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| Conrad box.
|
 |
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| Sharp looking
Actros cab. |
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| Painted rear
lights. |
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| Tilting cab. |
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| Trailer end
tipping.
|
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| Trailer side
tipping. |
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| Drop side
lowered. |
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| Interesting
vehicle. |
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| Turns well. |
|
This model features three-way tippers by the German
company
Meiller. It comprises a Mercedes-Benz Actros
truck and centre-axle trailer.
Packaging
The model comes in a standard Conrad box and 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 which is easy, and
the roof aerials which is a little fiddly.
Detail
The truck is based on a 6x4 Mercedes-Benz Actros chassis
which is detailed underneath with the full drive train modelled.
The hubs and tyres look good and the tyres on the
steering axle are wider than those on the driven axles.
The Actros
cab has textured door mirrors,
with beacon lights and aerials on the roof. As a
generic vehicle there are no number plates but the
headlights have lenses and the door handles are formed
with inserts.
The truck chassis and rear wheel arches are metal and at
the rear the lights are painted.
The tipper body is metal with small Meiller graphics on
the sides, and various hinges are detailed within the
casting.
The trailer has the suspension detailed on the two
axles, and the wheels are detailed, with plastic wheel
arches covering them. The tipper body is of the
same construction and detailing as the truck.
Features
The truck has excellent steering which allows a really hard lock
to be obtained. The rear axles have a degree of float
which represents independent suspension.
The cab tilts to reveal a detailed engine.
The tipper body tips over the rear end and the tailgate
opens although it is not free swinging. The sides
of the tipper body can be folded down and by clever use
of interlocking sockets, the body can tip to either
side.
The trailer can be hitched to the truck or a landing leg
lowered so it stands on its own.
The trailer axles have working suspension with significant
movement although it is not sprung.
As for the truck, the trailer body can end tip or side tip with
opening tailgate and drop sides.
Quality
This is a strong model which is mainly metal with a
careful use of plastic.
The paint scheme and graphics are simple but good
quality.
Price
It is good value.
Overall
Conrad has made a good job of implementing the three-way
tipping mechanism and it works well. This is an
interesting model which is good enough to highly
recommend.
Footnotes
The model appeared in this version in early 2013.
A previous version was made in Eurovia colours for the
VINCI webshop.
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|
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|
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| Foam
rubber packing. |
 |
| Simple cab
decoration. |
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| Underneath the
truck. Excellent steering angle. |
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| Side tipping. |
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| End tipping.
|
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| Truck tipping
its load.
|
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| Under the
trailer. |
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| Loaded and on
the road. |
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| Very good
steering makes for interesting poses. |
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