 | | High quality box. |  |  | | Good looking MAN tractor in H N Krane colours. |  | | Detailed equipment tower. |  | | Detailed chassis. |  | | Cover on the gooseneck. |  | | Small graphics on the module edges. |  | | Detailed graphics on the van. |  | | Warning sign opened up. |  | | Fairly simple underneath. |  | | Fully extended telescopic vessel bed. |  | | Ready for the road. |
| This model is one of Heavy Transport Models (HTM) series of H N Krane models and is made by WSI. H N Krane is a German crane and heavy haulage company headquartered near Rostock.
The tractor is a MAN TGX XXL 8x4 and the trailer is a Scheuerle InterCombi with 2, 3 and 4-line modules and a pair of configurable vessel beds. A Volkswagen BF3 Escort Van is also included.
Packaging
The packaging is a high quality Tii-branded presentation box with the model parts held within black foam rubber, and the whole box was shrink-wrapped and delivered in two outer layers of packaging.
There were no missing parts on the review model. However the cab of the MAN cab would not tilt due to some careless gluing in the factory. It was freed after some surgery.
There is no information provided about the real machine but a colour instruction sheet provides the main assembly points for the model.
Detail
The MAN tractor has very good chassis detail underneath with drive shafts, differentials and suspension modelled, and the gearbox is rendered in silver. The tyres have different treads on the front and rear axle pairs, and are mounted on detailed wheels with smart trims.
The cab is fully detailed with windscreen wipers, colour coded mirrors, and orange beacon lights. Inside the cab, the details include nice moulded seats and MAN is printed on the steering wheel. Under the cab is a detailed engine and it has 'Common Rail' written in tiny text.
Behind the cab, the equipment tower is very detailed with various tanks and a fan on top which is covered by a realistic mesh screen. A fine grab rail and twin exhaust pipes are included and coiled lines are available to plug into a trailer.
Diamond plated surfacing extends to the fifth wheel, and plastic wheel arches cover the rear three axles. At the back, the lights have plastic lenses and there is an authentic number plate.
The trailer is made up of the gooseneck, three Scheuerle modules and two options for the vessel bed.
The gooseneck is a metal part with some very good details such as banks of hoses and the cabinets on each side have excellently detailed handles. A couple of plastic boxes sit in the load storage area, and two width marker signs can be fitted. A plastic tarpaulin cover clips on the gooseneck and it has some detailed graphics.
The Scheuerle modules consist of a 4-line, 3-line and 2-line unit and they are from the standard WSI Scheuerle range. Underneath the modules there are intricate hydraulic lines joining the tanks. The wheels are nice and the structure of the trailers is modelled in an authentic way. The steering linkages are metal and diamond plated metal cover plates provide the protection. Decoration of the modules includes maximum speed signs, yellow edge stripes, and a pair of clip-on rear light clusters is provided.
The vessel bed is provided as two complete sets. One has telescopic beams and the second set has three different lengths of fixed beams. In the main the parts are well engineered although some parts had very stiff connections. The pins used to secure the beams have painted heads which is a nice touch. Four plastic pivoting support pads can be clipped to the main beams.
The Volkswagen van is fairly heavy for its size. Underneath the exhaust and spare wheel are highlighted by painting. The small wheels look fine, and the body is a good casting with details which are considerably enhanced by excellent graphics, including number plates.
The roof has many beacon lights and the warning sign arrangement is modelled well in plastic.
Features
The MAN tractor has stiff steering with very limited movement.
The cab tilts forward to about 45° and can pose in the tilted position.
The gooseneck has working cylinders so different angles can be set. Two supports are provided which can be used when the gooseneck is not connected to a tractor.
The Scheuerle modules have excellent independent suspension and the steering is proportional on the 4-line and 3-line modules and parallel on the 2-line. The steering is configurable by adjusting the position of the metal steering bars, although no information is provided on this aspect and unlike other Scheuerle models no additional steering linkages are provided.
The vessel bed beams come in two sets. One set is telescopic and the other consists of three different length beams. Either set can be configured in a narrow or extendible wide configuration. There are two plastic loading ramps which can be attached in the normal width arrangement and separate pivoting load spreading brackets.
The Volkswagen has working steering with a reasonable range of movement. The warning sign can be raised and a clever folding sign can be placed in front of the rear doors.
Quality
The set is high quality with plastic used appropriately. It is generally well made and well engineered.
The paintwork and graphics are very good.
Price
The price is a little high although it is a limited edition model.
Overall
This is another good addition to the H N Krane series of models and with the Volkswagen van it makes an interesting set. It is easy to highly recommend.
Footnotes
The model appeared in August 2012 in a run of 200 models.
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|  | | Quality foam interior - and instruction sheet. |  | | The set. There are spare vessel bed pieces too. |  | | Smart wheel trims. |  | | Tilting cab. |  | | Underneath of the 3 and 2 line modules joined together. |  | | Detailed gooseneck. |  | | Load brackets attached to the beams. |  | | Nice lights all round. |  | | Warning sign closed up. |  | | Unrealistic short configuration with narrow fixed spine. |  | | Configured with the module units only. |
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