 | | Conrad box. |  |  | | Mercedes Benz tractor looks good in Kibag colours but no number plate. |  | | Tilting cab reveals the engine. |  | | Simple open chassis. |  | | Detail underneath is basic. |  | | Yellow chocks are the right colour but look plastic. |  | | Trailer body is metal and finished well. |  | | Tipping angle is reasonable. |  | | Komatsu 61EX stands by. |  | | Rocking and rollling. |
| Kögel is a German manufacturer of trailers that was originally formed in 1934 to capitalise on the Autobahn construction programme. The company has had a difficult time in the last decade but was relaunched in 2010.
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.
This model in Kibag livery is an exclusive model by Heavy Transport Models (HTM) and is made for them by Conrad. It is a Mercedes Benz MP3 tractor and a two axle tipper in Kibag colours.
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.
The only parts to assemble are the mirrors and aerials on the tractor unit.
There is no information supplied about Kibag, the real vehicle or the model.
Detail
The Mercedes Benz 6x4 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 although the same tyre pattern is used on all wheels.
The cab looks good in Kibag livery and the door mirrors are colour coded and also have texture. At the front the bumper and grille are fine and the lights have plastic lenses. The cab has a unique fleet number but it is a pity that a number plate was not included to add realism. Interior detail includes the Mercedes emblem in the centre of the steering wheel.
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.
The Kögel tipper has a strong metal chassis with good structure although it lacks fine details other than sets of wheel chocks which look a little too plastic. 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.
The tipper body is all metal with a smart paint finish, and the tailgate is metal too. The six section hydraulic ram leads to a large plastic cap on the tipper body and the colour match of this part is a little off.
Overall the tipper looks good but some more graphics would have increased the realism.
Features
The tractor has very good steering and a very hard lock can be obtained. The rear axles have 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 landing feet can be rotated 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.
Quality
This is a well made model that feels typically strong. The paintwork is very good and the plastic elements do not for the most part detract from the look. The few graphics are sharp.
Price
The model is a fair price.
Overall
This is a straightforward model which looks good although the detail level is not to the best modern standards and the addition of some more graphics such as warning notices and number plates would have made a difference. However it poses well with other models and earns recommended badge.
Footnotes
The Kibag livery Mercedes version was made in a limited run of only 200 models. Another version was made with a MAN tractor.
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|  | | Foam wrapping. |  | | On the road. |  | | Cab door has a fleet number. |  | | Lights have lenses but no number plate. |  | | Chassis detail is fine. |  | | Standing on its own two feet. |  | | Chassis structure is good. |  | | Wheel hubs are detailed. |  | | Looks good. |  | | It has a brother with a MAN tractor (shown on the right). |
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