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| Drake branded box.
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| The parts out of
the box. |
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| Air lines to
the trailer. |
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| Opening door
lets you into the detailed interior. |
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| Underneath the
dolly. |
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| Spare wheels
have locking bolts and chains. |
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| Underneath the
trailer. |
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| The full rig in
narrow formation. |
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| The swingwing
trailer and dolly opened up. |
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| Loading a
Vermeer T1255 Terrain
Leveler.
|
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| Very small
graphics are legible.
|
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| Imposing heavy
haulage. |
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Drake Trailers is an Australian company which was
founded in the early 1960s. Located in Brisbane,
it manufactures trailers for heavy haulage and their range
includes mine trailers also.
The swingwing trailer was first introduced in 1969 and
is available in load carrying capacities up to 120
tonnes, and depending on the version the width can be expanded to 4.6m.
The review model is a 4x8 swingwing trailer with a 2x8
dolly in Doolans colours.
Doolans is a part of the Silk Logistics Group, and
provides heavy haulage services throughout Australia.
Packaging
The model comes in a Drake branded box and is contained
within a polystyrene tray, with the parts protected by
polythene. There were no defects on the review
model although the brochures and some small parts were
missing, but these were supplied separately by TWH.
Three brochures are supplied. Two include
information and photos of the real trailer and the
Kenworth T908 and they are a nice
inclusion. The third describes the features of the
dolly and trailer although it does not indicate how the
separate parts should be fitted. This is fairly
straightforward though with the only thing to watch out
for is the fitting of the spare wheels as they are each
individual and have a specific place. Each one is
thoughtfully marked with its correct position on the
dolly or trailer.
Detail
The Kenworth T908 Prime Mover is a 6x4 long distance
tractor with a sleepover cab. The chassis is very detailed
underneath with an excellent representation of the
transmission and suspension. The tyres have a
tread pattern which is different on the front and rear
axles, but the patterns are not so good.
The cab details are great with a bullbar at the front
and first class chrome work all round, and really small
and legible graphics. There are excellent rubber mud flaps behind the wheels.
Under the hood is a detailed engine, with a separate radiator,
and there are various pipes and hoses modelled.
Inside, the cab is very pleasing and even the sleeper
portion is detailed with furniture, although it is
hard to see.
Behind the cab, the detail continues with three coiled lines
for connection to the trailer and excellent non slip
walking surfaces.
The dolly continues the high detail with plenty of air
lines running to the wheels and for the trailer
connection. The structure is authentically
represented with more very small graphics which really
add to the overall look of the model. A plastic
auxiliary fuel tank attaches to the gooseneck and four
spare wheels also clip on. Each of these has a
chain and separate locking bolt.
The swingwing trailer is almost all metal and the
structure and deck are very realistic with yet more tiny
graphics. There are air and hydraulic lines
throughout and the hydraulic pump is modelled too.
The swingwing mechanism uses friction rivets at the
pivot points and these are unobtrusive and improve the
look of the model. At the rear the ramps are held
vertical by chains.
Features
The front wheels on the Kenworth steer, but the steering
is 'notched' rather than variable so the wheels can only
be posed in one position when pointing left or right. The
bullbar folds forward and the hood opens in a very easy action.
The cab doors can be
opened and inside the seats have an air ride action and
can be moved up and down.
The ‘fifth wheel’ on the tractor works
and is operated with a spring loaded lever to secure a trailer
in position. It can also be adjusted longitudinally.
The dolly has removable spare wheels and the locking
bars can also be detached. The kingpin can be set
in one of two positions and has an oscillating skid
plate. There are two support legs and each can be
lowered and locked by using a removable pin.
Both sets of wheels can be slid out to widen the dolly
and the axles float and twist.
The kingpin on the trailer can be set in one of three
positions by using a screwdriver. The spare wheels
can be removed and the locking bars can also be
detached.
Each of the wheel axles has working suspension with a
significant range of movement, and at the rear the ramps
can be lowered. There are three support legs, two
at the front and one at the centre, and they can be
lowered and pinned into position.
The swingwing mechanism works smoothly. It opens
up in a number of widths and can be pinned into
position.
Quality
TWH have produced a high quality model with plastic used
to a limited extent, but appropriately. The paint
work is nice and the graphics are excellent with some of
the smallest detailed graphics seen to date.
Price
As usual for a TWH model it is relatively pricey but a
very high quality model is provided in return.
Overall
The first run of this model sold out rapidly and it is
easy to appreciate why. It is an excellent model
and it is great to see a model of a trailer from a
non-US / European manufacturer. The features of
the model complement the high detail. It is
outstanding.
Footnotes
Each part of the model has a separate TWH model number: 110
is the dolly, 111 is the trailer and 113 is the Kenworth
T908. The
first run of the complete model in 2010 was as follows:
White 250; White/post office red 250; Drake
Trailer 250; N.Q. Heavy Haulage 250; McAleese Transport 250; Vintage burgundy 250;
Chrome yellow/machine yellow 250; Gunmetal grey
250.
The Kenworth T908 was also made separately as
follows: White/post office red 250;
Vintage burgundy 250; Gunmetal grey 200;
Mercury silver 250.
In 2011 a new run of complete
models was produced: White 450; White/post
office red 450; Drake Trailers 450; Vintage
burgundy 450; Gunmetal grey 450; Tenkate
Plant Hire & Bulk Haulage 550; Doolan’s Heavy Haulage
600. A version in Lampson blue was also produced
in a run of 150. |
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|
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| The model sits
in the tray. |
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| The brochures. |
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| The Kenworth
T908 Prime Mover. |
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| Tremendous
detailing. |
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| Excellent
detail underneath. Tyre tread patterns seem a
little odd. |
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| Underneath the
tilting hood is a very detailed engine. |
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| Dolly closed in
narrow formation. |
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| This rig means
business. |
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| You would not
want to stand in the way of this. There should be
an 'Oversize' sign on the front but this was missing
from the review model. |
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| Detailed
cabling. |
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| Neat chains and
more tiny graphics. |
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| Fine detail
along the trailer edge.
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| The Drake looks
great with a load on. |
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