 |
| High quality box.
|
 |
 |
| Diamond plating
on the back. |
 |
| Engine bears
the Volvo name. |
 |
| Gooseneck looks
great.
|
 |
| Heavy
connection of the vessel beams and module. |
 |
| Support legs
for the gooseneck. |
 |
| Deck level is
excellent. |
 |
| Short wide
configuration with a wide vessel. |
|
 Comment on this model.
This model is in the colours of
Affolter, a Swiss haulier.
The tractor is a Volvo FH16 10x4 and the
trailer is a vessel carrier with a Scheuerle 3-line
module and vessel bed.
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 or defects on the review model.
There is no information provided about the real vehicle
but a colour instruction sheet provides the main
assembly points for the model.
Detail
The Volvo chassis is excellent, with no compromises on
the modelling of the steering and transmission with only
the exhaust pipe stopping short. The wheels are
very detailed with different tyres on the steering and
driven axles.
The cab detailing is very good with windscreen wipers, orange beacon lights,
and an authentic number plate. The light bar has
blue tinted headlamps which mirror the real truck. The cab interior
includes the Volvo logo on the steering wheel.
Under the cab is a detailed engine with coloured
components and it bears the Volvo name.
Behind the cab, the equipment tower has fine grab rails
with a pair of lights on top (there are four on the real
truck), and there are coiled air lines. Diamond plated surfacing extends
over most of the rear surface. At the back, the lights
have plastic lenses
and there is an authentic number plate and mud flaps.
The trailer is made up of the gooseneck, a three-axle Scheuerle
module and 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.
The Scheuerle module has intricate hydraulic lines
underneath which join the tanks. The wheels are nice and
the structure is modelled in an authentic way. The
steering linkages are metal and diamond plated metal cover
plates provide the protection.
Graphics on the module includes maximum speed signs, and
a pair of clip-on rear light clusters is provided.
The vessel bed comprises detailed metal adaptors for
fitting to the module and gooseneck, and the
main beams are nicely engineered parts.
Features
The Volvo has very stiff steering with very
limited movement which is not surprising given the
complexity of 3-axle steering.
The cab tilts forward to about 60° and can pose in the
tilted position.
The gooseneck has very stiff working cylinders so different angles
can be set. It connects to the vessel bed
connector
using the sliding locking pin system although
the pin was a little too short
on the review model. Two supports are
provided which can be used when the gooseneck is not
connected to a tractor.
The Scheuerle module has excellent independent
suspension and the steering is proportional. The steering
is configurable by adjusting the position of the metal
steering bars, although no information is provided on
this aspect.
The vessel bed beams can be configured in a normal or
extendible wide configuration, and they are also
telescopic, so a large model around 60cm long can
result.
There are two plastic loading ramps which
can be attached as well as four plastic pivoting
load plates.
Quality
This model is high quality with plastic used
appropriately.
The paintwork and graphics are very good.
Price
This Affolter model is good value.
Overall
WSI have produced a high quality heavy haulage model and
the Volvo tractor certainly impresses. It looks
very good in Affolter colours and is an outstanding
model.
Footnotes
The model appeared in December 2012.
|
|
|
|
 |
| Five axle Volvo
is heavy haulage. |
 |
|
The vehicle in basic
configuration. |
 |
| Very detailed
chassis. |
 |
| Lights have
plastic lenses. |
 |
| Ramps and
levelling plates fit to the vessel
bed beams. |
 |
| Light boards at
the rear. |
 |
| The module
unit.
|
 |
| Long wide
configuration. |
|
