 | | Liebherr picture box. |  |  | | The lower tray. |  | | Weldex colour scheme is beautiful. |  | | Jacks between the tracks are for when the tracks are removed. Fairlead arrangement is detailed. |  | | Opening door provides access to the winches. |  | | Accurately cast boom sections. |  | | Rigged for lifting. |  | | Old fashioned drop ball (not included with the model). |  | | Lifting a column. |  | | Configured as a dragline. |  | | Impressive load. |
|  Comment on this model.
The Liebherr HS 855 HD is a duty cycle machine which means it can be used for a variety of applications where repetitive activities such as dragline or clam shell use can be stressful on certain machine parts, so they are strengthened. It can also be configured as a crane, and is used in foundation construction.
The machine typically weighs around 90t when in operation and the basic crane body forms a transport load of 59t with the crawlers attached. As a crane, it can lift up to 90t on the main boom and 25t on the auxiliary jib.
This model is in the colours of the UK's largest crawler crane hire company, Weldex.
Packaging
It comes in a Liebherr-branded box and the model and its various parts are packed into two expanded polystyrene trays.
There were no missing parts on the review model. There was a minor defect on the dragline bucket where the reeving had been incorrectly fixed.
There is no information provided about the real crane, but there are two instruction leaflets for assembling the model and they are in German and English. Although the leaflets are quite good more detailed instructions with an inventory of parts would have been better.
Assembly of the crane takes a few hours as it has to be reeved and some of the parts are very small. So small in fact that particular care is advised to make sure that they are not dropped as they will be hard to find. NZG has helpfully included a bag of spare parts with the model which includes track links, a few nuts and bolts, and other parts.
Detail
The metal tracks are very nicely made and are mounted on removable track frames which include tiny rollers on the lower edge. Detail is very good with the Liebherr name cast into the main drive sprocket.
Between the tracks self-raising jacks are provided but the counterweight plates are not, although it looks as though provision has made for them.
The operator's cab is a high quality part. Internally, the cab has pedals and joysticks replicated. Externally the cab has lights, aerial, a mirror and windscreen wiper. Access platforms surround the body.
Detail on the crane body is very good, with grilles and handles contained within the panels. There is an access ladder to the roof which is plastic but it looks fine. The roof has a textured surface and there is a plastic exhaust system. The winches look good nestled within the body. The Weldex colour scheme is very attractive with sharp graphics.
At the rear the counterweight blocks are very nicely made, and ten 1.5t pieces are provided with the model which provides the maximum optional counterweight of the real machine. The self raising mechanism is provided with two lift cylinders and chains.
The boom sections are well made and are joined by tiny brass nuts and bolts which provide an effective connection. The boom foot has a tagline winch to facilitate a clamshell operation, but this is not used on this version of the model. A dragline fairlead is provided and this is a very nicely engineered part, all in metal.
At the boom top a variety of metal pulleys are provided and these are fixed according to the configuration being used. A separate auxiliary jib can be attached for crane operation and this is another high quality part.
The boom pendants consist of metal wire with crimped loops on each end, and connection pieces. Overall they look effective and the working equaliser balances out the tension in both lines so the model stands right.
Two hooks are provided for crane operation. One is a simple single line headache ball, although this is not the shape of a typical Liebherr hook. The second is a three fall hook block which looks to be a version of a Liebherr 50t block.
For dragline use, a bucket is provided. This is a great part with high detailing such as the perforations within the bucket, and the chains are nicely painted.
Features
The tracks work well although are a little stiff due to the tension they are under. They are mounted on extendible frames so the tracks can be pulled out in operating mode and can be pushed in to narrow the width for transport purposes.
An additional unsupported feature of the model is that they are removable by removing the cover plates on the frames and undoing a couple of screws, so a reduced weight transport mode can be posed.
Four jacks are provided to support the crane when the tracks are removed and these screw down.
The operator's cab tilts to a good angle. The exhaust stack on the roof rotates which means it can be folded for transport which is a nice feature.
There are three winches on the model. One controls the boom and the other two are used for lifting / fairlead. They are controlled by using the supplied keys through opening doors on each side of the model. They all have effective positive brakes which are released by pushing in with the tool, and the winches work very nicely.
The counterweight is fully detachable and configurable at different weights. Special clips are provided to stop the small blocks toppling over and these are reasonably effective.
The model can be configured in a variety of boom lengths and the parts are provided to facilitate either crane or dragline operation so there is no shortage of display possibilities for the collector.
This includes being able to show it in different transport modes although the walkways along the side of the crane cannot be folded to minimise the transport width.
Quality
This is a very high quality model which is beautifully made. It is also highly engineered with special care taken to produce a precision model.
The paint quality is excellent and the graphics are very good.
Price
This is a top quality model and is therefore very good value for money.
Overall
This is a first class crawler crane model which sets a very high standard for engineering. It is flexible in display and looks very good in Weldex colours. This is another outstanding version of the Liebherr HS 855 HD.
Footnotes
The model first appeared in Liebherr colours at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in 2009 and reached dealers in May 2009. This version in Weldex colours appeared in 2013 in a run of 300 models.
|
| |
|  | | The upper tray. |  | | Detailed tracks. |  | | Maximum counterweights stacked up. |  | | Tilting cab. |  | | Textured surfaces on top. |  | | Dragline bucket is a very nice part. |  | | Preparing to lower the chains and raise the counterweight. |  | | Impressive crane. |  | | Ready to hit the road. |  | | Busy with the dragline. |  | | The A-frame can be fully lowered for transport. |
|
