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| The box is
vanilla style. |
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| The parts out
of the box. |
 |
|
Lights at the rear are painted
simply. |
 |
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| Nice looking
graphics on the driving cab. |
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| Pairs up well
with a
Nooteboom ballast carrier. |
 |
| Star configuration
outriggers. |
 |
| The
counterweight tray sits on a special spacer piece before
being attached to the crane. |
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| Underside
detail is functional only. |
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| Counterweight
attached to the crane. |
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| Ready to lift a
beam from a Goldhofer
STZ H10. |
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| Detail at the
boom head. |
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| Superlift
arrangements. |
|
The AC500-2 is the second version of
the crane and if features a Sideways Superlift (SSL)
arrangement to improve the lifting duties. It is an eight axle crane with
a capacity of 500 metric tonnes. To see photos of
the real machine click
here.
The review model is in the colours of
Felbermayr,
the Austrian contractor and heavy lifting / transport
specialist.
Packaging
This
version of the model comes in plain sleeved box which is
a pity, as a branded box (Terex, Felbermayr or Conrad)
would be a nicer presentation. Inside, the crane is
packed inside
a pair of polystyrene trays.
The review model had a minor paint defect and no missing parts.
An instruction sheet describes how to string up the superlift
arrangement although it is actually for the previous
version of the model rather than this SSL. Nonetheless,
it is fairly straightforward to assemble and reeve the
model.
Detail
This is a heavy model with very little plastic.
Underneath it is purely functional with no detailing of
the real crane chassis. The tyres are very good and they
are mounted on the typical hubs that Conrad uses on its
crane models.
The driving cab has detail internally although the
steering wheel appears to sit a little high. There are
no door mirrors or windscreen wipers but the beacon and
main driving lights are good. Details behind the
driving cab include an exhaust and various other
elements.
Over the fourth axle there are a couple of holes in the
main spine beam and into this fits a special piece which
holds the counterweight tray during loading and unloading.
Mud guards are provided for axles 4, 5 and 8. At the
rear a frame holds the
wheel chocks and the rear lighting cluster is
painted on.
The outrigger beams are very impressive being two-stage
metal. Each folds out and is retained horizontally
by a small hydraulic cylinder and retaining rod fixed
into its own slide rail. The outriggers themselves
are of the typical screw thread type, with a separate plastic
pad for each one. The whole arrangement looks very
good particularly as there are small details cast within
the outrigger beams.
The crane cab is nice with metal handrails and a
detailed control console inside. The rest of the crane
body includes pipe and frame work details. A couple of
ladders are fixed to the front, and top surfaces
have non-slip walking plates. The counterweight tray
is one solid piece containing space for the luffing winch
and it poses perfectly on the carrier body
for loading / unloading, or it is fixed to the crane body by
means of a couple of plastic pins.
The counterweights supplied consist of five left and five
right handed blocks. Each looks excellent complete
with lifting lugs and graphics.
The boom is a five stage telescope of heavy and impressive
construction with the usual internal locking mechanism to
stop the sections sliding when fully extended. The
boom head has a large number of plastic pulleys together
with the lugs for attaching a fly jib. The
Sideways Superlift mechanism is well made with most
parts metal including the pendant bars and connection to
the boom head. In transport mode the tie
bars fold onto lugs fixed to the main boom and the bridle
at the boom head clips into position.
A large hook block is supplied which has five pulleys
and it goes well with a crane of this size.
Features
The front five axles are linked and steer
proportionally, with the fifth axle hardly moving, and the rear three
axles also steer proportionally.
It works well and a good lock can be obtained.
The outriggers are fully working with extending beams
and pads that screw down. The
earlier version of
this model had a problem with thread of the screws being
insufficient to support the weight and although a
problem was not experienced with this model, the design
appears the same.
The crane cab is fixed onto a mechanism which allows both
tilt, and the rotation from the transport to the operational
position.
The boom is raised using two very large cylinders which
are extremely stiff. They hold the boom very well, but
you have to be strong to
apply the necessary force to the model to extend the cylinders.
The telescopic sections extend smoothly and lock into
place when full extension is reached.
The Sideways Superlift works very well and tensions the
boom effectively.
The hook can be operated by turning the winch drum
directly with a finger.
Quality
This is a typically robust Conrad model and the
metal content gives it a very heavy feel. The
paintwork is very good and it certainly looks impressive
in the Felbermayr livery.
Price
The AC500-2 is a pricey model, probably driven
by its metal content, but it will be collectible in
Felbermayr colours.
Overall
This model was introduced in its first version
in 2001 and in that time detail and feature levels of
new models have improved significantly. Having
said that it remains an impressive good-looking model
and most collectors of cranes will want to have it.
It is recommended.
Footnotes
The model is a revised version of
Conrad 2095.
A luffing jib
kit in Felbermayr's colours was also produced. |
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|
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| The model in the
tray. |
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| Profile view. |
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| Heavy metal on
the road. Steering lock is very good. |
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| Cab tucked in
behind when travelling. |
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| Superlift
arrangement is modelled well. |
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| The Cranes Etc
team reeving the hook. |
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| About to unload
the ballast. |
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| The cab has a
detailed control console. |
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| Swinging around
to fit the counterweight. |
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| Heavy load at
the back. The cab is shown tilted. |
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| Sideways
superlift opened out. |
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|
The boom fully extended and the superlift arrangement
tensioned up. |
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