 |
| Tadano
branded box.
|
 |
 |
| Moderate
steering angle. |
|
|
 |
| Hook block can
be tied on. |
 |
| Hydraulic
hoses. |
 |
| On the road. |
 |
| Very good
looking model. |
 |
| Fly jib rigged
with an offset angle. |
 |
| Rigged with a
single fall of rope.. |
|
The Tadano AC 4.080-1 Mobile Crane is an 80 tonne class
crane. It has a main boom length of 60m, and a
maximum system length of 69m.
Packaging
The model comes in a Tadano-branded box. The model
parts are held within expanded polystyrene trays which
are clipped together with plastic formers which is much
better than being taped.
The review model had no missing parts
or defects.
The
build manual is excellent. It has a full parts
list together with a packing diagram showing their
location in the tray. Clear pictures explain the
model, and there is also a section about the real crane.
Good quality tools
are supplied to assemble and operate the model.
Detail
The chassis is very good with the transmission and
suspension fully detailed. The tyres have a
good tread pattern and they are mounted on nice detailed wheels.
At the front
there is a hitching point for the hook whilst
travelling, and the cab has nice beacon lights, and
there is excellent detailing around the cab doors. Tiny
graphics add realism.
Behind the driving cab the engine area appears to have a
holder for a single line hook block, and the exhaust
system is nicely replicated. Five ladders are modelled.
The deck surface textures are very good.
The outrigger beams are
single stage. The pistons have visible
screw threads when the pads are lowered rather than
smooth faces. Nice metal spreader plates are also included with the model.
The crane cab has window wipers and metal grab
rails, and the
interior detail is very good, with Tadano printed on the
seat back. More small graphics enhance the detailing.
The counterweight pieces have chevron markings.
The main boom ram is a metal part. Detailing on
the boom includes a spooling drum, silvered highlights
and work lights.
There are hydraulic hose details, and beacon lights at
the rear.
The boom sections have a two-tone decoration. The
sheaves appear to be metal painted white to resemble the
nylon-type ones used on the real crane.
A metal fly jib can be carried on the side of the boom.
A single three sheave hook block is included and it is
good, and a single line hook block would have been a
worthwhile addition.
A Tadano
plate is provided to keep tension on the hoist rope.
Features
The two axle
pairs are linked, although on the real crane the rear
axles can steer independently of each other. The steering angle is
moderate and steering and rolling is not as precise as
on some models. There is sprung
suspension on each axle.
Ladders on the carrier deck can be rotated and lowered
and this works really well. An extra ladder clips
on the carrier deck for transport.
The outriggers can be extended and lowered, and the
crane can be supported wheels-free.
Raising the boom is easy as the locking mechanism on the
main boom ram is by using a supplied key to tighten a
grub screw and this works well.
Telescoping the boom is
not so precise and the small boom section size probably
contributes to the locking spring
clips not always properly engaging. Each boom
section can be locked at maximum and approximately 50% extension.
A key is used to operate the main winch
which relies on friction as a brake.
The fly jib can be attached and
be either fixed or set at offset angles.
Quality
This model is well made and very good quality.
The use of plastic is appropriate.
The paint finish is very good, and the
many small graphics are
sharp.
Price
It is decent value for a four axle crane.
Overall
This is a high quality crane model with
excellent detailing. Most of the features work well enough.
It is a very well presented
model with excellent instructions and supplied tools.
Footnotes
The model appeared in April 2022. |
|
|
|
 |
| Travelling. |
 |
| Underneath. |
 |
| Detailed cab. |
 |
| High detail. |
|
|
 |
| Profile view. |
 |
| Fold down
ladders. |
 |
| Supported
'wheels-free'. |
 |
| Full main boom
extension and load plate attached. |
|
