 | | Conrad branded box. |  |  | | Profile view. |  | | Aerials, horns and beacon lights on the roof, but no number plates. |  | | Very smart paintwork and graphics. |  | | Stabilisers at the rear can be lowered. |  | | Opening flap at the bottom. It is too narrow to store the wheel supports. |  | | Perforated cover on the exhaust. |  | | Towing a MAN Tipper. |
| Brechtel is a German manufacturer of heavy duty wreckers (recovery trucks).
This model is a Brechtel Masterlift mounted on a Mercedes Benz Actros 8x4 chassis.
Packaging
The model comes in a simple Conrad branded box with the model protected by a foam rubber insert. The review model had no defects and no missing parts.
There is no information about the real machine provided and no instructions for the model either. Assembly of the model is simple with the only door mirrors and aerials to be fitted. Two wheel supports get added at the rear.
Detail
The detail underneath the Actros 8x4 is good, with the rear axles and suspension parts made of metal. The steering is modelled in a functional way, and a plastic prop shaft runs to the rear axles. All the wheel hubs are very smart and wider tyres are fitted on the front axles. At the rear there are two plastic stabilisers.
The cab detailing is very good with horns, beacon lights and aerials on the roof, and the lights at the front have plastic lenses. The standard of the paintwork and graphics around the cab is very good. Under the cab is an engine block.
Behind the cab the chrome exhaust looks authentic, and there is a smart beacon light bar. The sides of the truck are metal with metal grab rails along the top, and the graphics on the sides are sharp and clear.
Inside the well is a silver fuel tank, and the lifting boom is mainly metal with two plastic winch drums fitted. Small metal hooks are fitted to the winches. Two metal wheel supports fit to the towing arm.
Features
A very good steering angle can be achieved with the linked steering. The cab tilts forward to reveal the engine and it can be posed tilted.
Small thin plastic panels can be rotated open at the bottom of each side of the truck. Although these may be intended for the wheel supports that fix on the towing arm, the slots are too narrow for them to fit.
A pair of rear stabilisers can be lowered down for use during loading and winching.
The main boom can be raised and lowered, and the towing arm moved in and out. It can also be folded down and have the wheel supports fitted. The towing frame can also be extended as it is a three section telescope.
The two winches can be raised and lowered independently.
Quality
This is a high quality model which looks particularly good because of its excellent paintwork and graphics.
Price
The model is good value.
Overall
Conrad has produced a very good looking model which also has good functionality, and it poses well towing another haulage vehicle. It is highly recommended.
Footnotes
The model was listed as a 2012 release by Conrad.
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|  | | In the box. |  | | The various parts. |  | | Rear axles are detailed. |  | | Extendible wheel support. |  | | Tilting cab. |  | | Independent winches can be lowered. |  | | Winches and fuel tank. |  | | Tipper's wheels held clear of the ground. |  | | Impressive looking display. |
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