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Liebherr LB 28 Drilling Rig - PST

Maker:  NZG
Model No:  783/05
Scale:  1:50
Review Date:  May 2015


NZG Index
Foundation Equipment Index


Cranes Etc Model Rating
Packaging   (max 10)8
Detail   (max 30)25
Features   (max 20)14
Quality   (max 25)23
Price   (max 15)12
Overall   (max 100)82%

Footnotes

Liebherr LB28 Drilling Rig - PST Video.  [YouKu Video]
Liebherr branded box.
The auger is not removable from the kelly bar, but the leader sledge can be removed from the leader.
Mass of hoses run to the leader.
Detailed cab.  The walkways are fixed.
Hoses on the rotary table.
Driving in a casing.
Piling diorama including a Liebherr HS 855.
Leader folded and top hinged over.  Crawler tracks are narrowed. The kelly bar and auger would normally be removed.
Impressive load but it needs a big truck.
Comment on this model.

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.

This version of the model is in the colours of PST Grundbau, a German foundation engineering company.

Packaging

The model comes in a large Liebherr-style box and it is packed well within two expanded polystyrene trays and the main parts are wrapped in soft paper. 

There were no defects or missing parts on the review model.

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.  No information is included about the real machine.

Detail

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.  The cab has a plastic grab rail 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 PST colour scheme is striking and the graphics are sharp.

The structural support to the leader is very good with the friction rivet 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 black pulleys used are metal.

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 and a plastic adaptor to join it to the casing driver.

Features

The tracks are stiff and can be rolled by hand.  The track frames are spring loaded.  They 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.  The model is quite large and stands nearly 500mm tall when the leader is erected.

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

This version of the LB28 is good value for money given the limited edition nature of the colour scheme.

Overall

This is a complex model which is made well by NZG.  It poses well and is excellent as a transport load or in a diorama with other models.  The PST colour scheme is attractive.

Footnotes

The model first appeared in Liebherr colours in 2010.  This version first appeared in 2015 and was made in a limited run of 300 models.

 
Profile view.
In the box.
Strong colour scheme.
Auger looks good.
Leader is finely detailed.  Auxiliary winch hook is too light to apply much tension on the rope. The chains are not included with the model.
It comes complete with a textured base.
 
Realistic.
Detailed track frames.