 | | Conrad box. |  |  | | Heavy looking machine. |  | | Detail underneath. |  | | Excellent mesh detail over the engine. |  | | A safety bar props the dump body for maintenance activity. |  | | Articulated steering. |  | | Opening grilles. Sandvik figures look inside. |  | | Warning chevrons abound. |
| 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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|  | | Foam rubber packing. |  | | Big tyres have good tread. |  | | Details at the articulated joint. |  | | Tipping angle is very good. |  | | Carrying rocks. |  | | Profile view. |  | | It is a good match for the LH621 Underground Loader. |  | | Older version on the left, this version on the right. The dump body is a new casting. |
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