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| Liebherr
box. The dragline configuration is not included. |
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| The lower tray.
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| Self- ballasting
operation in progress. |
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| Nice crawler
tracks and frames. |
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| Excellent
colour scheme. |
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| Nice textured
walkways on the roof. |
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| Opening doors. |
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| Unloading a
Soletanche Bachy
container. |
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| Impressive
crane.
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| Profile view. |
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| It can lift the
heavy container on a short radius and stay in balance. |
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 Comment on this model.
The Liebherr HS 855 HD is a duty cycle crane which is
particular good for repetitive and demanding activities.
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 version of the model is in crane configuration only
and is in the colours of
Soletanche Bachy, the foundation engineering company
within the
VINCI Group.
Packaging
It comes in a Liebherr-branded box and the model and its
various parts are packed into two expanded polystyrene trays.
The box has a picture of the real crane in dragline configuration
but that is not an option with this version of the model.
There were no missing parts or defects on the review model.
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. A full parts list
would have been helpful.
Assembly of the crane takes a few hours as it has to be
reeved and some of the parts are very small so care has
to be taken not to lose them. 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.
A particular strong point of the model is the Soletanche
Bachy colour scheme which is very striking.
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.
At the boom top a variety of metal pulleys are provided
and 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 pendants.
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.
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. 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.
The review model had insufficient thread on the boom luffing
winch to fully lower it to pose in a realistic transport
mode although a skilled collector could correct this.
Fully erected the crane stands 24in / 60cm high.
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 looks very good
in Soletanche Bachy colours and poses really well with other
models in the same colour scheme. Although it does not include
the dragline bucket (presumably as Soletanche Bachy do not
carry out this type of work) it 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 Soletanche Bachy colours appeared in 2013
in a run of 300 models.
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|
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| TThe upper tray.
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| Posed with the
A frame as low as it would go on the review model. |
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| Boom and pendant
geometry is excellent. |
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| Exhaust pipe
folds up. |
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| Undercarriage
jack is visible. |
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| Detailed cab. |
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| Boom sections,
bolts and pendants are top quality. |
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|
Two hooks. |
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| On site with
other piling equipment. |
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| Very nice
Soletanche Bachy collector's items. |
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