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| Conrad box.
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| Heavy looking
machine. |
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| Detail
underneath. |
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| Excellent mesh
detail over the engine. |
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| A safety bar
props the dump body for maintenance activity.
|
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| Articulated
steering. |
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| Opening
grilles.
Sandvik figures look inside. |
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| Warning
chevrons abound.
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The Sandvik TH550 is designed for
underground rock excavations where headroom is a
problem. The real machine weighs around 36 tonnes
and has a payload of 50 tonnes.
This model first appeared in 2011 and was reviewed
here.
In 2012 it was revised to the version reviewed here.
Packaging
The model comes in a Sandvik branded presentation box
with a good photo.
The review model had no defects or missing parts.
There is some information on the box about the real vehicle
and this has some differences to the machine details on
the box of the first version showing that an update to
the real machine has driven the model revisions.
There are no instructions for the model and the only
assembly required is to fit two mirrors.
Detail
It is a heavy model with a high metal content and
underneath the main transmission elements are modelled.
The tyres are particularly nice and chunky with a strong
tread pattern and the wheel hubs are detailed.
The front end is modelled well with plenty of detail
contained within the metal casting including cab door
hinges and textured surfaces. There is a metal grille
on the top of the model which is particularly finely
rendered. Various handrails are plastic and are
revised to yellow on this version of the model.
On the side and front there are plastic grilles and good
details are the fire extinguisher which is stowed at the
front and a safety grille on the rear cab window.
The dump body of the truck is a new metal casting
for this revision of the model and has a more curved
shape.
Features
The front axle oscillates up and down.
Steering the truck can be achieved using the articulated
joint in the centre and a good angle can be obtained.
The front grilles can be opened to give access to
cooling equipment within the engine.
The tipping angle of the body is very good and the
hydraulic cylinders are stiff enough to hold any pose
set. A neat feature is a safety bar under the body
which can be folded down to act as a prop and provide
safe working when the vehicle chassis is being
maintained.
Quality
This is another strong Conrad model with little plastic.
It is painted well and finished with good graphics.
Price
It is good value considering the large metal content.
Overall
This is an interesting model of a Sandvik machine
and looks good when paired with the LH621 Underground
Loader. It is commendable that Sandvik has
commissioned a revised model with different castings to
reflect the development of the real machine rather than
continuing with an older model. It is highly recommended.
Footnotes
The model first appeared at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in
2011 and was made in two versions - the version made for
Sandvik had green grabrails, and the other version
was reviewed here. This
later version appeared in early 2012.
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|
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| Foam
rubber packing. |
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| Big tyres have
good tread. |
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| Details at the
articulated joint.
|
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| Tipping angle
is very good.
|
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| Carrying rocks. |
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| Profile view. |
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| It is a good
match for the LH621
Underground Loader. |
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|
Older version on
the left, this version on the right. The dump body
is a new casting. |
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