 | | The model comes in a WSI box. |  |  | | The MAN tractor looks smart. |  | | Rear view. |  | | Tilting cab. |  | | The engineering of the interdolly is great. |  | | Width extension boards can be added if desired. |  | | The extendible bed allows long loads to be carried. |  | | Configured without the interdolly, a Liebherr 944C Tunnelling Excavator is carried. |
| Bautrans is an Austrian company based in Lauterbach. It was founded in 1972 to service the construction industry and it specialized for lifting and heavy transport. It has activities all over Europe including a branch in Budapest. In 2002 Bautrans became a subsidiary of Felbermayr GmbH.
Bautrans has a large fleet of cranes and transport vehicles. There are several 4 axle tractors in its fleet and this model is of a MAN TGX 41.540 with internal fleet number 33, and is in combination with a Nooteboom Euro-99-24 low loader. This can transport heavy plant and equipment weighing up to 72 tonnes at 80km/h.
WSI make the model for Heavy Transport Models.
Packaging
It comes in a typical WSI style box with the model contained within an expanded polystyrene tray and held in place with a clear plastic former. There was one loose part when the box was opened but this was easily fixed. There were no other defects or missing parts on the review model.
No instructions are included, and a simple instruction sheet and some information about the real machine would have been nice. Assembly of the model is straightforward and only takes a few minutes.
Detail
The tractor is a MAN TGX XXL 8x4 and it looks impressive. Underneath, the chassis is very detailed with all the main transmission and suspension parts modelled, albeit quite a bit of it is in plastic. The tyres have different treads on the front and rear axle pairs, and are mounted on detailed hubs which have good wheel nut details.
The cab has plenty of detail such as windscreen wipers, colour coded mirrors, orange beacon lights and light bar, and there is a towing hitch at the front which can have a supplied pin inserted. Inside the cab, the details are simple and clean.
Behind the cab, there is a set of coiled lines to plug into the trailer and the black equipment is modelled in plastic. A spare wheel with a front wheel tyre is attached. Diamond plated surfacing extends to the fifth wheel, and plastic mud guards cover the rear three axles. At the back, the lights have plastic lenses and there is an authentic number plate.
The overall look of the tractor is very good.
The trailer has a highly detailed surface on the flat bed with plastic timber decking which has the screw pattern visible. The rest of the structure is modelled well with textured surfacing over the trailer wheels. Tiny plastic outriggers along the flat bed edges are provided to support separately supplied timber edge extensions. Underneath, the axles are modelled with steering and suspension components. Width marker plates clip into the side of the bed just in front of the first axle, and a 'convoi exceptionel' sign clips into place at the rear. At the front of the trailer, the gooseneck, features a toolbox and spare wheel, and a choice of width marker plates clips into the gooseneck structure. There is a control console with two steering boxes and the control panel for the interdolly. The Nooteboom emblem is superbly presented on both leading edges. On the underside, there is cabling running to the hydraulic rams, and at the rear a set of hydraulic lines are ready to plug into the interdolly or trailer. A spacer piece is provided for use if connecting the gooseneck directly to the trailer. The interdolly is very high quality part having a textured surface, hydraulic lines for attachment to the trailer, and excellent tiny graphics to the edges. Underneath, the engineering of the Pendel axles is excellent with finely crafted mechanical linkages.
Features
The MAN tractor has linked steering on the front two axles although as so often with WSI trucks the lock is very limited so the ability to pose it turning is reduced. The cab tilts forward fully to reveal the detailed engine. Coiled lines can be extended and slotted into receiving holes in the gooseneck.
The gooseneck has working hydraulic cylinders which are stiff enough to hold any pose. It can be attached to either the trailer directly or the interdolly, and this gives display flexibility.
The interdolly has excellent linked steering which has a good range of movement. Each Pendel axle also has significant vertical movement so it is possible to pose the model with either one or both axles retracted out of service.
On the trailer the rear steering is proportional and very good. The axles also have working suspension driven by tiny springs. The trailer features an extendible deck, so long loads can be carried, and the width can be extended on both sides by fitting the additional boards supplied.
Quality
The quality of the model is high and although some parts are plastic this allows the detail to be enhanced and this has been achieved without affecting how it looks. The paintwork and graphics are very good, as is the engineering of the interdolly.
Price
The model is good value.
Overall
This is a good low loader model and in the Bautrans livery is collectible, particularly as only a limited number of models are available. A particular strength of the model is the ability to display it in different configurations, and with suitable loads it makes a great display piece.
Footnotes
The model appeared in July 2010 and was made in a run of 200 models. It was made by WSI and numbered WSI 9983.
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|  | | The parts out of the box. |  | | Air lines behind the cab. |  | | Good detail underneath. |  | | Underside view of the trailer. |  | | The control consoles on the gooseneck look authentic. |  | | The interdolly axles can be raised out of service. |  | | Loaded with a Soilmec SR-70. |  | | It looks very impressive with a load on board. |
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