 | | High quality picture box. |  |  | | The parts of the model. |  | | Control panel. |  | | The boom extended for spraying. |  | | An interesting machine. |  | | It makes a good load for the Nooteboom Pendel X 2 axle. |
| The Sika PM500 is an unusual machine which originates from the Putzmeister stable. It is designed for spraying concrete (known as shotcrete) and is typically used in tunnelling applications where a concrete surface is required on newly excavated material. The PM500 can spray up to 30m³/h, and can spray distances up to 14m. The concrete has to be mixed with small size aggregate to facilitate spraying.
Packaging
The PM500 comes in a small picture box which has a variety of technical information about the real machine on the sleeve. Inside the model is contained within a Conrad style foam rubber insert and this protects the model well with no defects or missing parts on the review model.
A few small parts are supplied separately which are easily attached although there are no instructions to help the novice collector.
Detail
Underneath, the model has very little detail with just the pump cylinders modelled. The chunky tyres are mounted on simple plastic hubs and the colour match of these is slightly off compared to the yellow of the main body.
At the front there is a nicely cast grille detail, with some good small graphics. The headlights are represented by silver paint. The outrigger beams are simple plastic and the cab detail is adequate with a seat and basic controls. Behind the cab is a good looking control panel which has a range of controls and indicators cleverly reproduced by using coloured paint on raised details within the casting. The bed of the vehicle has a nice diamond patterned walkway. A hose drum with hose and a couple of large realistic water / chemical tanks complete the detail on the bed. The rear of the vehicle has the receiving hopper complete with a grille, and a metal pipe runs to the boom assembly.
The boom is a small but complicated arrangement of hydraulic cylinders and the only issue with it is that the colour match on the cylinder jackets is off so they do reveal that they are plastic. The arms themselves are metal and there is some good but rather stiff hosing running to the nozzle. The nozzle is plastic, but detailed.
Features
The vehicle features steering on both axles and this can achieve a satisfying hard lock, and it can turn on a tight circle.
There are four independent outriggers and they can each be lowered to stabilise the meeting and they are sufficiently stiff that they can support the model with the wheels free.
The cable drum on the body can be rotated.
The boom is articulated and can be opened up into many different poses, and it fully rotates. The nozzle is also adjustable although the rigidity of the model hoses makes it difficult to set certain poses.
Quality
This is a good quality Conrad model. It is well made with some very good detail in the graphics, and the control panel.
Price
The PM500 model is good value.
Overall
Putzmeister have commissioned a model of an unusual machine and Conrad have delivered it well. It looks good and can be posed in a number of ways including as a load for a suitable haulage truck. As always there are details which can be improved but overall the model is recommended, particularly to anyone interested in tunnelling equipment.
Footnotes
The model first appeared in 2006.
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|  | | The model wrapped in its foam insert. |  | | A good hard lock on the four wheel steering. |  | | The boom mechanism is complex. |  | | Outriggers down. |  | | Nozzle and hose details. |  | | Getting the nozzle angle right on the model can be a problem because of the inflexible hoses. |
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