 | | Liebherr branded box. |  |  | | The model in the box. |  | | Just off the low loader, the rig waits to have the rotary drive and kelly bar added. |  | | Moving to the drilling location. |  | | Ready to drill. The auger is a great part. |  | | Nice detailing on the roof. |  | | Driving in the pile casing. |  | | Good looking transport loads can be set up. Here a Nooteboom low loader and Dennison trailer are used. |
| The Liebherr LB28 is a rotary drilling rig. It can drill to a maximum depth of 70m and can handle pile diameters up to 2.5m.
Packaging
The model comes in a large Liebherr-style box and it is packed well within two expanded polystyrene trays and a nice touch is that the various parts are wrapped in soft paper. No information is included about the real machine.
A large clear instruction leaflet is provided which is in English and German. It is straightforward to assemble the model and it is only a little strange that the instructions do not describe the working of the winches, although most people will work this out easily. Two keys are provided to operate the winches.
Detail
The model is quite large and stands nearly 500mm tall when the leader is erected.
The metal tracks are delicately detailed, and it is good that NZG have included some spare track links in the box. They are mounted on very good track frames which have numerous small rollers.
The body has a high standard of detail as is typical of NZG's Liebherr models. The cab has plastic grab rails and it is adorned with a mirror, lights and aerial. Inside there are controls and a computer console. Around the body the casting includes small details such as door panels, and the roof has an exhaust and textured walking surface.
The structural support to the leader is very good with the friction rivets used being barely visible. Some of the hydraulic lines are modelled in the casting and painted silver to highlight them and this looks really good. The leader is an all metal part and the structure is authentically represented, including various perforations. A particularly well detailed area is the winches, and a mass of hydraulic lines run to them from the body, and the protective truss looks great. Hydraulic lines run the length of the leader to the top. At the top there is an auxiliary winch with hook, although the hook is small and light so it is not able to keep the winch line tight. The rope crowd system is reeved in the factory and adds to the overall realism of the model and the crowd rope tensioning cylinder is modelled too. The pulleys used are metal and are black so they look just right.
The leader sledge has more hydraulic lines and the rotary drive mounts onto it. This is another excellent part with the shock absorber springs represented in the casting details, and the casing driver looks authentic. The kelly bar is metal and has a first class metal auger attached at the end. The kelly bar is not telescopic, and it is a pity that the auger is not removable such that alternative tools could be fitted.
A plastic textured base is included and the model poses well on it. Also included is a short piece of metal casing.
Features
The tracks turn well, and the track frames are spring loaded for easy removal of the tracks. The track frames are also retractable so the model can be posed in either transport or working configuration.
The leader can be posed in transport position, and the leader top can be folded down to lower the overall transport height. It would have been even better if the model had a foldable bottom leader section and a removable counterweight. When raised, the leader mechanism is flexible enough to enable it to be angled as desired.
Two working winches enable the kelly bar and auxiliary hook to be lowered and raised. The rope crowd is not functional however, although the leader sledge can be positioned manually and screws tightened to hold it in place.
Quality
This is a high quality model with very good paintwork and graphics. Much of it is metal, and where plastic is used it is very good quality so the look of the model is not impaired.
Price
There is no doubt the LB28 is good value for money.
Overall
Foundation machines make interesting models because of their complexity and NZG have produced a really good model. It poses well and is excellent as a transport load or in a diorama with other models. The LB28 is highly recommended.
Footnotes
The model first appeared at Nuremberg in 2010 and was available a couple of months later. Versions were later produced in other liveries, including Soletanche Bachy.
|
| |
|  | | The top of the lid holds parts and instructions. |  | | The parts out of the box. |  | | Equipment all fitted. |  | | A mass of hydraulic lines. |  | | Lots of detail on the rotary drive. |  | | Excellent tracks and cab. |  | | The leader is solid and straight. |  | | The model comes with a plastic base on which it can be posed. |  | | It makes a great display combination when mounted on a low loader. |
|
