 |
| ALE branded
box. |
 |
 |
| Power pack
hooked on. |
 |
| Under the
modules. |
 |
| Varying wheel
hubs. |
 |
| Shifting a
heavy load.
|
 |
| Adjustable
height on the axle lines. |
 |
| Furthest axle
line set at maximum lift. |
 |
| Travelling to
site on
Nooteboom OSDS. |
|
Scheuerle Self-Propelled Modular
Transporters (SPMT) are designed for transporting very
heavy loads over short distances. SPMT units can
be coupled together and have carried loads up to 15,000
tonnes.
Abnormal Load Engineering (ALE) is a worldwide
specialist in heavy transportation and lifting and this
model is the colours of ALE.
Packaging
It comes in an ALE branded box but there is no
information about the real SPMT units or the ALE
company. Inside the box the model is contained in
three separate polystyrene trays, presumably to allow
different combinations of modules to be sold.
There are no instructions supplied, but configuring the
model is straightforward.
Detail
Both SPMT modules have the same detail with one 4-line and one
6-line module supplied. The rubber tyres are good
with a fine tread pattern and they are mounted on metal
hubs which are different on the driven and non-driven
axles. Each pair of wheels is mounted on a metal
support with a hydraulic cylinder.
The edges of the modules have interlocking points, and
there are ALE graphics on the sides and ends. The
surface of the modules is smooth with some contouring in
the surface.
Metal blocks and connectors enable the modules to linked
in various ways.
The power pack is a heavy part with tiny wheels
underneath. There are various pipes detailed
within the casting at the model connection end and there
are silver painted details around the sides. The
top surface has a very finely textured anti-slip
surface and there are three lifting eyes which have very
small holes for hooks.
Features
Each wheel set on the SPMT modules has a large range of
vertical movement. This version of the model looks
better than the first version as the modules sit
reasonably low on the axles although perhaps still not
quite low enough.
Each wheel set also steers independently with a good range of
movement although certain axles were very stiff on the
review model.
The power pack can be fitted to the either end of both
modules, and the modules can be linked in series using a
steel pin underneath and four connectors in the deck.
Both modules come with metal connector blocks to enable
them to be connected in parallel.
Quality
These are solidly made parts with very little plastic
and a good finish. The paint is applied well and
the graphics are sharp.
Price
The model is reasonable value for money given it is a
limited edition model.
Overall
This model first appeared many years ago and so it is
not as highly detailed as more recent models.
However it is made well and this version has good
functionality. It is easy to recommend.
Footnotes
The model first appeared in 2004 as model 540.
This version in ALE colours appeared in 2011 and was
made in a limited run of 300 models. The modules
were also produced in Mammoet, Felbermayr, Riga Baumann
and Roll colours.
|
|
|
|
 |
| Set up and
ready. |
 |
| Parts out of
the box. |
 |
| Good looking
tyres. |
 |
| Underneath the
power pack.
|
 |
| Clips for
connection in series.
|
 |
| Parallel
steering set. |
 |
| Connection
blocks. |
 |
| Unusual
parallel combination by the Cranes Etc team. They
don't know how to steer it properly though. |
 |
| Stacked up the
modules would be better if they could sit lower. |
|
