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Doll Log Carrier - Rupp

Maker:  Conrad
Model No:  40179
Scale:  1:50
Review Date:  December 2010


Conrad Index
Special Transport Index


Cranes Etc Model Rating
Packaging   (max 10)8
Detail   (max 30)24
Features   (max 20)15
Quality   (max 25)21
Price   (max 15)12
Overall   (max 100)80%

Footnotes


The Doll Log Carrier travelling empty with the trailer piggybacking.  The seat on the Epsilon grab folds flat.
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Conrad box.
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The parts out of the box.
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The self-steering dolly mounted on the back of the tractor unit.
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A compact efficient vehicle.
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Loading logs.
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Logs are placed by having the end nearest the operator resting against the horizontal bars on the grab arm so that the log does not tip.
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The logs look great as a load.
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The Rupp livery is very attractive.
Doll are a German manufacturer of trailers and one of their specialities is vehicles for the transport of timber.  The vehicle modelled here has a self steering trailer and can carry logs up to 22m in length.

The model is in the colours of Rupp, a small German company specialising in log transport which was founded in 1936.

Packaging

The model comes in a high quality Conrad branded box with black foam rubber which gives the model a presentation feel.  The review model had no defects or missing parts.

There is no information provided about the real vehicle but a simple instruction sheet explains the main parts and features of the model.

Detail

The tractor is a 6x4 Mercedes Benz Actros and it looks particularly good in the Rupp livery.  Underneath, it is detailed well with the full drive train modelled, and the hubs and tyres look very smart.  The Actros cab is to Conrad's usual standard with mirrors and wipers, and the lights are particularly realistic.  The graphics on the sides of the cab are first rate.

Behind the cab is an Epsilon hydraulic arm fitted with a grab.  The protection bars are metal as are the main arm components with the telescopic arm being plastic.  There is a ladder leading to the operator's seat and both these elements are plastic.  The grab itself has metal jaws.

Detail at the base of the grab is very good, and there are some plastic outriggers.  There is a textured walkway leading to the log support frame and the rear end is metal with the effect that the whole tractor feels heavy and solid.

The self steering trailer is also almost all metal with the mud guards over the wheels and the extending parts of the log support posts being plastic parts.  Lights at the rear are painted, including the beacon lights.

A support line runs between the tractor and trailer and some supplied lines can be clipped onto it to represent the control cables of the real vehicle.

The logs which are supplied as the load are excellent.  They are real pieces of wood with staining and abrasions to represent felled logs and they look really good loaded on the model. 

To restrain the logs two alternatives are supplied.  Chains can be used which clip on to the log supports although it is a little fiddly to get the chains fitted tightly.  The chain size is really too large and a finer less shiny chain would fit and look better.  Also supplied are two elastic strips which are much easier to fit although again they look too large.  Collectors will be able to pose the logs in a way which looks good without a problem.

Features

The tractor has very good steering which allows a hard lock to be obtained.  The rear axles have a degree of float which represents independent suspension.

The cab tilts to reveal a detailed engine.

The outriggers can be extended outwards and are pulled down to lower the pads.  They are stiff enough to hold a pose.

The Epsilon arm fully rotates and is articulated to provide a full range of movement.  The telescopic section can be pulled out and the grab can be opened and closed and has no problem gripping one of the supplied logs.  A neat touch is that the operator's seat folds forward for when the vehicle is being driven.

The self steering function on the trailer works very well.  Both the tractor and trailer have log support posts with extending sections which can be pulled out to lengthen them.

Quality

This is a high quality Conrad model which has an excellent finish in terms of the graphics and the supplied logs.  The majority of the model is metal and well made.

Price

The log carrier is good value given the likely limited run of the special livery models.

Overall

As an item of special transport, the Doll log carrier is unusual, but it looks very good indeed because of the quality of the decoration and the use of real wood for the timber logs.  It is certainly a model that would look very good on display and is highly recommended.

Footnotes

The model appeared at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in 2010 as model 70179 in Schmallenbach colours with a MAN tractor.  The Rupp version reviewed here and a version in Neuhauser colours with a MAN tractor appeared in November 2010.

 
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High quality foam rubber packing.
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The Mercedes Benz Actros has very good lights.
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Tilting cab, and the steering angle is excellent.
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Underneath the tractor and trailer.
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Unloading the trailer.
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Picking up a log.
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Outriggers are down as the loading continues.
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Just about ready to hit the road.
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The self steering trailer doing its business.  The chain links are too large for the scale.