which is a simple and effective method but not conducive to running the hook up and down just for fun.
Quality
The castings are of the usual high standard for Conrad and the paintwork and lettering in this 'Treffler' version is very good. The accuracy of the fly jib casting is a high point. The model lacks a little detail in the area of the driving cab however.
Price
The model is reasonable value for money.
Overall
This is an unusual model in that it is not of one of the big names in mobile crane manufacture. However it is a well executed model by Conrad and it looks good posed in a variety of different ways. It is surprising to find a modelling error on a Conrad crane and the one here which affects placing the counterweight slab on the carrier deck is not serious. All in all this is a good model.
Footnotes
The model first appeared in 2001 in Faun colours (white and red). The version in 'Treffler' colours appeared at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in 2005.
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|  | | Usual Conrad packaging protects the model well. |  | | Model poses well in transport mode. |  | | The fly jib adds useful length to the crane. |  | | Telescopic fly jib. |  | | Another good looking Conrad model. |
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