 | | Conrad box. |  |  | | The parts out of the box. |  | | Small stepping plate and handrail behind the cab. |  | | Underneath the MAN. |  | | Axle components are plastic. |  | | Structure underneath is modelled well. |  | | Just one length of extension pulled out. |  | | Painted wheel hubs look smart. |  | | No yellow stripe on the deck edge. |  | | One width marker extended and one in a closed position. |  | | Deck posts across the deck. |
| Faymonville is a Belgian manufacturer of trailers for the specialist haulage industry. It was founded in 1962 and in 2011 had over 500 employees.
This model consists of a MAN TGX XLX 6x4 tractor and a 4-axle Faymonville TeleMax trailer. TeleMax extendible trailers can be stretched to lengths up to 53m.
Packaging
The model comes in a standard 'Conrad Collection' box and it is held within good quality black foam rubber. The review model had no defects or missing parts.
In addition to fitting mirrors and aerials to the tractor, there are some optional small parts to fit to the trailer which is easy to do although no instructions are provided. Also there is no information supplied about the real vehicle.
Detail
The MAN tractor unit is marked TGX 33.480. The chassis is modelled well and includes transmission and suspension components. The wheels are smart, with different width tyres front and rear, and they have painted wheel hubs.
The cab decoration is plain with colour coded door mirrors. There is detail provided by beacon lights, mirrors, aerials and wipers. Interior detail is simple. Under the cab is a reasonable plastic engine.
Behind the cab, there is a plate and metal handrail, and the fuel tank is metal too. The wheel arches are plastic and the rear lights have plastic lenses.
The trailer structure is all metal. Underneath, the structural elements are modelled convincingly. The axle components are all plastic with the wheel hubs looking good with matching colour. The two types of landing leg and feet are also plastic.
The main telescopic beams are metal and they are simply modelled with walls that are relatively thick because of the use of diecast metal.
The deck surface has patterning within the casting and the there are Faymonville graphics but no yellow stripe down the edges. The side under run protection bars and tool boxes are metal.
At the rear the lights are painted and there is a plastic warning sign. Plastic width markers fit to the front and rear, and metal deck posts can be fitted which mostly stand straight although some were a little loose and leaned a bit.
Features
The MAN tractor steering is very good and a hard lock can be obtained. At the rear, the driven axles float independently to give some suspension movement.
The cab tilts forward to a limited angle only and can just be posed in a tilted position.
The trailer axles have linked steering and it works well with a degree of proportionality. Individual axles have up and down movement to represent suspension but there is no spring action.
There are a pair of landing legs which can be lowered and also a single hydraulic cylinder powered stabiliser which can be lowered and would be used to level up the trailer for fitting to a tractor.
Width markers can be left off, or fitted in either an open or closed position. Deck posts can be fitted or left off and there are enough to go the length of both sides of the trailer. It is also possible to fit posts across the deck at three locations. The deck posts generally stand straight in their holes but loose ones can be held upright with plastic putty or similar material in the hole.
The telescoping extendible deck mechanism is smooth and works well, and is three stages. Each section has a locking pin which can fix it at maximum extension.
When stretched out to the maximum length the whole model is a very impressive 100cm long.
Quality
As usual, the Conrad quality is high and the model is strong and robust with a high metal content. The Faymonville livery is applied although it is a little plain, and the few applied graphics are sharp.
Price
The model is pretty good value given its size and metal content.
Overall
It is good to see Conrad producing trailers from another manufacturers range, and the Telemax makes an impressive model when opened up. Whilst not of the highest detail level, it is good enough to be highly recommended.
Footnotes
The model first appeared in the autumn of 2011.
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|  | | The inside of the box is good quality. |  | | The vehicle on the road with deck posts fitted. |  | | Steering angle is very good. |  | | Fairly plain decoration. |  | | Tilting cab cannot tilt far. |  | | Trailer resting on its landing legs. |  | | Impressive with a long load. |  | | Smart wheel hubs. |  | | Waiting for the Senneboggen 5500 to unload it. |  | | The trailer is not at full length - it can go longer still. |
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