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Soilmec SC-100 Crawler Crane + SH-30 Hydromill

Maker:  Unknown
Model No:  Unknown
Scale:  1:50
Review Date:  November 2016


Unknown Maker Index
Foundation Equipment Index


Cranes Etc Model Rating
Packaging   (max 10)6
Detail   (max 30)26
Features   (max 20)15
Quality   (max 25)20
Price   (max 15)11
Overall   (max 100)78%

Footnotes


Soilmec SC-100 Crawler Crane + SH-30 Hydromill video.   [Youku video]
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Large Soilmec branded box.
Click to visit the Soilmec website
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The jacks between the tracks can be rotated and lowered.
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Holes in the body side to operate the winches.
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Detailed cab.
 
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Metal handrails.
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Boom connections are nuts and bolts.  Some pendants are riveted.
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Overall geometry is good.
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Hoses would have looked nicer if they were more supple.
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Boom head rigged for the hydromill.
Counterweight is removable.


The Soilmec SC-100 is a crawler crane with a 100 tonne maximum capacity.  It is optimised for foundation construction and has a maximum 42m boom length.

The SH-30 Hydromill is a 30 tonne class module and it is designed for excavating panels in urban environments.  When combined with the SC-100 it has the system name 'Cougar'.

Packaging

The model comes in a large Soilmec branded sleeve with some photos on the outside and a simple description of the application. 

Inside the sleeve, the model is contained within a couple of expanded polystyrene trays.  The review model was undamaged and had no missing parts.

There are no instructions for the model, which is a pity because it is complex and would certainly benefit from some assembly information.   It is partially assembled as a crane in the box, and the hooks are reeved although the A-frame was not properly reeved on the review model.

Detail

The tracks are metal and are mounted on detailed track frames which have stepping plates although there are no working rollers.  Between the tracks are four outriggers for supporting the body and these are all metal.

The operator's cab has a plastic mirror and a metal debris guard on the roof.  Inside there are decent-looking controls. 

The body is metal with some decent detailing of the various grilles and other features in the bodywork, and there are some small graphics.  There are metal railings on the roof, and fine mesh walkways are mounted on the sides of the body.  At the rear the counterweight has the Soilmec name and logo nicely embossed and painted. There are a couple of winches in the body and these are accessed through holes in the bodywork, but these are not too obtrusive.

The A frame has a pulley block rather than separate sheaves, and the equaliser is modelled but non-functional.

The boom is metal with internal cross bracing on the sections and they are joined by brass nuts and bolts.  The pendant lines are nicely made but most of the connections are riveted which reduces the flexibility for rigging the crane with different boom lengths.  The boom backstops are plastic and restrict the angle at which the boom can be luffed compared to the real machine.

Two hooks are included and they are both metal parts.  The three sheave block has a solid pulley bank and it seems rather large.

For the hydromill configuration a different boom top is used and an additional section, and a short special section is added to the boom.  On the review model the pendants were not equally tensioned in this configuration with one sagging, and it is a pity a working equaliser was not implemented on the model.

At the boom foot the hose ad cable guide is mostly metal, although attaching it to the boom foot has some difficulty because of the proximity of the cab on one side.  There is no hose running away from the machine and it would have been a nice touch if a short length had been included with the model.

The large guide pulleys for the hose and hydraulics are plastic, and detailed.

The SH-30 hydromill is very good.  It is mainly metal with very good internal detailing including hydraulic lines.  The cutter heads are plastic and look realistic.  The hoses and hydraulics are not quite supple enough to hang realistically, but with some work an acceptable look can be achieved.

Features

The tracks roll easily enough by hand.  The track frames extend and retract so the model can be posed in crane or transport mode. 

The outriggers can be rotated into position and the pads screwed down, but there appears to be no easy way to remove the whole track frames for transport.

The counterweight is removable from the crane body.

The crane rotates smoothly. 

The three winches work.  The luffing winch works but in practice on the review model the telescopic backstops had too much friction to allow the boom to be lowered without assistance from a steep angle.  The two hook winches work well with friction acting as a brake.

In hydromill mode the large guide wheels can be adjusted for height by operating their winches.  The large pulleys can be rotated by hand.

The SH-30 can be raised and lowered on a winch.  The cutter heads can be rotated by hand.

The cable guide at the boom foot can telescope in and out.  However the boom cannot be luffed in enough for the hydromill to sit within the guide frame.

Quality

The model is good quality with a high metal content and the plastic parts have a good colour match.  The graphics are sharp.

Price

Although not generally available at model dealers it has been sold by Solimec at Exhibitions and it is reasonable value.

Overall

This is another interesting, complex, and good-looking foundation equipment model.  It is better than previous Soilmec models and some more effort with presentation such as including assembly instructions would enhance it.  Most of the model engineering is good, but some of the modelling choices made means it is not as flexible as it might have been in terms of allowing different configurations to be displayed, or setting a steeper boom angle.

Footnotes

This version of the model was first available at the BAUMA Exhibition in April 2016.  The SC-100 was previously sold separately as a crane model only.

 
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Inside the trays.
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Nice logo and name on the counterweight.
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Detailed track frames.
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Very nice mesh walkways.
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Metal hooks.
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At work as a crane.
Profile view.
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The SH-30 is very good.
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Ready for work.
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Complex model.