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| Wirtgen branded box. |
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| Profile view. |
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| Primary
conveyor feeding the discharge conveyor. |
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| Good conveyor
structure. The belt has deep cleats. |
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| Conveyor
counterweight structure. Screw heads visible above
the slewing ring.
|
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| High quality
straps support the conveyor. |
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| Detailed cab. |
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| Front view.
The central access stair lowers too. |
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| Loading a
Liebherr T264 mining
truck. |
|
 Comment on this model.
The
Wirtgen
Surface Miner 4200 SM is a massive machine used for
selective mining of coal, iron ore or soft rock, and it
provides an economic single mining process with one
operator and can excavate up to 3000 tonnes per hour.
The machine weighs around 211 tonnes.
Packaging
The model comes in a
very large Wirtgen branded box which comes in an outer
shipping container. Inside the model is enclosed
between expanded polystyrene trays.
The review model had no missing parts. One
part was loose in the box and was easily refitted.
The model comes with a bag containing spare track links
and pins. A simple sheet is included which describes some of the
features of the model pictorially, but really the model
deserves something more comprehensive.
Surprisingly for a Wirtgen Group model, there is no
information about the real machine.
Detail
The metal tracks have double grouser and bolt head
detailing and they are mounted on frames which have
working rollers. Large soft rubber containment hoses run from the body
to the track drive motors. The hydraulic cylinders
controlling the track height and steering are without
hoses. All connections are made with friction pins
which look discrete.
Underneath the model the large milling drum has
individual metal picks which are tipped with red
paint. The side skirts are detailed thin sections,
and the primary conveyor has a nice rubber belt with
deep cleats.
The cab
has a very detailed interior and externally the lights,
mirrors and air conditioner look good. The access
platform has metal mesh flooring with metal handrails.
Below the cab a control console is modelled at track
level.
Inside the engine deck there is a large plastic engine block
that is a single colour. The sides of the
engine deck have fine quality mesh sides and the drive
to the milling drum is modelled inside a cabinet.
Above the engine deck there are extensive textured
walking surfaces with metal handrails. The air
intakes and exhaust are modelled in plastic with the
exhaust pipes not having holes.
The
massive discharge conveyor structure is modelled in
metal. The moving counterweight structure has discrete
friction pin connections. The big slewing ring is
heavy modelling although the three silver securing
screws would have been better with some disguising.
The metal lattice structure is modelled well and looks
convincing as does the large rubber belt with its deep
cleats. The support cables are fine gauge metal
wire. Hydraulic lines to the conveyor motor are
modelled in rubber and plastic.
Features
Each track unit has tracks which are stiff, but can be
rotated by hand, and each track can be steered
individually. The height of
the machine can be adjusted by varying the height of
each track through adjustable legs. Because of the
weight of the model the hydraulic rams have to be pinned
when extended to hold a pose.
The milling drum rotates freely and there is an
adjustable plate on each side and a moving scraper
plate behind the drum.
The cab can be rotated to adjust the viewing position
for the operator.
The
access stair to the cab can be lowered as can the stair
to the engine deck.
The discharge conveyor counterweight slides to balance
the conveyor structure. The whole structure
rotates smoothly through 180º.
The conveyor belt can be rotated but it is extremely stiff.
The discharge angle of the conveyor can be angled by
adjusting the hydraulic rams which control it.
The whole conveyor structure can be pivoted to allow the
primary conveyor to be lowered for maintenance. Pins
are removed and the conveyor is raised by hand, rather
than using temporary cables attached to the sliding
counterweight mechanism.
It is also possible to separate the whole conveyor
structure by removing the three screws which secure it
leaving the body of the machine as a heavy transport
load. The conveyor structure can only be broken
down further be pushing out friction pins to separate
the counterweight part.
Quality
This is a high quality model with a high metal content.
As usual for a heavy model care has to be taken not to
bend the metal handrails.
The paint and graphics are very good.
Price
It is a big model and this is reflected in the price.
Overall
The real 4200 SM is an impressive machine and this model
is also imposing and large. It has good
functionality and the detailing is generally of a very
good standard.
Footnotes
The model first appeared at the BAUMA Exhibition in
2013. |
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|
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| Large model of
a large machine. |
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| Heavy duty
hydraulics. |
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| Big milling
drum with tipped picks. Steering crawler tracks. |
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| Metal
handrails. The exhaust pipes do not have holes. |
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| Access stair
lowered.
|
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| Fine casting
detail. |
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| Detailed tracks
and frames. |
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| Opening panels
reveal the milling drum drive belt. |
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