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| Conrad
branded box.
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Snow plough down. |
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| Snow plough
raised. |
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| Complex model. |
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| Tipper sides
and access ladder can be lowered.
|
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| Main parts
removed and parked in the yard. |
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| Truck doubles
as a general purpose vehicle.
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| Tips to a good
angle. |
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 Comment on this model.
This model is a
Mercedes-Benz Actros 4x2 light tipper truck chassis, and
it is fitted with a loading crane, snow plough and
spreader for de-icing salt.
Packaging
The model comes in a Conrad branded box with
the model protected by a foam rubber insert. The review
model was missing two extra headlights which fit to the
front of the cab. These were quickly supplied
separately.
There is no information about the real machine or the
model. There are a number of parts to fit including the
door mirrors, roof aerials, warning signs and snow
plough.
Detail
The chassis detailing is good with the
suspension modelled in plastic, and the full
transmission is modelled. The steering is
represented in a
functional way and the wheel hubs are smart with the
same tyres fitted on all axles.
The cab has aerials and beacon lights on the roof, and the lights at the front
have plastic lenses. There are separate door
handle inserts and the access steps are textured which is
decent fine detail. Under
the cab is an engine block. Inside the cab details
are reasonable and the Mercedes-Benz logo on the steering
wheel is a nice touch.
Behind the cab there is a chromed fuel tank, the wheel
arches are plastic, and at the rear the lights are
painted. A soft flap covers the rear end.
The loader crane has plastic stabiliser beams and a
metal boom except for the two telescopic sections which
are plastic as is the hook.
The tipper body is metal with ribbed sides which have
some warning graphics applied.
At the front the snow plough has a metal blade with
anti-wear plates on the bottom edge, and a plastic top
chute. Behind the blade the support structure is
suitably complex and there are a couple of warning
flags.
The spreader equipment is quite heavy as it has a metal
frame. There is a metal generator at the front
which on the review model was the opposite way around to
that shown in Conrad photos, but it is easily reversed
if required. Inside the hopper there is a plastic screw to push
material to the spreader and a plastic cover fits on
top.
At the rear the spreader is a plastic part as
are the support legs. The access ladder and
handrail are metal. Large hazard lights and a
warning sign complete the detail.
Features
The front axle has a very good range of steering
movement and the rear axle has float to represent
suspension.
The cab tilts to a good angle.
The stabiliser beams for the loader crane pull out and
the pads can be lowered by unscrewing. The crane
unfolds, rotates and can be extended and posed in any
position. The hook can be fixed in one of two
positions.
The tipper body tilts to a good angle. It also has
sides which can be lowered with a very good range of
movement.
At the rear the black flap can be rotated.
The snow plough can be attached to the front. It
can be raised for transport or lowered for ploughing.
It can also be angled to each side.
The spreader equipment can be supported on its own legs
or fitted to the tipper. The cover can be removed
to allow the salt to be loaded.
At the rear the
access ladder can be lowered. The spreader can be lowered
from its transport position and it can be oscillated from side to
side to throw out salt which is a nice piece of model
engineering.
Quality
This is a typically well made Conrad model with a
significant metal content and plastic used
appropriately.
The paint finish is good and the warning graphics add
interest.
Price
The model is good value given the high level of
functionality.
Overall
In some respects this is a surprising model
because of its very high feature count which allows it
to be posed in many different ways. It is well
made and looks very good.
Footnotes
This version of the model appeared in early 2013.
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|
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| In the box. |
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| Parts out of
the box. |
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| Detail
underneath. |
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| Good steering. |
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| The spreading
equipment removed from the tipper. |
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| Lifting the
snow plough. |
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| Travelling with
the blade in the back. |
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| Tilting cab. |
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| The material
screw inside the hopper. |
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