 |
| Conrad box.
|
 |
 |
| The MAN tractor
looks good in Bohnet colours. |
 |
| No number
plates.
|
 |
| Tilting cab,
for part of the way. |
 |
| An impressive
tractor and trailer. |
 |
| Graphic
printing on the gooseneck is not the best. |
 |
| Low profile
deck. |
 |
| Short
module-only configuration. |
 |
| Loaded with a
Caterpillar 374D. |
|
Bohnet is a German heavy haulage company which has
existed since 1965. It has a fleet of around fifty
specialist trailers.
This is a model of a MAN TGX XXL and Goldhofer trailer
comprising a low
profile deck and modular trailer units.
Packaging
The model comes in a high quality Conrad-branded box.
The review model had no defects or missing parts.
A black and white instruction sheet covers the assembly
of the model, but it does not explain how the parts fit
on the tractor. Also there are more deck sections
in the box than appear in the instructions and so there
are more variants than the instructions show. It is
straightforward to assemble although if the 4-line
module is assembled as shown in the instructions the proportional steering
is the wrong way round so it is better to reverse the
unit.
There is no information supplied about Bohnet or the real
vehicle.
Detail
The MAN tractor unit is marked TGX 41.540. Underneath, the transmission
and suspension is mostly modelled, with the main prop
shaft missing because of the large linked steering
mechanism. The wheels are very
good, with different width tyres split between the driven
and steering axles. The wheel hubs are smart.
The cab has good lights and colour coded mirrors, with a small mirror
which gets fixed in an unusual way to a door
mirror. Behind the cab, the
equipment tower is fairly simple and the wheel arches are plastic. Although the vehicle
is in a company livery, it is not detailed with number
plates.
The gooseneck is modelled well underneath with various
cylinders and the headboard and side
panels are metal with nice metal hand railing.
The casting details are very good with fine details.
Two axle units are supplied - a 3-line and a 4-line. They
have very strong metal surfaces and structural frames,
and each set of wheels is mounted on a plastic support
which includes a working cylinder.
The low profile deck sections are thin and have a good
structure underneath and a completely smooth deck
surface. Tie down loops along the deck edges are
modelled within the casting and are non-functional.
A clip-on light bar with painted details can be
attached at the rear of the trailer.
Features
The MAN tractor has linked steering on the front two
axles and these permit a limited range of movement
before fouling on the wheel arches. At the rear, the
driven axles float independently to give some suspension
movement.
The driving cab tilts forward although the
angle was limited on the review model, and it could not
be posed with the cab tilted.
The Goldhofer modular units have axles with a very good
range of movement up and down and side to side to
represent suspension. The steering mechanism works well
with various axle lines linked together, and when turned
they have a degree of proportionality in the 4-line unit and
closer to parallel steering in the 3-line unit..
The modular units can be coupled together to make a
continuous seven line trailer.
The deck components can be combined to form
different length configurations. Not enough pins
are provided to form a very long deck using all deck
panels, but this appears not to be a valid configuration
according to the Goldhofer specifications.
Quality
This model is
strong and robust with a high metal content. The
livery is striking although the application of some of
the graphics is not top quality.
Price
The model is fair value.
Overall
The low profile deck is an interesting addition to the
range of Goldhofer elements modelled by Conrad. It
looks good in Bohnet colours and is recommended.
Footnotes
The model first appeared at the Nuremberg Toy Fair 2011.
|
|
|
|
 |
| High quality foam
and instruction sheet. |
 |
| The parts out
of the box.
|
 |
| Wheel hubs look
good. |
 |
| Underside of
the MAN. The steering is fouled at this angle of
lock. |
 |
| Module unit
with proportional steering. |
 |
| Short low
profile deck configuration. |
 |
| Light board at
the rear, but no number plates. |
 |
| Top of the
modules have open view of the steering.
|
 |
| Long
configuration. |
|
