| Link-Belt box. | | | The parts out of the box. | | The cab has fine grab rails, tinted glass and a mesh screen on one side. | | The crane has a rugged rough terrain appearance. | | Set up for lifting, although the outrigger pistons are thin. | | Some really nice details - fuel tank and mirrors on the winches. | | The outrigger extension is very good. | | The counterweight can be configured as a single slabs. | | All the parts loaded onto a Goldhofer Low Loader. | | Comparison with the first version on the left. |
| This is a 3-axle 100-ton (US) capacity rough terrain crane and a particular feature is the removable outrigger boxes which reduce the weight and width of the crane for transport purposes.
The model is an updated version of the NZG 619 which was released in 2006.
Packaging
The model is packed inside a pair of expanded polystyrene trays contained within a picture box. Inside, the smaller pieces are individually wrapped and the model is protected well. There was no defects or missing parts on the review model.
Although this is an updated version, there are still no instructions provided to help a the novice collector. However it is not difficult to assemble and the winch drums are pre wound so there is a minimum of fiddly work required to display the model. The box repeats the errors of the first version in terms of incorrect model specifications and does not take account of the amended cab design.
Detail
The carrier has little detail underneath the deck however the tyres, with their deep tread and metal wheel hubs look very good. There are some very fine details on the carrier deck. Access steps and grab rails are excellent and there are small mirrors at each corner. At the front and back there are painted light clusters to allow the crane to travel on the road. These are located so that they are visible when the outrigger boxes are attached.
The outriggers are contained within a pair of separate boxes which can be attached to the carrier deck. The boxes are finely cast and contain sliding metal outrigger beams. The outrigger beams are the usual screw variety with excellent metal pads. A pair of step ladders is provided to clip onto each outrigger box although they are easily dislodged.
Moving to the crane itself, the cab has very finely detailed grab rails, a mirror, lights, windscreen wipers and a step plate outside. The glass is slightly tinted and inside the cab the usual seat and operator controls are modelled. The design of the cab is changed on this version of the model with a more curved outline. Behind the cab the high standard of detailing continues with the casting of both side panels including many small details such as hinges and latches. There is a very good fuel tank, together with an exhaust pipe and air intake, and an excellent radiator grille.
The boom is a five section telescope and the first section includes a control cable spool, and other detail within the casting. At the boom head the pulleys are metal and roll free very nicely. The fly jib is a very nice casting, again with metal pulleys throughout. A single hook is provided and it is a heavy headache ball type which keeps a good tension in the supplied rope. The rope is prone to twisting and some collectors will elect to replace it with a better quality thread.
There are detail changes to the paintwork and graphics compared to the first version of the model.
Features
All axles steer with the rear pair being linked together and both normal and crab steering are possible with the model. The outrigger boxes are separate pieces which slide into place onto lugs on the carrier deck and are locked by small clips underneath so the model could be posed to be clear of the ground sitting on the outriggers if desired. However the screws are a little on the thin side to give confidence about taking the load.
The counterweight comes as two separate slabs which are pinned together and get pinned in turn to the crane body. It is possible to display the crane with either no slabs attached, or one or two.
The cab no longer features the sliding door which was present on the first version of the model.
All the usual crane functions can be replicated. Two winches are provided, both with rope, and it is a pity that the model only comes with the one hook and not a multi line hook block as well.
The fly jib consists of two pieces, a main lattice section and a folding section. The two pieces are easily disconnected so the model does not have to be displayed with the folding section. The real fly jib is off settable at different angles and the model would have been better if it could have replicated this functionality.
Quality
This is a high quality NZG model with some finely made parts The use of plastic is kept to a minimum and the paintwork and graphics are very fine too.
Price
The model is good value from the Link-Belt shop.
Overall
Although this a minor reworking of the earlier version of the model it is still a very good model by modern standards. It is surprising that the functionality has gone down with the amended cab design and that a little more flexibility was not added with the provision of a second hook. It is highly recommended.
Footnotes
The first version of the model was NZG 619. The revised model was announced at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in February 2010 and appeared in the summer.
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| | The model in the tray. | | Having just come off the low loader with the outrigger boxes not yet attached. | | Travelling on site. The chain is not supplied with the model and there is nowhere to attach it except on to the ladders. | | Detail underneath. | | Wheels posed steering. | | The fly jib is attached, with the bi fold section folded. | | The fly jib fully opened up. | | The different cab details. The first version is at the top. | | Different decorations. The first version is on the left. |
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