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| Liebherr picture
box. |
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| The lower tray.
|
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| Weldex colour
scheme is beautiful. |
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| Jacks between
the tracks are for when the tracks are removed.
Fairlead arrangement is detailed. |
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| Opening door
provides access to the winches. |
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| Accurately cast
boom sections. |
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| Rigged for
lifting. |
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| Old fashioned
drop ball (not included with the model). |
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| Lifting a
column.
|
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| Configured as a
dragline. |
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| 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.
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|
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| The upper tray.
|
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| Detailed
tracks. |
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| Maximum
counterweights stacked up.
|
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| Tilting cab. |
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| Textured
surfaces on top. |
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| Dragline bucket
is a very nice part. |
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| Preparing to
lower the chains and raise the counterweight. |
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|
Impressive crane. |
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| Ready to hit
the road.
|
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| Busy with the
dragline. |
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| The A-frame can
be fully lowered for transport. |
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