 |  | | Very large outer box. |  |  | | Big rear end. |  | | Electric cable connection has a realistic looking plug. |  | | Drop down ladder access. |  | | Mesh walkway gratings on the roof. |  | | Steel coloured boom support cables are equally tensioned. |  | | Pull down stairs don't quite pull down. |  | | Profile view. |  | | Distinctive Air Scrub Pro shape. |  | | Chunky boom connection. |  | | Dipper is very heavy. |  | | Handrails are excellent. |  | | Loading a Caterpillar 797F Mining Truck. |  | | Night shift working at Cranes Etc. The LED lighting is great. |
| P&H Mining Equipment is a global leader in the manufacture and service of large excavating and drilling machines. The company was founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1884 by Alonzo Pawling and Henry Harnischfeger. Its headquarters remain there.
The P&H 4100XPC is an electric mining shovel that provides a nominal payload of up to 120 ton loading capacity. The dipper SAE struck capacity is up to 100ydł. It is designed for use in mines operating large mining trucks in the 240-400 ton range and it is one of the largest shovels in the world.
The model is very large being around 40cm high to the boom tip, 65cm long end to end, and 30cm wide.
Packaging
It is delivered in a very large box (approximately 45 x 75 x 60cm) and that is just the start of the packaging as inside is a big black TWH branded box. Inside that is a P&H box sleeve wrapped in tissue, and when that is removed there are two large expanded polystyrene trays. Lifting the top off reveals the model. There are quite a number of small pieces of packaging surrounding the model and most of these are designed to protect the metal handrails from damage. It is a good idea to mark all of these with their location prior to removal so that repacking the model is straightforward. The model just rests in the bottom tray so it can be lifted out although as the model is so heavy you need to lift in the right places to avoid inadvertent damage and the instruction sheet helpfully gives some advice in this regard.
There were no defects or missing parts on the review model although unsurprisingly some of the metal handrails were bent a little. However with care it is easy to gently bend them back to an upright position.
Included with the model is a small instruction brochure which describes the main functions of the model, although not all features are mentioned. Two reprints of P&H brochures are included. One is about the P&H line of shovels, and the second is more general one about mining products. It is good to see these included, even though they do not have extensive technical specifications about the 4100XPC.
Other parts included are a winding key for operating the model, a pair of batteries for the LED lighting and a small bag containing a couple of handrail sections.
In terms of assembly there are only the two handrails to fit in position. Although it seems odd that this has to be done by the collector when all the rest have already been fixed, the reason is that when lifting the model in the recommended way the boom can move a little and these two sections would be vulnerable to crushing. The handrails are a loose fit in their holes so they need some plastic putty or something similar to keep in place. You could glue them, but then they may get damaged for the reasons already described.
Fitting the batteries for the lighting is a straightforward job with the holder being underneath the model at the rear. This is the right place so the look of the model is not impaired, but of course it does mean it is a little awkward to access.
Detail
As befits a machine of this size the crawler tracks are huge with heavy metal pads which are cast well and individually pinned. The track frames match for heavy construction and are large castings with good detail and working rollers. The drive sprockets have massive motors attached and these are linked to the electric stinger assembly which has a chained boom and a coiled length of cable for connection to the external power source.
The turntable has a heavy toothed slewing ring although there are no driving gears visible. The underside of the body is fairly streamlined but the main structural elements are produced well. There are some spotlights modelled even though they are not visible unless you look right underneath the model.
The body of the machine is huge making this a dominating model in 1:50 scale. At the rear the counterweight has the feel of being made of solid chunks of metal with the casting detail and P&H letters really standing out. Around the body are various walkways and stairs all with fine mesh floors and realistic scale metal handrails which all give a high quality look. Doors are modelled with hinges and glazing, and there are a couple of fire extinguishers on the walkways.
There are many high quality graphics such as warning notices and they are very sharp and well defined, as are the larger graphics. Moving to the roof, it is covered with fine gauge metal mesh walkway panels and these look great against the yellow paintwork. There also three glazed roof lights and these have protective rails over them. Around the model are a number of floodlights and these are complete with wiring but more on that later.
At the rear the Air Scrub Pro canopy is modelled well with its distinctive shape, and underneath there is lattice work, hoses and a painted fan array. The boom support structure has more excellent walkways and stairs and the main connectors to the silver boom support cables look great. A good job has been done to give all the boom cables an equal tension, although perhaps on the review model the boom was hanging slightly low. There are some large silver rivets at the tower top and these would have looked better painted black.
The cab is impressive with two seats and a control console for the operator. Outside there are two finely detailed air conditioning units and there is an aerial and other equipment on the roof. The cab roof overhangs have tiny bolt heads detailed on the underside and this is a pleasing detail even though they will hardly ever be seen.
The boom is of heavy box beam construction which is secured to the pivot point with a couple of large silver headed screws and again these would probably have looked better painted. There are stairways to the top where the two metal spoked rope wheels are located. It is good to see lifting eyes have been reproduced along the boom sides.
The twin dipper handles are metal with a heavy toothed underside for the crowding action, and they are fixed to the bucket with necessarily large silver friction rivets.
The Optima dipper is a very chunky piece of metal. It has very thick walls and a heavy handle with the pulleys for the ropes. The structure is modelled really well and the details do not disappoint either with excellent teeth with the fixing bolts detailed.
Features
The tracks are stiff but will roll if the surface is suitably rough. The idler wheel on each track frame is spring loaded so it is easy to remove the tracks.
There are two means of access. The main access staircase lowers but unfortunately due to a modelling problem it only reaches down about half way and does not look right. There is no obvious fix for this issue so it is better to pose the model with the stairs up. On the opposite side a vertical ladder can be lowered and raised although it requires some fiddling to get the ladder to stay in the up position.
The main door to the operator's cab can be opened, as can the door to the empty cupboard behind.
The main innovation on the model is the working LED floodlighting and it has to be said that this works really well. The lights are bright and have some adjustment for angle, and they certainly add to the look of the model when on display, particularly in a darkened room. The operating switch is hidden under the rear of the model so it is easy to operate and is unobtrusive.
For a very heavy model the rotation is very smooth and easy and a good job has been done on the engineering of this aspect. The dipper is raised and lowered by inserting the supplied key in a false window of a door on the side. Pressure is applied to release the brake and the key wound or unwound to move the dipper. You need to keep a tight grip on the key though as the bucket is very heavy and wants to drop. Moving the dipper handle in and out also uses the key and it works well although the brake action is less certain so some care is needed so that the heavy dipper does not move uncontrolled.
The dipper flap can be opened by turning the small winch at the base of the boom which lifts a latch. This works, but on the review model the flap did not swing freely so it did not fly open when the latch was lifted.
Quality
The quality of the manufacture is very good with the paintwork and graphics being especially good. There is hardly any plastic used and so a robust and very heavy model results.
Price
The 4100XPC is a lot of model in 1:50 scale and justifies its high price because of the detail and quality.
Overall
It has been a long time coming but any collector of mining models will be pleased with the result and for many it will be a must-have model. It is also the type of model which will impress anyone who sees it so it is great as a display piece, particularly if posed with a suitable mining truck. The addition of the working lighting enhances the model and has been executed very well. Although it is not faultless in the operation of a couple of the features, these do not detract from how it looks and it is certainly an outstanding model.
Footnotes
This model first appeared in 2011 and was made in a run of 2000 models. A 1:87 scale model version was made by TWH in 2008.
This model was awarded Innovation of the Year for 2011 in the Cranes Etc Review of the Year. |
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|  | | P&H branded sleeve for the trays. |  | | Graphics on top of the Air Scrub Pro canopy. |  | | Strong boom and dipper construction. |  | | The model is very heavy. |  | | Size comparison - the 4100XPC could stamp the life out of a skid steer loader. |  | | Excellent graphics and a small fire extinguisher. |  | | Cab has detailed console and cabinets. |  | | Air conditioners are really good. |  | | Opening cab door and opening door to the 'smallest room' at the rear (which is empty). |  | | Colossal dimensions. |  | | Staring into the mouth of a giant. |  | | Opening flap. |  | | Members of the Cranes Etc team trying to order a low loader. |  | | The driver of the Liebherr T262 Mining Truck has been fired for running in the dark without lights. |
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