 | | Conrad box. |  |  | | Heavy MAN haulage. |  | | Very good steering angle can be achieved. |  | | Tilting cab. |  | | Tough looking machine. |  | | Rear extending outrigger. |  | | Ready to lift. |  | | Fly jib adds a lot of reach. |  | | Good boom profile. |  | | Very impressive maximum height. |
|  Comment on this model.
This MAN TGS truck carries a Palfinger PK 200002L-SH loader crane which is a machine in the 150 tonne-metre class, and has a maximum capacity of 40 tonnes. It is fitted with a telescopic fly jib.
It is in the colours of ATS, an Austrian transport services company.
Packaging
The model comes in a standard Conrad box, and it is wrapped in foam rubber.
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, a roof aerial, a stabiliser pad, and a couple of parts on the Palfinger.
Detail
The 8x4 truck chassis is reasonable with the rear axles and suspension in plastic, although the main drive shaft is not modelled. The steering is modelled for functionality only.
The wheels are smart and the tyres are wider on the front axles than on the rear axles. The chassis structure is metal including the fuel tank and rear bumper.
A special assembly is fixed in front of the cab and this has a stabiliser. As with the other stabilisers on the model the pistons are screw threads rather than smooth.
The MAN cab has very good detailing although there is no number plate which is a surprise as ATS do own the real truck upon which the model is based. The light bar on top looks good, and the standard of graphics is very good. Under the cab the engine is modelled.
At the rear of the model there is a heavy counterweight with stabilisers, a towing hitch and the lights are painted. The stabiliser beams are plastic and quite flexible.
The Palfinger crane looks suitably heavy and realistic and has some good graphics, and there are simple equipment boxes around the base. The outrigger beams are flexible plastic. On the crane the blue boom sections are metal and the telescopic sections are plastic.
All the telescopic sections of the main boom have cylinders and pistons although there are no hydraulic hoses modelled. The fly jib has a metal bottom section and plastic telescoping sections.
The route for the winch line to the end of the jib is a modelling compromise and small clip-on pulleys can be used to position the rope. A small pulley at the fly jib connection provides a guide for the winch rope, which has a small metal hook.
Features
The two front axles have steering but they are not linked. Each axle achieves good movement.
The cab tilts forward and can maintain a tilted pose.
To facilitate the operation of the Palfinger there are six stabilisers. At the front of the cab the pad can be lowered, and at the rear there are three-stage beams which have a long reach but could do with being more rigid. A single rear-extended stabiliser pulls out and folds down. Stabilisers are also located on each side of the crane and these are three-stage and pull out from the transport position and rotate downwards.
The hydraulic lift cylinders are stiff enough to enable the crane to be posed in most positions without slipping down. Similarly the telescopic sections have some friction between them to hold set poses. However although the extended boom can support its own weight it might slip under load if at a steep angle.
The fly jib has a connection with the boom so it can pose at any angle, and the telescopic sections have reasonable friction. The fly jib can also be removed.
With the boom and fly jib fully extended a very impressive height of almost 90cm can be achieved.
The winch can be used although it relies on friction for a brake and will not hold a heavy load.
Quality
This is another nicely made model by Conrad with the plastic stabiliser beams flexing a bit under load being a negative point.
The quality of the paintwork and graphics is very good.
Price
The model is decent value for the complexity and limited edition status.
Overall
As a model of Palfinger's largest loader crane, this is an impressive model. It functions well and looks good, although the flexible outrigger beams would have been better with a more rigid construction.
Footnotes
The model first appeared in February 2016 at Conrad's in-house Exhibition.
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|  | | In the packaging. |  | | ATS graphics are good. |  | | Steering axles are not linked, but it is no problem to pose the model. |  | | Profile view. |  | | Ready for the road. |  | | Heavy Palfinger crane. |  | | Assembling an SPMT. |  | | Poses well with other models. | |
|  | | Lifting a road roller. |
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