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| Liebherr-branded
box. |
 |
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| The bottom tray
has the larger parts. |
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| Some of the parts
out of the box. |
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| Three different
boom sizes fit inside each other to minimise transport.
|
 |
| Loaded on a
Nooteboom
OSDS 4-axle trailer. |
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| With enough trucks
you can easily make a convoy. |
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| The luffing winch
fixed to the crane. |
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| A-frames are detailed
with handrails and walkways. |
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| It looks real.
|
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| As an
alternative, the crane is rigged with a shorter jib. |
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| Another configuration
- fixed jib. |
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| 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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|
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| The top tray has
the smaller parts. |
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| Instruction brochure
is good. |
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| Jib sections loaded
on a Dennison
Trailer. |
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| The luffing pivot
makes a great load. |
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| A plastic blanking
plate is included for covering the boom end in T3
configuration when the top
four telescope sections are removed. |
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| 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. |
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| The jib tip
attached to the intermediate lifting head to make a dual
hook capability. |
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| Single line hook
running from the jib end. |
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| The parts make
a straight jib. |
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| Rigged with a
150 tonne hook. |
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| Ready for
action. |
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