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| Grove box. |
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| All the parts out
of the box. |
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| Profile view. |
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| Fly jib fitted
to the side of the boom. |
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| Detail is very
good underneath too. |
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| Fine detail at
the boom head. A hoist cut out latch and there is a tie
off for the hoist rope too. The chrome boom locking
pins are shown in position. |
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| The working boom
angle indicator. |
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| Removable cover
and opening storage compartment for the small hook. |
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| Great detail all
around. |
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| The YB5515 sitting
next to a bigger brother - the
Grove GMK 3055. |
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The Grove YB5515 is a yard crane of
the sort found in industrial premises. It is often
used for pick-and-carry duties where the load can be positioned
on the deck whilst it is transported. This particular
model was originally developed by Shuttlelift as part of
the Carrydeck line which was acquired by the Manitowoc Crane
Group in early 2007 and made part of the Grove product line.
The crane has a maximum capacity of 15 tons and can carry
around 10 tons on the deck. With the fly jib, the
maximum height of lift is just over 20m.
Packaging
Some good things come in small packages and this model is
in that category. The box is small and relatively
plain, and the model is well packed within a pair of expanded
polystyrene trays. The review model had no defects
or missing parts.
A small product guide brochure is included which gives information
about the real crane. It does not describe the model
however, and there are some small parts which do not have
an obvious purpose so an instruction sheet would have been
helpful. Also provided is a small plastic pointer
which is a useful tool for opening the small parts on the
model.
Detail
Although the model is small an initial inspection reveals
that it is packed full of detail.
Underneath, the engine and transmission is modelled and
the chrome exhaust system is particularly good with the
pipe having a hole rather than being just a solid piece.
The tyres have a good tread and they are mounted on nice
metal hubs.
The front and rear of the carrier deck have excellent small
lenses for the lights, and there are tiny graphics as well
as a towing hitch at the front. The deck is textured
in a subtle way to provide a non-slip surface for loads.
There are tie down points for securing loads and two wing
mirrors at the front corners of the carrier. Detail
in the driving cab is of an exceptional standard.
The controls include a bank of joysticks and foot pedals
and tucked in behind the seat is a fire extinguisher.
There is an excellent set of warning notices and charts
within the cab, all in tiny detail. Outside, the cab
has a windscreen wiper.
Excellent detail continues on the crane itself. The
minute bolts on the slewing ring are painted silver and
the boom cylinder is metal and has a hydraulic line within
the casting. More tiny warning notices are on the
boom and the fly jib, and boom angle indicators are attached.
The boom itself is a four piece telescope and includes a
pair of hoist line guide frames. At the boom head
there is a hoist overrun cut-out and the fly jib is finely
cast with excellent formed holes within the structure.
Two small hollow cylinders are provided in the bag of parts
and these are for the pins on the fly jib.
Two metal hooks are provided. One is a two sheave
hook and the second is a smaller hook for use with the fly
jib. Perhaps the only negative point on the model
is the thread used for the hoist rope. This is a little
too 'stiff' so the relatively light hook does not
give it any tension, and not enough thread is provided anyway
to allow the full use of the hoist with the boom extended.
Fortunately it is easy to replace the thread with a finer
gauge and this is recommended to make the model look better.
Features
Each axle steers independently so it is possible to replicate
crab steering although the degree of lock is more limited
than on the real crane.
The outriggers can be lowered and these slide into place
well. The carrier deck has two removable panels which
reveal engine detail, and there is also a small hinged cover
to a storage box. The main engine cover also opens
and remarkably there is tiny prop which can be used to keep
the cover open. The door to the driver’s cab is another
opening feature.
All the usual crane functions work with the hoist being
operated using a finger on the drum. The boom telescopes
smoothly and interestingly can be locked off in the closed
position. Two small J-shaped pins are provided and
these can be inserted to lock the boom. The boom also
has working angle indicators which are an excellent feature.
The fly jib can be attached with to the boom head with the
two steel pins provided and it can be stowed on the side
of the boom when not in use. It does not have the
ability to be set an offset angle like the original.
Quality
The paintwork, graphics, and accuracy of the castings are
all first rate. In terms of detail the model is top
notch.
Really the only negative point is the choice of the gauge
of thread used which does not look under tension and detracts
from the look of the model.
Price
As is common with models from TWH this model is not particularly
cheap, but it is a precision quality model and compares
favourably with cheaper models.
Overall
It is good to see a model crane representing the industrial
sector and this model does not let down. The level
of detail is very high and it is a tribute to TWH’s modelling
skills that the detail has been achieved on a such small
model.
It is a very good quality model which any collector of crane
models will appreciate. Just be sure to change the
thread for something thinner if you want the model to look
its best.
Footnotes
The model was released in 2006 as the Shuttlelift 5440F
Carrydeck Crane. It was produced by TWH for Sword
Models as model number 2017. The following versions
were produced: Colours: Green, 200 models; Tan, 200;
Red, 300. Badged Versions: Shuttlelift, 800 models;
Anthony, 200; Great Lakes Power Equipment, 200. The
Manitowoc Crane Group bought the Carrydeck Line in early
2007 and the crane was rebadged as the Grove YB5515 Yard
Crane. The Grove version was licensed from TWH directly
and was produced in a run of 2500. It is marketed
outside the Americas by NZG as model number 710.
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| Inside the box.
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| The unusual look
of an industrial crane. |
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| Very fine details
on the fly jib. Here the two yellow pin covers have
been put on the fly jib. |
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| Ready to lift.
Here the thread has been replaced with a finer gauge and
so it is taut. |
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| Superb detail inside
the cab. |
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| Another removable
cover and the opening engine cover. Here the original
thread is still on the model so it lacks tension. |
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| Reaching up.
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