| 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.
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| | 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. |
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