 | | Conrad branded box. |  |  | | Excellent steering. |  | | Aerial and colour-coded mirrors, but no number plates. |  | | Very smart paintwork and graphics. |  | | Wheel supports can be stored underneath. |  | | Detailed wheels. |  | | Winches and elevating beacon light. |  | | Independent winches can be lowered. |  | | Towing a Mixer Truck. |  | | Good display pose. |  | | Trying to right a MAN Tipper. |
| EMPL is an Austrian manufacturer of customised truck bodies. This model is of a recovery truck and it is in the colours of Eichenseher, a Bavarian towing and salvage company.
This vehicle is based on a MAN TGS 8x4 chassis.
Packaging
The model comes in a simple Conrad branded box and it is protected by foam rubber. The review model had no defects and no missing parts.
There is no information about the real machine provided and no instructions for the model either. Assembly of the model is simple with the only door mirrors and roof aerial to be fitted. Two wheel supports get added at the rear or underneath.
Detail
The detail underneath the MAN 8x4 chassis is good, with the rear axles and suspension parts made of metal. The steering is modelled in a functional way, and a plastic prop shaft runs to the rear axles but does not get to the gearbox. The wheels are chrome and very smart, and wider tyres are fitted on the front axles. At the rear there are two plastic stabilisers.
The cab detailing is very good with a roof aerial and colour coded door mirrors, and the lights at the front have plastic lenses. The standard of the paintwork and graphics around the cab is very good. The MAN type number is on the cab doors and is 41.540. Under the cab is an engine block.
Behind the cab the chrome exhaust looks authentic, and there is a smart beacon light bar, and a single beacon light on a stalk. The sides of the truck are metal with metal grab rails along the top, and the graphics on the sides are sharp and clear.
Inside the well is a silver fuel tank, and the lifting boom is mainly metal with a spare wheel on top. Two plastic winch drums are fitted and each one has a small metal hook fitted. Two metal wheel supports fit to the towing arm.
The lights at the rear have plastic lenses but there are no number plates on the model.
Features
A very good steering angle can be achieved with the linked steering. The cab tilts forward to reveal the engine and it can be posed tilted.
The single beacon light can be extended up for use when towing a high-sided vehicle.
The wheel supports can be stored in holders under the model.
A pair of rear stabilisers can be lowered down for use during loading and winching, and they have floating pads.
The main boom can be raised and lowered, and the towing frame can also be folded down and have the wheel supports fitted. The towing frame can also be extended as it is a three section telescope.
The two winches can be raised and lowered independently.
The rear towing hitch can be clipped into place if the boom is raised.
Quality
This is a strong well made model which is mainly metal. The paintwork and graphics are very good.
Price
The model is good value.
Overall
This is certainly a good looking model and it has been well engineered and detailed by Conrad. It poses well with other truck models and is highly recommended.
Footnotes
The model was listed as a 2012 release by Conrad.
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|  | | In the box. |  | | Smart wheels. |  | | Heavy gear at the back. |  | | Metal exhaust. |  | | Tilting cab. |  | | Extendible wheel support. |  | | Stabilisers at the rear can be lowered. |  | | The towing hitch can be swung into position. |  | | Easily holds the truck up. |  | | Feet dug in - ready to pull. |
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