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Lego Technic
branded
box. |
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Nice tyres. |
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Loaded with cork rocks. |
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Small stickers
add detail. |
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Opening hood. |
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Maximum tipping
angle is compromised. |
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Load tipped. |
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The Volvo A60H Articulated Hauler is Volvo's largest
machine of this type, and it was introduced at Bauma
2016. It has an operating weight of 43.4 tonnes
unloaded, and can carry a payload 55 tonnes.
This model of it is built in the Lego Technic system,
and it is controlled by using an App on a smart phone.
Scaled from the overall length it is
approximately 1:20
scale.
Packaging
The model comes in a large Lego Technic branded
box which encloses another box and numerous bags of
parts.
The review model had
no defects. One small part was missing, but it was not
critical to completion of the model.
There are a few details about the real machine printed
on the box.
A substantial manuals is provided and it guides the
building of the model through 691 steps. All of
the steps are pictorial, with no writing. The
build is not difficult in terms of the individual steps,
but precision and accuracy is required, as any error may
not manifest itself until later in the build making it
difficult to correct.
There are four distinct stages of construction, and each
stage has the parts contained within bags marked with
the stage number. Frustratingly though there is no
apparent logic to the inclusion of parts in one bag or
another so time is spent hunting the parts for any given
build step. Sticker sheets are provided to apply
the graphics.
The motors and control hub are added during the
various stages. There is little information about
installing the necessary app onto a smart phone but in
practice it is easy enough to obtain the Control+ app
from the Google Play store or elsewhere. 6 AA
batteries are required to power the model and these are
not included in the box.
The app is very good. It updates the firmware in the hub
and calibrates the model.
To build the model takes around 10 hours at a reasonable
pace.
Detail
The wheels are a reasonable representation of the real
machine and the large rubber tyres have a good tread
pattern.
Underneath, the structure is modelled to suit the functionality
and is therefore a compromise in terms of detail
compared to the real machine.
At the front the curved shape is modelled well within
the limits of the Lego system. Side grilles and
the badge at the front are formed by stick-on
graphics. Some of the lights are modelled with clear
lenses. The engine is modelled with a number of
differently coloured components.
The cab does not have windows but it has a seat and
steering wheel and graphics add further detail. The
roof shape is captured well, and orange grab rails and
hand rails are provided. Large mirror assemblies
and a large beacon light are modelled.
Behind the cab the Lego Technic control box has been
mounted and electric cables to the Lego motors are
placed to reflect the hydraulic hoses which cross the
pivot point. I other respects the modelling of the
pivot point is compromised by the Lego system.
The dump body has the shape modelled well and very nice
rear light clusters. The large mud flaps hanging from
the front have not been modelled. The lift rams
are shorter than the real machine presumably because a
standard Lego Technic system part is used.
Graphics add detail to the dump body.
Features
At the front, the engine cover can be raised and it can
be propped open. There is a fold down section
and it also has a fold down step.
The side mirrors can be rotated.
The model is controlled by the Control+ app on a smart
phone. Once built the model is calibrated through
the app so that the app knows the model's position and
limits on the rams. The hub in the model is
switched on using a neat method by turning the beacon
light.
The functionality is very good. Forward and
reverse motion is three speed, and this functionality is
provided through a complex gearbox. Slow speed is
fine, but a higher top speed would have been nicer.
The model has very good climbing ability up a gradient.
Steering across the pivot point achieves a moderate
angle and the overall turning circle is relatively
large. The steering wheel inside the cab rotates to
reflect the steering movement. The pivot point allows some
longitudinal rotation.
A cam shaft under the engine is connected to the drive
system and, with the hood lifted, heads move up and down
driven by the cam shaft.
The dump body can be raised and lowered at realistic
speed, and it can be held at any intermediate position.
The model can tip a load but the use of lightweight
'rocks' is advisable.
Sound effects are provided through the smart phone and
these are very good.
In addition to a standard control screen, an alternative
method is also provided which allows the movements of
the machine to be controlled by dragging a graphic on
screen.
The app also has other options such as recording
achievements.
Quality
The Lego parts are of the expected very high
quality and the fit of the parts including the working
mechanics is excellent.
Price
It is good value for a large and complex model.
Overall
This is a good looking representation of the
Volvo A60H and in some respects it is amazingly complex
with a working 3-speed gearbox. It is an
interesting model to build.
Footnotes
It was first appeared in mid 2020. |
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Fat manual,
sticker sheet and a few of the parts. |
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Profile view. |
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Underneath. |
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The cab. |
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Big wheels. |
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Chassis detail. |
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The model next
to a 1:50 scale diecast version. |
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