 | | Conrad box. |  |  | | Heavy haulage. |  | | Detailed chassis. |  | | Fifth wheel. |  | | Extended box with a tower crane section. |  | | Tilting cab. |  | | Load box is removable. |  | | Palfinger is big. |  | | Fly jib with a fixed hook and winch line hook. |  | | No sagging of the jib if its at a steep angle. |
|  Comment on this model.
This MAN TGS truck has an extendible box and it carries a Palfinger PK100002 loading crane which is a machine in the 100 tonne-metre class. It is fitted with a telescopic fly jib.
It is in the colours of Prangl, the Austrian crane hire company which was founded in 1965.
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 8x4 truck chassis is good with most of the transmission and suspension modelled in plastic whilst the steering axles are modelled for functionality only. The wheels are smart and the tyres are wider on the front axles than on the rear axles. The chassis structure is metal including the fuel tank and rear bumper.
A special assembly is fixed in front of the cab and this has two stabilisers which are made of plastic and the colour match is slightly off. As with the other stabilisers on the model the pistons are screw threads rather than smooth.
The MAN cab has very good detailing although there is no number plate. The light bar on top is convincing and the standard of graphics is very good. Under the cab the engine is modelled.
At the rear of the model there is a beacon light, towing hitch and wheel chocks, with the lights being painted. There are rear stabiliser beams and pads which are part plastic and part metal. The removable metal box has a plastic silver floor fixed to a metal frame. The graphics are good.
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 telescopic sections are plastic.
All but the topmost telescopic section of the main boom has its own cylinder and piston although there are no hydraulic hoses modelled. The fly jib has a metal bottom section and plastic telescoping sections. A small pulley at the fly jib connection provides a guide for the winch rope.
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 moderate amount of movement.
The cab tilts forward and can maintain a tilted pose.
The load box has drop sides and end posts, and the tailgate can be lowered. The rear end is also extendible and it has a hinged light bar.
The 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 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 crane 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 likely slip under load.
The fly jib has a stiff riveted connection with the boom so it can pose at any angle, and the telescopic sections have reasonable friction.
With the boom and fly jib fully extended an impressive model results and it can reach to a height of over 70cm.
A fixed hook can be used 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 flex a bit under load.
The quality of the paintwork and graphics is very good.
Price
The model is reasonable value given the company livery.
Overall
This is a highly functional model reflecting Conrad's model engineering strengths. It will also be valued in the colours of Prangl and is an attractive model. It is easy to highly recommend.
Footnotes
The model first appeared in October 2013.
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|  | | In the packaging. |  | | Detail on the box is good. |  | | Steering at the maximum angle. |  | | Profile view. |  | | Box floor is plastic. |  | | Model can be posed 'wheels free' but the outriggers flex a bit. |  | | Drop sides on the box. |  | | Cabinets at the base. |  | | Metal guide pulleys for the winch line. |  | | Unloading. |  | | Very impressive height can be obtained. |
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