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| Plain and simple
Manitowoc box. |
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| Quality detail
around the cab. |
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| Hooks are very
good, particularly the latch on the big hook. |
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| 'I can't
crank these drums by hand'. |
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| Metal tracks have
good tension. |
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| Metal pendants.
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| Very good tracks.
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The Manitowoc 555 die cast model is
a product developed by Classic Construction Models (CCM)
of the US and distributed in Europe by NZG.
Packaging
The box is plain, coloured in the familiar Manitowoc red,
and bears the crane model number. Inside are two polystyrene
trays which hold the jib sections and accessories
in the top part and the crane itself in the lower part.
Additionally all pieces are wrapped in protective sheets.
The review model was undamaged, except for a slightly bent
pendant bar.
A very clear instruction sheet is provided, which is in
English and German and will aid the non-expert in assembling
the model.
Detail
The undercarriage, body and first jib section are all permanently
assembled as one piece. The tracks are metal and extremely
good looking, and the track frames are well detailed.
Walkway plates span the track frames to provide a wide platform.
The body accurately models the open design of the original.
The exterior panels are plain except for the handle details. 'Manitowoc'
is cast into the body on both sides. On the left hand
side the panel opens and there is also a metal ladder and
a plastic radiator grille. At the back the ballast boxes are modelled, but as a single casting rather than separate pieces.
The cab is excellent with walkways, grab bars, wipers, a
mirror and a beacon light. The internal cab details
are good. Within the body, three winches are provided
which are already pre-strung. The engine is modelled
and although it is plastic it looks good. The same
cannot be said for the exhaust pipe which looks cheaper
than the rest of the model.
The pulleys on the body and the luffing frame are metal
and are very good. Helpfully, the luffing pulleys are
already reeved so saving the owner the usual fiddly job.
This makes the model very quick to assemble for display.
Turning to the boom, the first boom section is first class
as it also includes walkway planking. The luffing
stop bars are all metal components although because of a
slight scaling problem they do not engage properly with
stops on the body. The main boom sections are also
very good with subtle fluting on the longitudinal sections.
The detail continues into the boom head section where all
components at the tip are metal and the large spoked pulleys
are superb. They are free-rolling although one on
the review model was slightly stiff. Plastic Manitowoc
signboards are provided on each side.
A feature of the model is the pendant bars which are metal
and joined by tiny metal pieces. One of the bars had
a slight bend but this was easily corrected. Overall
the metal bars work a treat as long as the clips are pushed
firmly home and look much better than inferior plastic versions.
The method of joining the boom sections works robustly but
does not enhance the look. Sections are push-pinned
together, but rather loosely, and they are held in place
by means of small spring clips which are silver coloured
and so are visible if not obtrusive. Care also has
to be taken to not chip the red paint when fixing and removing
the clips.
Two metal hooks are supplied. One is a single line 'headache
ball' and the other is a four-pulley heavy hook.
Features
The metal tracks work very well as do all the crane functions.
The winches operate by opening the side panel and using
the small tool provided to turn the drums. In fact
the winches work extremely well and with the free rolling
pulleys and heavy hooks this is one of those very few models
which is actually 'playable'. The luffing
winch deserves special mention. It is spring loaded
and the outside of the drum is ridged such when it is not
pressed in it engages and becomes a brake. It is a
very simple and effective mechanism.
The large hook also deserves special mention as it includes
a tiny spring loaded clasp to prevent chains bouncing off
the hook, just like the real thing.
Perhaps the main opportunity missed with this model is the
ability to strip it down for transport by having removable
ballast weights and other parts. This is a pity as
this model will not look right on a low loader. Also
the first boom section does not lay down far enough so the
model cannot be posed with the boom horizontal as if it
was being erected. This appears to be another scaling
problem.
Quality
This is a very high quality model. Almost all parts
are metal and they work beautifully. The casting is
matched by the rich paintwork and the excellent precise
lettering and graphics.
Price
Although not the cheapest of models it does set a high standard
in terms of quality for a model of a modern machine.
Overall
CCM have done an excellent job with this model and it looks
very impressive when set up, particularly with extra boom
sections added. It is however a pity the model does
not split down for transport like other crawler crane models
of this type. There are a few areas where the model
has minor problems. The jib connection system needs
to be changed to one that is both more effective and less
obtrusive. The minor scaling problems should really
have been ironed out in pre-production. However, these
concerns are relatively small compared to the overall quality
offered and hopefully this is the first of a series of high
quality diecast Manitowoc crane models.
Footnotes
The model was developed by CCM as the first of a series
of diecast models for Manitowoc. It first appeared
in 2003, and then at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in 2004.
The production run was stated to be 5000 models. The
spring clips which clip the boom sections together were
chrome in early versions, and later Manitowoc red.
Additional boom sections were sold separately. In
2004 it was shown as a 'closed edition' according
to the CCM website, although it continued to appear on the
NZG website. In 2006 an
amended version
was announced which included a small fly jib and a re-worked
main boom with screwed instead of clipped connections.
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| Instructions and
the two trays. |
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Profile view. The 555 fully rigged. The lifting chain is not
included. |
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| Drums and engine
within the body. |
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| Excellent metal
pulleys at the boom head. |
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| Spring clips hold
the pinned jib sections tightly together. |
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| Counterweight at
the rear cannot be separated. |
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| Poses really well
and looks great. |
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