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MB Actros + Goldhofer STZ-H10 Semitrailer

Maker:  Conrad
Model No:  72176
Scale:  1:50
Review Date:  September 2010


Conrad Index
Special Transport Index


Cranes Etc Model Rating
Packaging   (max 10)7
Detail   (max 30)22
Features   (max 20)15
Quality   (max 25)20
Price   (max 15)9
Overall   (max 100)73%

Footnotes


The Goldhofer STZ H10 with deck posts fitted.
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Conrad box.
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The Mercedes Benz Actros tractor.
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Rear view.  No number plates on this model.
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Tilting cab.
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Ramps are stored under the trailer.
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Deck width extenders.
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The front four axles can be raised out of service.
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Rear steering in action.
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The trailer is extendible and the transverse beam can be positioned anywhere along the central spine.
The Goldhofer STZ-H10 Trailer was introduced in 2008.  It has an axle load of 11.2 tons and a total payload of 106 tons (in Germany approximately 93 tons due to permissible axle loads).  It is designed for use with large cranes, but is also suitable for other types of payload.  The STZ-H10 has a hydraulic suspension stroke of 400mm and a high ground clearance, which provides it with significant advantages in terms of cross-country mobility in comparison to a conventional eight-axle semitrailer.  The hydraulic differential setting of the gooseneck allows the use of 3 and 4 axle tractors with appropriate 5th wheel loads.  The first four axles of the STZ-H10 can be raised hydraulically and the side extensions can be removed from the trailer to save weight.

The model is in the colours of Goldhofer.

Packaging

The model comes in a large Conrad branded box which is high quality with black foam rubber protecting the model well and there were no defects or missing parts.

There is no information provided about the real machine or instructions about the model.  Assembly is simple, being limited to fitting door mirrors and aerials to the tractor.

Detail

The tractor is an 8x4 Mercedes Benz Actros and it is painted in Goldhofer silver.  It is heavy as most of it is made of metal.  Detail underneath is basic with the rear differentials present but no prop shaft to the engine.  The tyres all have the same tread pattern, although the steering axles have wider tyres.  The hubs look fine.

Detail around the cab is good with a nice front bumper with chevrons and there is a tow hitch with a removable pin.  The lights have lenses and the door mirrors are colour coded.  Air horns, beacon lights and aerials adorn the roof.  Behind the cab the equipment tower is impressive and reasonably detailed, and is all metal.  The wheel arches are plastic with lenses for the rear lights.

The trailer continues the modelling philosophy of the tractor as it too is almost all metal.  Detail underneath is fairly simple with the structure represented well, and with plastic hydraulic tanks for the self-raising axles.  At the front end there are two plastic landing legs, and there is a further pair at the back for use in conjunction with a pair of loading ramps.  The ramps are stored inside a holder forward of the first axle.  There is also a pair of pull-out width markers under the gooseneck.

The gooseneck has a metal headboard arrangement and a spare wheel and there is a simplified console arrangement.  The main trailer deck is all metal with the wood insert panels painted on.  Various tie down points are represented within the casting but are not useable.

Deck width extenders are provided along each side, and deck posts can be fitted if desired.

Features

The tractor has linked steering on the front two axles, although the range of movement is not great before the tyres foul on the wheel arches.  The rear axles have a degree of tilt side to side to represent suspension.

The cab tilts forward and a detailed metal engine block is revealed.

The landing legs on the trailer can be pulled out and lowered at both the front and the back.  A single pair of width markers can be pulled out and retracted.

A pair of ramps is stored within a holder and they are accessed by an opening flap on each side of the trailer.  The ramps can be inserted into grooves at the rear for loading mobile equipment.

The gooseneck can be angled using the very stiff hydraulic cylinders modelled.  The trailer is extendible, and there is a travelling transverse beam which can be positioned to support a load.  Pull out deck width extenders are provided but there are no spanning deck sections supplied with the model.

Counting from the front, axles 1 and 2 steer independently, and axles 5 to 10 have linked steering which acts proportionally.  All axles have a degree of vertical movement as suspension, and axles 1 to 4 can be raised and clipped out of service although it would have been nicer if they could have been fixed up higher to look more pronounced.

Quality

Conrad's trademark robust quality is evident throughout on the model, and there is a very limited use of plastic.  The paintwork is good and the graphics are simple and effective.

Price

The model is relatively pricey, presumably reflecting the high metal content.

Overall

This is a welcome Goldhofer model from Conrad and it has been executed well.  The detail level is not has high as on some other makes of model but it is robust with a particular feeling of being strong.  It poses well with suitable loads.

Footnotes

The model first appeared at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in 2010.  A limited run of 200 models in Grohmann colours was commissioned in 2010 by Heavy Transport Models.

 
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Nice foam rubber packing.
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Smart looking wheel hubs.
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The equipment tower is metal.
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The gooseneck.  Underneath there are two landing legs and pull-out width markers.
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Ramps fitted at the rear.  Stabilisers are lowered.
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Gooseneck angle is adjustable.
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Impressive with a big load.
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The tractor ready to pull hard.
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Carrying ballast weights from a Terex CC8800.
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Wooden panels are painted metal.