 | | Liebherr-branded box. |  |  | | The bottom tray has the larger parts. |  | | Some of the parts out of the box. |  | | Three different boom sizes fit inside each other to minimise transport. |  | | Loaded on a Nooteboom OSDS 4-axle trailer. |  | | With enough trucks you can easily make a convoy. |  | | The luffing winch fixed to the crane. |  | | A-frames are detailed with handrails and walkways. |  | | It looks real. |  | | As an alternative, the crane is rigged with a shorter jib. |  | | Another configuration - fixed jib. |  | | The Cranes Etc team always wear their helmets to be safe. |
| This kit provides a 54m luffing fly jib for the Liebherr LTM 11200-9.1 base model. The review kit is in Liebherr yellow.
Packaging
The model comes in a Liebherr-styled box containing two expanded polystyrene trays. Many of the parts are wrapped in tissue, and there were no defects or missing parts in the review set.
A large three page instruction sheet is provided, and this is in German and English. It includes a list of the main parts although not all parts are listed or described. Most of the assembly issues are addressed but some details are missing.
Assembly of the model is reasonably straightforward with the resulting size being the main issue, but a good few hours needs to be set aside. As with the base model tiny brass nuts and bolts are used to make connections and plenty of spares are provided. The only difficult part to fix is the luffing winch as the self tapping screws used to fix it to the body are not an easy fit. For more assembly information watch the video review.
No information is provided about the real luffing jib so it misses some information about the different configurations that are possible with the kit.
Detail
The parts are high quality and the jib sections are cast perfectly straight. Some of them have internal bracing at one end of the section. The brass nuts and bolts are small and discrete so they do not affect the look, although black or silver might have been better.
The luffing pivot section is a really nice piece, and surprisingly heavy. Detailing is very good with mesh walkways and realistic metal handrails. All the pulleys used are metal and coloured black. The other jib sections are also made to a high standard.
The pendants are metal and are preassembled to suit the maximum assembly configuration using brass bolts so they are easily taken apart.
The luffing winch is a nicely made part with good detailing and handrails.
Features
The luffing winch operates by pressing in with a supplied tool to release the brake. It works well although the loads on the model get very significant if the jib is raised from an erection position and it is best to assist the lift with hands rather than rely on the winch alone.
One modelling compromise that has been made is that the size of thread used on the luffing winch means that it cannot all fit on the drum. Although this is not an issue if the model is erected it does mean that the luffing winch assembly cannot be properly displayed as a transport load with all thread which is a pity. It also means that the luffing bridle cannot be parked on the luffing winch holder so reeving the model is required every time it is assembled.
The pivot section is engineered well with smoothly moving parts. There is a neat strut mechanism which prevents over-luffing of the jib and it interlocks with a moving cam located on the foot of the jib.
One undocumented feature is the variety of configurations that are possible with the kit. Different lengths of jib are possible and the extension section on top of the telescopic boom can be omitted. It is also possible to omit the luffing gear and have a variety of fixed jibs. When fully erected the model is well over 2m tall.
Another possibility is to remove the jib tip and re-fix it on the main boom for an auxiliary line. The two rear connections are bolted, and the front has forked members which rest on the friction rivets.
Quality
The standard of manufacture is very good with most parts fitting well. The assembled jib is heavy with little plastic used.
The paintwork is very good. There was a very slight colour variation in the yellow between the kit parts and the lattice mast section of the base model, although it is barely noticeable.
Price
The kit represents a significant additional investment to the base model. However it is good value for both the size and the model engineering involved.
Overall
The Liebherr LTM 11200-9.1 crane model is outstanding and this add-on kit suitably enhances the model. It offers great flexibility, including as transport loads, and when fully erected produces a model with a big 'wow' factor. It is highly recommended.
Footnotes
The luffing jib extension first appeared as a prototype at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in February 2011, and became available in October 2011. An additional 36m extension set was also produced as model number 7323. Extension jibs were also produced in black and Mammoet colours. The blanking plate used at the end of the boom in the T3 configuration was also available separately as NZG 7325.
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|  | | The top tray has the smaller parts. |  | | Instruction brochure is good. |  | | Jib sections loaded on a Dennison Trailer. |  | | The luffing pivot makes a great load. |  | | A plastic blanking plate is included for covering the boom end in T3 configuration when the top four telescope sections are removed. |  | | Dolly axle supports the end of the jib as the boom is raised before lifting the jib. The jib tip can be removed it is secured by two brass bolts at the rear and rests on forks at the front. |  | | The jib tip attached to the intermediate lifting head to make a dual hook capability. |  | | Single line hook running from the jib end. |  | | The parts make a straight jib. |  | | Rigged with a 150 tonne hook. |  | | Ready for action. |
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