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Liebherr LTC 1045-3.1 Mobile Crane

Maker:  Conrad
Model No:  2109
Scale:  1:50
Review Date:  June 2013


Conrad Index
Mobile Crane Index


Cranes Etc Model Rating
Packaging   (max 10)7
Detail   (max 30)24
Features   (max 20)18
Quality   (max 25)21
Price   (max 15)12
Overall   (max 100)82%

Footnotes


 
Liebherr LTC 1045-3.1 Mobile Crane video.
Liebherr branded box.
The parts out of the box.
Good steering angle.
Single line hooked on to the boom support frame, but a short chain would be better.
Smooth-pistoned outriggers and metal clip-on tool box holder.
Ready for work with the cab elevated.
Lifting on the offset fly jib.
Detail underneath.  The transmission is partially modelled.
The flag is provided with the model.
Rigged with a single line at the end of the lattice jib.
Parrot's eye view.
Convincing on the skyline
Comment on this model.

The Liebherr LTC 1045-3.1 is a three axle crane with a maximum capacity of 45 tonnes.  The telescopic boom can reach 36m and the fly jib can be configured up to 13m long.  A feature of the crane is the single dual-purpose cab which is used in both travelling and crane modes.

Packaging

The model comes in a Liebherr-branded box which is a sleeve surrounding a couple of expanded polystyrene trays. 

The review model had no defects or missing parts.

No instructions are provided and there is no information about the real machine.

Detail

The underside has some elements of the transmission modelled, but the crane is a 6x6x6 and there is no drive shaft modelled to the front axle.  The wheels are all the same with decent tyres mounted on plastic hubs.

At the front, there is a removable tool box holder which also holds a plastic mirror assembly.  The tool box is a nice metal part with very good non-slip texture, highlighted handles, and nice lights and a generic number plate.

The carrier deck has more excellent texturing and there are fixed ladders, and a folding plastic bracket to support the boom.  At the rear there is a metal exhaust and the curved body shape is modelled well.  A clip-type towing hitch is also provided.

The outrigger beams are single stage and appear to be metal.  The pistons are very good being smooth in appearance and with detailed plastic pads.

At the crane mounting point there is a very nice toothed slewing ring visible.  The driving cab has metal grab rails, and a mirror and wiper.  Inside the cab the detail is quite good.  The whole arrangement is mounted on a telescopic beam which is part metal and part plastic, but the colour match is very good.

The crane body has some simple chevron graphics and the orange beacon lights are very good.  A mirror clips on but oddly it is not silvered.

The main boom is lifted by a single hydraulic cylinder with a plastic jacket and the colour match is very slightly off.  The boom is a six section telescope with the lowest section having a good structure although the fixed spooling drum is fairly obviously plastic.  As the boom sections are diecast, wall thicknesses mean the top section becomes very thin.

At the boom head the pulleys are metal and of high quality.

Two hooks are provided -  a three pulley block (with metal pulleys) and a metal single line hook which gives welcome display flexibility.

The fly jib consists of a number of pieces.  The lattice work sections are fine metal castings with the offset mechanism being of plastic with a weak colour match.  It connects to the main boom with hook-over pins and the top, and is secured with separate pins at the bottom.  When in transport mode the fly jib rests on plastic brackets which are attached to the main boom.

A small Liebherr flag is provided as a load.

Features

The axles all steer with the rear two linked together.  Because of the linkage not all of the steering modes of the original crane can be replicated.  The range of movement is good.

The front storage box is removable although there is no easy way to connect lifting chains to simulate it being lifted by the crane.

The outrigger beams can be extended and the pads lowered by unscrewing.  They are able to support the crane wheels-free.

The cab elevates and extends on its telescopic boom and any pose can be held.  The cab also tilts.  An unusual feature is that it has an opening windscreen.  It relies on a plastic hinge and works well although care may be needed to not fatigue the hinge with repeated opening cycles.

The crane rotates well after any stickiness is released.  The main boom ram is stiff enough to hold any reasonable pose and load.

The boom sections telescope easily and lock at full extension with a spring clip in each section, although there was distinct stiffness between the bottom sections probably due to a casting issue.

The winch is operated by running a finger over the winch drum as the design of the real crane prevents a discrete key mechanism for the winch to be modelled.  Although extensive use of the winch is therefore difficult it has enough friction to hold any reasonable load on the hook.

The fly jib provides a variety of options.  It can be posed on the side of the boom although it is a little tricky to get it in the right position.  It can have the solid swinging section deployed, or lift at the end of the lattice section.  Also the main lattice section can be detached to leave a short assembly jib.  A ratchet system allows all the fly jib configurations to be set at a variety of offset angles.

With the crane configured to its maximum height the model is around 100cm or 39 inches high.

Quality

This is a strong model with a high metal content, with plastic used in some locations.

The paint is good and the graphics used are sharp and clear.

Price

The model is reasonably priced for the functionality offered.

Overall

Conrad has produced a highly functional model of the LTC 1045-3.1 and many of the details are very good too.  It is a very nice flexible model of an interesting crane design.

Footnotes

The model first appeared at the BAUMA 2013 exhibition.
 
In the box.
Profile view.
Cab extended forward for road driving.
A compact 45 tonner.
Fly jib hangs off the main boom.
The crane body.
Opening windscreen on the cab.
 
It makes a good taxi crane laying out spreader plates for a big brother.
Rigged with a short assembly jib.
Jib adds useful extension.
Overall height is about 1m.