| Conrad box. | | | MAN tractor looks good in Eurovia colours but no number plate. | | Rear lights have lenses. | | Underneath the trailer. | | Steering on the MAN is very good. | | Graphics on the tailgate. | | Being loaded by a Liebherr R924. | | Eurovia man counts the rocks. | | Tipping angle is good. |
| This model is a MAN TGS LX 4x2 tractor and a three-axle Schmitz Cargobull tipper. It is decorated in the colours of Eurovia which is a subsidiary of the VINCI Group. Eurovia had a turnover of around €8 billion in 2010.
The tipper is made by Schmitz. This is a German trailer company that was founded in 1892 and is headquartered in Horstmar.
Packaging
The model comes in a standard 'Conrad Collection' box and inside it is enclosed by a foam rubber sheet. The review model had no defects or missing parts. A printed label on the end of the box shows the model.
The only parts to assemble are the mirrors and aerials on the tractor unit.
There is no information supplied about Eurovia, the real vehicle or the model.
Detail
The MAN 4x2 tractor unit has the transmission and rear suspension modelled, with the front axle providing functionality rather than accuracy. The wheel hubs are plastic and detailed and thicker tyres are used on the front axle.
The Eurovia livery is simple but smart. The headlights have plastic lenses and the door mirrors are colour coded. Interior details are simple.
Behind the cab, there is a small stepping plate and the most of the chassis is open. The wheel arches are plastic and the rear lights have plastic lenses so they look good, however there are no number plates on the model which is a pity.
The Schmitz tipper has a strong metal chassis although it lacks any real fine detailing. The axles are metal assemblies which represent the suspension, and the wheel arches are plastic. At the rear the under-run protection bar is metal, and the lights are painted. There is a plastic access platform at the front.
The tipper body is all metal with a smart paint finish, and the tailgate is metal too. The seven section hydraulic ram is silver including the bottom part. The Eurovia graphics add interest.
Features
The tractor has very good steering and a very hard lock can be obtained. The rear axle has a degree of independent float to mimic suspension.
The cab tilts forward and can hold the pose, and underneath is a plastic engine.
The tipper axles are rigid and can move up and down separately. Two plastic landing feet can be pulled down to park the trailer when not connected to the tractor.
Tipping the body is an easy action and it can reach an angle of around 40°. The tailgate opens.
The access platform has a folding ladder, however it cannot be folded down when the trailer is straight behind the cab as i clashes with the rear of the cab.
Quality
As usual Conrad has produced a strong model. The paintwork finish is very good and the graphics are sharp.
Price
The model is a fair price given its limited edition status.
Overall
This is not a model with the highest detail level by modern standards and some additional small graphics would have made a difference. But it is robust and looks good posed with other Eurovia liveried models. It is recommended.
Footnotes
The Eurovia livery MAN version was made in a limited run of only 200 models and was an exclusive model for the VINCI shop. Another version was made with a Mercedes Benz tractor. |
|
| | The parts out of the box. | | On the road. | | Smart wheel hubs. | | Details underneath. | | Tilting cab. | | Standing on its own two feet. | | Discharging the load. | | Looks good with the Liebherr in Eurovia colours. | | Access platform gives a man a view. | | Fold down ladder allows access to the platform. Sometimes. |
|