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Liebherr HS 8100 HD Crawler Crane

Maker:  NZG
Model No:  945
Scale:  1:50
Review Date:  May 2016


NZG Index
Crawler Crane Index

Cranes Etc Model Rating
Packaging   (max 10)9
Detail   (max 30)27
Features   (max 20)17
Quality   (max 25)23
Price   (max 15)10
Overall   (max 100)86%

Footnotes


Liebherr HS 8100 HD Crawler Crane video.  [Youku video]
Liebherr picture box.
The lower tray.
Great parts for transport loads.
Unloading the crane using its jacks.
Reversing to attach the counterweight.
Unloading the grab.
At work.
Dragline at work.
Dragline configuration.
Slurry wall grab configuration.
Emptying the bucket.
Crane configuration
Lifting a steelwork fabrication.
Comment on this model.

The Liebherr HS 8100 HD is a duty cycle machine which means it is strengthened for repetitive activities such as dragline or foundation work.  It can also be configured as a crane.

The machine typically weighs around 90 tonnes when in operation and the basic crane body forms a transport load of 60 tonnes with the crawlers attached.  As a crane, it can lift up to 100 tonnes.

The model comes with a slurry wall grab, a dragline bucket and two crane hooks.

Packaging

It comes in a Liebherr-branded box and the HS 8100 HD and its various parts are packed into two expanded polystyrene trays.  The slurry wall grab is included within its own Liebherr branded box.

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

There is no information provided about the real crane, but there are two instruction leaflets for assembling the model, and they are in German and English.  One has reeving instructions for the luffing A-frame but in fact this part of the model is already reeved in the factory. The second describes the various configurations of the crane.  However there is no parts list.

NZG has helpfully included a bag of spare parts with the model which includes track links, a few nuts and bolts, and other parts.

Detail

The metal tracks are very nicely made and are mounted on removable track frames which include tiny rollers on the lower edge.  Detail is very good with the Liebherr name cast into the main drive sprocket. 

Between the tracks, self-raising jacks are provided but the carbody counterweights are not, although it looks as though provision has made for them.

The operator's cab is very good with pedals and joysticks replicated inside.  Externally the cab has lights, aerial, a mirror and windscreen wiper.  Access platforms surround the body.

Detail on the crane body is very good, with grilles and handles contained within the panels.  The access ladders and hand rails are of flexible plastic.  The roof has a nicely detailed exhaust system. 

At the rear the counterweight blocks are very nicely made, and ten 1.5 tonne pieces are provided with the model which provides the maximum optional counterweight of the real machine.  The self-raising mechanism is provided with two lift cylinders and chains.

The boom sections are well made and are joined by tiny brass nuts and bolts which provide an effective connection.  The boom foot has a tagline winch to facilitate a clamshell operation, but this is not used on this version of the model.  A dragline fairlead is provided and this is a very nicely engineered part, all in metal. 

At the boom top a variety of metal pulleys are provided and these are fixed according to the configuration being used.  A separate auxiliary jib can be attached for crane operation and this is another high quality part.

The boom pendants consist of metal wire with crimped loops on each end, and connection pieces.  Overall they look effective and the working equaliser balances out the tension in both lines so the model stands right.

Two hooks are provided for crane operation.  One is a simple single line headache ball, although this is not the shape of a typical Liebherr hook.  The second is a three fall hook block which looks to be a version of a Liebherr 50t block. 

For dragline use, a bucket is provided.  This is a great part with high detailing such as the perforations within the bucket, and the chains are nicely painted.

The slurry wall grab is all in metal and it is a very high quality part.  The structure is modelled well and the grab looks convincing.  Connections of the moving parts are discrete.  Two wire cables run to the crane hoist ropes.

Features

The tracks work well although they are stiff rather than free-rolling.  They are mounted on extendible frames so the tracks can be pulled out in operating mode and can be pushed in to narrow the width for transport purposes. 

The tracks are removable by removing the cover plates on the frames and undoing a couple of screws, so a reduced weight transport mode can be posed. 

Four jacks are provided to support the crane when the tracks are removed and these screw down.

The operator's cab tilts to a good angle. 

There are three winches on the model.  One controls the boom and the other two are used for lifting or the fairlead.  They are controlled by using the supplied keys through opening doors on each side of the model.  They all have effective positive brakes which are released by pushing in with the tool, and the winches work very nicely.

The counterweight is fully detachable and configurable at different weights.  Special clips are provided to stop the small blocks toppling over and these are reasonably effective.

The model can be configured in a variety of boom lengths and the parts are provided to facilitate either crane, dragline or grab operation so the model is very flexible. 

The slurry wall grab works well with the grab opening and closing smoothly.

The crane can be posed in different transport modes although the walkways along the side of the crane cannot be folded to minimise the transport width, and the hand rails and exhaust cannot be lowered to reduce the headroom. 

Quality

This is a very high quality model which is as far as modelling is concerned is precision engineering.

The paint quality and graphics are very good.

Price

It is reasonable value overall.

Overall

This model is an update of the previous HS 855 HD model and it continues the high standard.  The attachments are also very high quality resulting in a first class model.

Footnotes

The model first appeared for the Bauma 2016 Exhibition.
  The slurry wall grab has a separate NZG part number, 9451. 

 
The upper tray.
Instructions and boxed slurry grab.
Tracks and counterweights on the road.
Lifting its own track frame.
Slurry wall grab as a load.
Grab is a very nice part.
Detailed track frames.
Tilting cab.
 
Looks great.
Detailed bucket.
Fairlead attached for dragline operation.
Two hooks are included.