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| The box. |
 |
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Support legs. |
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| Configured
as a conventional low loader. |
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|
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| Four line
module. |
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| Detailed
rear end. |
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| Drawbar in
use. |
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| Enough
parts to make two large trailers. |
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| Great
looking display. |
|
Faymonville is a Belgian manufacturer of
semi-trailers for the specialist haulage industry. It
was founded in 1962.
The
CombiMax is a kit system with a modular platform
structure that is configurable to provide individual
transport solutions. It was awarded the IAA
'Trailer Innovation Award' for 2015.
This kit was released as a new version in 2021 after
having been first released at the end of 2014.
Packaging
The model comes in a
CombiMax box which also has a plastic carry handle.
Inside, the many parts of the kit are held within foam
rubber.
There were
no defects or missing parts on the review model.
The kit includes an assembly sheet. It has a
parts list and a number of photos showing their
assembly. A couple of configurations are
shown.
It would have been good if there was more
information about the flexibility of the real CombiMax
system.
Assembly is straightforward with many of the plastic
parts clipping into position. However they seem
strong and not brittle or liable to crack.
Detail
The kit consists of a large number of parts. There
are module units ranging from 1 to 6 axle lines.
Each module has a heavy metal frame and the wheel
assemblies are modelled in plastic, with plastic wheels
and decent tyres. The connectors at the ends are
separate plastic parts which clip in, and are chosen
depending on the configuration. Metal plates can
be slid in to cover the central wells if required.
Modules are joined using a plastic locking bolt.
A separate module bridge section is included, as is a
beam which can be set to various lengths. Two
turntables are in the set and these are all plastic with
adjustable metal stakes, and they can be positioned at
defined positions on the modules.
A deck beam section is also in the kit but it does not
include any bridging timbers to form a flat deck which
is a pity.
The gooseneck is a robust part with spare wheels and
wheel chocks, and two support legs are provided for when
the gooseneck is not attached to a tractor. As an
alternative a metal drawbar can be attached.
Other details include two light boards which can be
clipped at the rear and these are plastic parts with
good graphics. Width markers can also be attached
to the gooseneck and modules.
Features
The main feature of the kit is that it reflects
the real CombiMax in terms of the
variety of trailer configurations that it is possible to
build.
The module wheel sets can rotate transversely to give
some flexibility on a rough surface. However it is
surprising that there is no steering of the wheel sets
possible, so travelling in a straight line is the only
posing option supported.
The gooseneck is adjustable for angle using the
hydraulic rams which are very stiff.
The deck frame is extendible in length.
The spine beam has an adjustable connector so can be set
at different lengths.
The width markers can be extended and retracted.
Quality
This
is a typically robust Conrad model. Most of the
the connectors and other small parts are plastic, but
the colour match to metal parts is very good.
The paintwork
is very good, and the few graphics are sharp.
Price
This kit is quite expensive, but there are enough parts
to make up a couple of large trailers.
Overall
This is an interesting kit which does a very good job of
mirroring the flexibility of the CombiMax trailer
system.
However, the kit offers many options to make interesting
displays.
It certainly would have been nicer if the modules had
been updated with simple steering at least, as more
realistic poses could have been made. It is also not
obvious what has been changed in this /02 version of the
kit.
Footnotes
This kit first appeared in December 2014.
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| The box has
many parts in the kit. |
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| Gooseneck
has an adjustable. |
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| Wheel
assemblies are plastic. |
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| Bridge
section used to make a short trailer. |
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| Short
configuration with an excavator. |
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Transporting a large concrete beam. |
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| Impressive
trailer. |
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