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| Conrad box.
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| The MAN tractor.
The hitch pin at the front is removable. |
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| Underneath view.
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| Tilting cab.
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The complete vehicle. |
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| Set up with three
modules for towing a large fabrication. |
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| Assembling the
girder frame using a Liebherr
LTF1030. |
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| Completed girder
frame resting on the front modules. |
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| The assembly towers
above a member of the Cranes Etc team. |
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| There is a significant
range of tilt movement available. |
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| This set up is
in a shorter configuration to suit the particular load.
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This is a model of a large girder frame
trailer produced in the colours of
Allelys, a UK heavy
haulage specialist. It uses Goldhofer module trailers
and a heavy structural frame to provide a special transport
solution to very heavy loads such as transformers and other
industrial equipment.
Packaging
The model comes in a fairly large Conrad style box with
the model and its many parts securely held within two foam
rubber layers which give it a presentation quality feeling.
The review model had no defects or missing parts.
There are a large number of components and a good colour
double-sided sheet of instructions is provided which gives
a clear pictorial description of how it fits together and
some of the various configurations possible. It is
straightforward to assemble and the only thing a collector
has to realise is that to lift the frame clear of the ground
is the main pairs of lift cylinders on each end have to
be opened up.
It would have been nice if some information about the real
trailer and the Allelys company had been included.
Detail
The tractor unit is a typically heavy Conrad model as there
is little plastic used. Underneath, the transmission
and suspension is mostly modelled, although the linked steering
mechanism is rather obtrusive. The wheels are very
good, with different width tyres split between the driven
and steering axles. The hubs have really nice detailing
of the wheel nuts.
The driving cab looks great, with colour coded mirrors,
and good lights. The hitch at the front has a removable
pin which is a pleasing detail. Behind the cab, the
tanks and equipment are all modelled in metal and feels
very solid. An excellent mesh fan casing sits on top.
The stepping plate and wheel arches are metal and have convincing
surface textures.
The ballast box is also a metal part, and it has two spare
wheels and a removable plastic cover which is moulded to
look like tarpaulin. The overall decoration of the
tractor unit is very good and it looks very pleasing on
its own. There are some detail differences compared
to the real MAN tractor used by Allelys, with the shape
of the ballast box cover being the most obvious, but overall
most collectors will be satisfied.
The four 4-line Goldhofer module units are very solidly
made with a thick deck plate, and underneath, the structural
frame is strongly represented. Each axle unit consists
of four tyres so there are 32 tyres on each module.
The suspension components are plastic but the colour match
is good so it does not detract from how the model looks.
Each unit has a hydraulic ram modelled. Two different
drawbars are included and there is a light bar that can
be fixed on the rearmost module. The girder frames
are all metal and satisfyingly heavy and solid. The
main end supports have a well detailed structure with plastic
hydraulic lines to the main lift cylinders and this gives
the model a complex and convincing look. The girder
frame elements are robust metal sections which are pinned
together with large plastic bolts. Separate plastic
cross beams link the two frames for rigidity, and they are
supplied in four different lengths to enable different trailer
widths to be set up.
Features
The MAN tractor has linked steering on the front two axles
and these permit quite a good range of movement. At
the rear, the driven axles float independently to give a
reasonable range of suspension movement. The driving
cab tilts forward and there is a detailed engine underneath.
The ballast box is removable so the tractor can be used
to tow a conventional trailer.
The Goldhofer axle units have an extraordinary range of
movement up and down and side to side so they represent
the real machine's ability to traverse rough terrain
very well. For steering, the bogies are linked together
fully. Overall, the steering is good, with a degree
of proportionality between the lines and reasonable lock
can be obtained even if it is not to the extremes that the
real units can achieve.
The modular nature of the Goldhofer units mean that they
can be joined in series using all four modules if desired,
and with two different drawbar options.
The girder frame components are very flexible and can be
assembled a number of different ways. In addition
to the four different widths, five different lengths can
be constructed, and in fact you can also have a 'zero
length' bed by leaving out all of the longitudinal beams.
Another very good feature is that the girder frame can tilt
from side-to-side to even out uneven ground conditions.
Quality
Conrad have produced a high quality model, where the model
engineering is to their usual high standards. The
high metal content gives it a particularly robust and solid
feel. The paint and finish is very good, the graphics
are fine, and these combine to make a striking model.
Price
The model is not cheap but it has a quality feel and presentation
which does not disappoint.
Overall
This is a great looking model and when assembled in its
maximum configuration it is around 1.1m long which makes
it a striking and impressive display piece. The great
thing is the flexibility it offers with very many possible
combinations able to be set up. The build quality
is very high making this is a very good heavy haulage model.
Footnotes
The model first appeared in 2009.
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| The top layer with
the parts nicely nestled in high quality foam. |
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| The bottom layer.
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| Rear view of the
tractor. The ballast box is removable. |
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| Excellent detail
behind the cab. |
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| One of the four
Goldhofer modules. This one has a tow bar attached.
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| The girder frame
is easily supported above the ground. |
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| Towing one half
of the girder frame. |
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| The support mechanism.
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| The full set up
turning. |
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| Carrying a Meccano 'equipment
box'. |
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| The trailer set
up in a short and narrow configuration. It is carrying
a massive piece of Lego. |
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