 | | Conrad box. |  |  | | Stabilisers at the front. |  | | Underneath the truck. |  | | Load box. Drop down sides are represented in silver but are non-functional. |  | | Wheel chocks but no number plate. |  | | Tilting cab. |  | | Rear lights are painted. |  | | Load box detached. |  | | Unloading a beam. |  | | No need for a dedicated crane. |
| This MAN truck has a Palfinger PK100002 loading crane which is a machine in the 100 tonne-metre class.
Kibag is a Swiss group founded in 1926 and it owns a number of quarries and concrete plants as well as carrying out civil engineering works. It employs around 1400 people.
The model has been commissioned by Heavy Transport Models and is made by Conrad.
Packaging
The model comes in a standard Conrad box, and it is wrapped in foam rubber. The review model had no defects or missing parts.
There is no information provided about the real vehicle or instructions for the model. The only assembly required is to fit the door mirrors, roof aerial and a couple of parts on the Palfinger.
Detail
The truck chassis is pretty good with the transmission and suspension modelled in plastic although the steering axles are modelled for functionality only. The main structure is metal including the fuel tank and rear bumper. The wheel hubs look particularly crisp and the tyres have a good tread pattern. A special assembly is fixed in front of the cab and this has two stabilisers which are made of plastic. As with the other stabilisers on the model the pistons are screw threads rather than smooth.
The MAN cab has very good detailing with colour-coded door mirrors, and sharp looking graphics of the Kibag livery. However there is no number plate which would have been a good detail. Under the cab the engine is present.
At the rear of the model there is a beacon light, towing hitch and wheel chocks, and the lights are painted but again no number plate. There are rear stabiliser beams and pads which are part plastic and part metal. A removable metal box can be used to carry loads and it is nicely decorated.
The knuckle-boom portion of the crane looks realistic and has some good graphics and there are simple equipment boxes around the base. The outrigger beams are plastic but the main cylinders are metal. On the crane the bottom boom sections are metal and the eight telescopic sections are plastic.
All but the topmost telescopic section has its own cylinder and piston although there are no hydraulic hoses modelled. The crane can be rigged either with a fixed hook or a hook on a winch line.
Features
The two front axles have linked steering and they can achieve a limited amount of movement.
The cab tilts forward and can just maintain a tilted pose.
The load box can be taken off and there is a fifth wheel to enable a trailer to be connected. However the fifth wheel sits well forward and low, so it might be hard to find a suitable trailer.
To facilitate the operation of the Palfinger there are a number of stabilisers. At the front of the cab the twin pads can be lowered, and at the rear there are two stage beams which have a long reach but could do with being more rigid. Stabilisers are also located on each side of the crane and these are two-stage and pull out from the transport position and rotate downwards.
The hydraulic lift cylinders are stiff enough to enable the boom to be posed in any position without slipping down. Similarly the telescopic sections have some friction between them to hold set poses. However although the extended boom can support its own weight it would not support much load without the telescopic sections slipping. With the boom fully extended an impressive model results and it can reach to a height of over 50cm.
A fixed hook can be positioned at two points on the boom and there is also the option to use a working winch and this has enough friction to hold a load on the hook.
Quality
This is a robustly made model and only the plastic stabiliser beams are a bit lightweight for the model. The quality of the paintwork and graphics is very good.
Price
The model is reasonable value.
Overall
This is a model with a high degree of functionality that works well. It looks very good in the Kibag livery and is a good addition for anyone assembling a fleet of Kibag models. It is a highly recommended limited edition.
Footnotes
The model first appeared in Wiesbauer livery in 2011. This version in Kibag livery appeared in April 2012.
|
| |
|  | | In the packaging. |  | | Decoration is good. |  | | Detailed wheels. |  | | Almost ready for the road. |  | | The Palfinger is a heavy piece of kit. |  | | Heavy looking truck. |  | | Getting ready to work. |  | | Base of the Palfinger. |  | | Alternative hook points. |  | | Up and away. |  | | Impressive height can be obtained. |
|
