 |
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| Liebherr-style
box. |
 |
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| The middle tray
has the counterweights, jib sections and hooks. |
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| The carrier. |
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| Posed in road-going
configuration. |
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| Windows have a
subtle tint. |
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| Intricate detailing
and linkages. |
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| With a few support
vehicles an impressive display can be set up. The
boom is on a
Nooteboom
8-axle trailer and it is accompanied by a
Nooteboom
ballast carrier. |
 |
| The boom lifts
itself off of the transport vehicle. |
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| The carrier can
then drive under so the boom can be attached. Here
it is shown driving in cab first, although it can be reversed
in also. A
Liebherr
LTM1200-5.1 support crane has arrived. |
 |
| As an alternative,
the model can be set up to travel with the inner boom separated,
although it really needs a blanking plate to go over the
open boom end. The inner boom is mounted on a
Talbert
trailer. |
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| Heavy construction
is modelled very well. |
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| Excellent outriggers
and spreader plates. |
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| Heavy metal around
the Y-Guy connection. |
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| The sloping ladder
is not mentioned in the instructions, but fits to provide
access to the crane deck. Also the exhaust pipe has
to be fitted and it pokes out between the railings in the
centre of the photo. |
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| Counterweights
fully loaded. |
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| A nice easy lift
- the Liebherr
TL 435-13 telehandler. |
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| Paired with a
Nooteboom
Telestep and windmill blade, you can have the makings
of a wind turbine site. |
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| From ground level
the crane towers above. |
|
The Liebherr LTM 11200-9.1 first appeared
at the BAUMA exhibition in 2007. At its introduction
it was the largest mobile telescopic crane in the world.
The crane travels on a nine axle carrier and the weight
of the boom is such that it has to be transported on a separate
vehicle. The dimensions of the real crane are huge
with the carrier almost 20m long, and the boom weighs around
100t and is also nearly 20m long. As the name suggests
the crane is rated at 1200 tonnes lifting capacity, albeit
at 2.5m radius. Lifting height on the telescopic boom
is nearly 100m, and a variety of fly jib combinations can
increase the overall lifting height to 188m.
A special boom transporter was built by Nooteboom and this
has been modelled by WSI. The boom
transporter model is reviewed
here.
Packaging
The model comes in a fairly large Liebherr-styled box which
is quite heavy, and the model is securely contained within
three expanded polystyrene trays. It is very protected
well in the box with many parts wrapped in tissue, and there
were no defects or missing parts on the review model.
A large coloured instruction sheet is provided, and this
is in German and English. This describes how the various
configurations of the crane can be built, and is of good
quality. A parts list is missing which describes the
various bolt types, but NZG have subsequently produced one
and it can be downloaded
here.
Assembly of the model is not difficult, and the model engineering
is very good so it goes together well. Some of the
nuts and bolts are absolutely tiny however, and will be
easily lost if they fall on the floor. NZG have thoughtfully
provided some spares with the model.
No information is provided about the real machine which
is a pity, and a CD or brochure with the machine specifications
would have been appreciated by many collectors, or people
receiving the model.
Detail
The carrier is heavy, and turning it over carefully reveals
an excellent level of detail. The main drive train
is provided to the four driven axles, and the suspension
is modelled and there are various tanks and other features.
The wheels have excellent Michelin-branded tyres and these
are mounted on varying hub designs depending on the axle.
The outrigger beams are metal and very solid, with very
good details within the casting. The rear outriggers
have a storage box and bracket attached. The outrigger
pistons are smooth and look realistic, with metal pads which
are pin-connected on the bottom. Heavy metal spreader
plates provide a solid footing and it is nice to see these
included with a crane model.
At the front, the driving cab has all of the usual detailing
that would be expected, and interior details are fine too.
The cab windows are lightly tinted and have black edging
representing window seals. Behind the cab, there is
a very pleasant exhaust arrangement and other equipment.
A fine diamond textured surface covers most of the carrier,
and at the rear there is a good access ladder, and the beacon
lights and light arrays are very convincing.
The crane body sits on a large toothed slewing ring and
a slewing motor is modelled on each side of the body.
The operator's cab is nicely formed with a mesh walkway
and handrails on the outside, and there are some very finely
made windscreen wipers.
The body has some detail within the casting and this includes
walking surfaces on the top deck. A pair of access
ladders, handrails and an exhaust pipe have to be fitted
as separate parts and some care is needed with the handrails
when lifting the boom to make sure that they are not inadvertently
crushed.
At the rear the heavy counterweight tray is screwed in,
and the counterweights interlock as they are placed. This
model represents the standard arrangement of the real crane
rather than the optional hydraulic counterweight lifting
mechanism. Each piece of counterweight is well formed
with good graphics and with care can be posed being lifted
by a support crane. The only variation with the real
crane is that the model has 16 10t weights and misses out
four 5t weights, but no doubt these will be available in
the aftermarket.
The main boom lift cylinders have plastic jackets complete
with pinning holes so a boom elevation can be maintained.
It is here that the only real weakness of the model is present
in that the colour of the plastic parts looks a little different
to the rest of the model and it would have been great if
these had been metal parts.
In terms of detail the absence of hydraulic lines to cylinders
and motors produces a clean if less detailed model.
The thread used on the two winch drums is top quality however,
and is just right for the model.
The boom is a hugely impressive piece and is very heavy
as it has eight telescope sections. The lowest section
has the boom mounting outriggers modelled and these are
all metal parts, and include metal pads and again the pistons
are smooth and look authentic. A few cable spools
are also mounted on the boom.
The telescope sections are engineered very well and they
have very realistic looking collars at the top of each section.
At the boom head there are excellent black metal pulleys
which are perfectly free rolling.
The Y-Guy arrangement is robustly modelled with good details
at the winches where bolt heads are modelled within the
casting. The connections from the Y-Guy to the bottom
of the boom are modelled in a pliable metal material which
is great because it can be set to hang realistically in
a catenary shape and is so much better than a plastic part.
Perhaps the only missing item in relation to the boom assembly
is a separate power pack cart used to drive the boom mounting
cylinders.
Two jibs are supplied. A short heavy lift jib is fixed
directly to the fourth telescope section and is modelled
very solidly and includes a ladder and also roller discs
for being rolled along the ground.
The lattice mast jib is a bigger assembly comprising heavy lattice
work which is well formed. Pleasingly, the whole assembly
is made of five different pieces which bolt together so
it is possible to split it down into separate parts.
Three hooks are supplied. One is a single line block
and the others have 3 and 11 pulleys respectively.
They are very nicely made and detailed pieces with the two
larger blocks having a swiveling hook.
Features
Each axle on the carrier can be independently steered to
a good angle and so any of the steering modes of the real
crane can be reproduced. They also have working suspension
which provides a good range of movement on each wheel.
The outriggers fold out and extend telescopically, and the
pistons screw down to engage the pads which are pinned on.
The arrangement is sufficiently strong to support the whole
model and it can be lifted off its tyres.
The boom mounting legs rotate out from their stored position
and can be extended to support the weight of the boom.
However the pistons are on the limit of their travel in
order to get the carrier to drive underneath the supported
boom without fouling.
It is possible to show the crane alternatively being transported
without the inner four telescope sections, and this is achieved
by pushing in the locking clip and continuing to pull out
the telescope The only care needed is not to lose
the spring and locking clip which tend to pop out when the
telescope finally emerges.
Raising the boom is straightforward and the main lift cylinders
are fairly stiff, but not stiff enough to hold such a heavy
boom at an angle. The cylinder jackets have holes
for pins which can be used to lock the boom at a steep angle.
The Y-Guy arrangement opens up fully for use, and each
of the spools for the ropes connected to the jib head
have spring
loaded brakes so a good tension can be set if desired.
The lattice mast jib can be adjusted for angle using the
hydraulic cylinders which are very stiff and will not
bleed down.
The model rotates well and the two winches are spring loaded
so they can hold a good load on the hook. The
winches are accessed through holes in the body on the
left side. The forward winch can be operated
without removing ballast and the rear one requires a
stack of ballast to be removed.
The operator's cab is on a flexible linkage like the
real crane so it can be folded for transport, or lowered
to the ground to provide access to the cab without a ladder.
The cab also tilts for operator comfort during lifts at
height.
A great feature of the model is that it can be set up in
five different configurations by mixing the jibs and
use of the Y-Guy arrangement. These, coupled with
the various transport possibilities give an excellent variety
of posing possibilities.
Quality
This crane model is of an excellent standard overall and
Liebherr can be very pleased with the quality NZG have achieved.
Small things matter, and as an example there are no unsightly
rivet heads, with friction rivets used throughout instead.
The paintwork is really nice and the applied graphics are
very sharp. As usual for NZG there is a minimum of
plastic used.
Price
This is a large and expensive model but there is no doubt
it is also excellent value considering how well made it
is.
Overall
The real LTM 11200-9.1 crane deserved a very special model
to be made and there is no doubt NZG have provided it.
As the real crane can be expected to be in production for
a number of years Liebherr and NZG have sensibly decided
to make a model which will represent it well throughout
the real crane's production lifetime. The model
engineering is of an excellent standard.
Anyone looking for a large mobile crane model will be very
pleased with this one. It is an outstanding model.
Footnotes
The model first appeared in December 2009 after being shown
as a prototype at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in February 2009.
A number of different company liveries have been
produced including Mammoet (run of 600); Franz Bracht
(300); 2 versions of McNallys (100 each); Sarens (300);
Grohmann (300); H N Krane (300); Eisele (300); Havator
(300), Van Marwijk (300), Mediaco (300), Senn AG (300),
Roxu (300).
A separate
boom carrier has been produced by WSI.
This was first produced in Mammoet colours and a version
introduced in April 2010 is in
Liebherr
yellow. YCC have produced replacement metal cylinders
for the main
boom and
lattice
mast.
A 54m Luffing jib kit has been produced (NZG
7322) and 36m Jib Extension (NZG
7323).
This model was awarded Model of the Year for 2010 in
the
Cranes Etc Review of the Year.
|
|
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|
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| The top tray includes
the outrigger spreader plates and counterweight tray.
|
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| The bottom tray
has the carrier and the boom. |
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| All axles steer.
The plastic boom cylinder jackets are slightly off colour
compared to the rest of the model. |
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| The detail underneath
is very good. |
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| The lattice
mast jib
makes an interesting load. Here it is carried on a
Nooteboom
OSDS 4-axle. |
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| The boom on a trailer
mounted on a couple of support stands. |
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| When elevated,
the transport vehicle can drive away. |
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| The crane can be
driven on site with the boom attached, but it is too heavy
for normal road travel. |
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| Mounting the heavy
lift jib using the support crane. |
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| Lifting the LTM
1200-5.1 just for fun. |
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| Tyres have 'Michelin'
on the side walls. The crane can stand on the outriggers
with the wheels clear. The whole machine towers over
Liebherr man. |
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| The cab hydraulically
lowers to provide access at ground level. The ladder
up to the crane deck is another part which has to be fitted.
|
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| Three hooks are
supplied. |
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| Open up the telescopic
boom and a massive model nearly 2.5m high results.
The tension can be adjusted on each wing of the Y-Guy to
keep the boom straight, or provide tension just like the
real machine. |
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| Lattice mast jib
has an adjustable angle using the cylinders. |
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| A dedicated
boom carrier
pairs up well with the crane. |
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