 |
| The Sarens box.
|
 |
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| Rigged for
on the road. |
 |
| Steering on
all axles. |
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| Really good
chassis detail. |
 |
| High detail
on the crane.
|
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| Very
detailed driving cab interior. |
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| Tilting
cab. |
 |
| Mesh grilles
over the engine. |
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| Sarens on
every boom section. |
 |
| Reaching up
with the fly jib on. |
 |
| Nicely cast
lattice section. |
|
The Liebherr 1050-3.1 is a 50 tonne
capacity three axle crane with a maximum lifting height
of 54m.
The model is in the colours of the Belgian heavy
lifting specialist Sarens.
Packaging
The model comes in a Sarens branded box with the
model held within a pair of polystyrene trays. There were
no missing parts on the review model, although one
outrigger pad was missing a fixed pin, and the supplied
pins were too thick to lock the pads to the loaded
position.
There is no information on the real machine included,
and no instructions for the model either. There are a
number of small parts which are attached or used and
this includes some pins which in the absence of
instructions it is not clear what their purpose is.
Detail
This is a highly detailed model and underneath it has fully
replicated transmission and suspension systems, and although
these are modelled in plastic, the quality is high.
The wheels are very good with a particularly fine
tread pattern on the tyres.
The details on the carrier are of a very high standard.
The driving cab is great. It has a tiny loop for
hitching the hook whilst travelling, and the door steps
and handles look authentic as do the door mirrors and
windscreen wipers. Underneath the cab, a ladder is hung
like on the real machine. Inside the cab Liebherr is
printed on the seat
backs and the computer console and dashboard have graphics
applied.
There is some more really good modelling behind the driving
cab with mesh grids which look very authentic together with
some tiny grab handles and a realistic exhaust pipe.
Nice black replica rubber skirts sit above each wheel. At
the rear, there is very fine detailing of the light bar
and number plate, and there is a tool box at the back.
A particularly nice detail is the outriggers. The
pistons are smooth with the screw mechanism being
internal so they look realistic. . Small plastic spreader plates are also provided and this
is a worthwhile addition.
The crane body continues the high level detail with hydraulic
hosing and a nicely replicated cab interior.
The cylinder jackets on the hydraulic cylinders are
plastic and the colour match is good.
The counterweight has been made in pieces so can be attached
just like the real crane, and one piece has the Liebherr
name formed within the casting. A single winch is
provided.
Detailing on the boom includes various spooling drums and
cable runs, and looks very good. At the boom head
individual metal pulleys are provided.
A metal folding fly jib completes the model, and it has
well formed lattice work. A good metal hook is supplied,
as is a dummy load with the Liebherr name on it. The
high detail level includes a chain to replicate the hoist
cut-off, and the free end of the hoist rope slides into
a tie off shackle. Although the hook
can be reeved onto the fly jib, a single line hook would
have looked better.
Features
Each axle can steer independently with the steering
movement on the centre axle less than the others. The steering is 'notched'
but a good angle can be achieved and the crane can be
posed with crab steering if required.
The outriggers can
be extended and lowered and feature a working pinning
mechanism which allows the pads to be fixed in an offset
way so they are within the footprint of the crane when
the outrigger beams are retracted.
The operator's cab
can be tilted to a good angle, and the side access platform
can be extended and retracted.
The ladder stowed underneath the carrier cab is
removable but is too short to pose in use during
attachment of the fly jib.
A good feature is that the four-piece counterweight can be displayed
in various configurations, including on the carrier deck
when the crane is in transport mode.
Raising the four section boom is easy but the cylinder is
not stiff enough to hold an extended or loaded boom up for
long without it bleeding down and this is compounded by
the fact that it cannot be raised to as steep an angle as
the real crane. It can be fixed at a steep angle
using a supplied pin in the main lift cylinder jacket.
A key is provided to operate the winch which on the review
model had some friction so light loads could be
supported. A small opening flap is provided above
the winch drum.
The fly jib can be attached although there are no
pulleys at the end of the lattice section so the swing
away section needs to be used. It can be stripped down
to form the very short assembly jib which is an option
on the real crane, although it can not be set to
replicate an offset angle, which is a pity. It is
also difficult to rig the short jib satisfactorily.
Quality
The model is high quality with intricate detailing and
where plastic is used it is used intelligently and
without spoiling the look. Paintwork and graphics are
very good.
Price
The model is good value.
Overall
This is an excellent mobile crane model and this Sarens version
looks great making it an outstanding example of the LTM
1050-3.1 model.
Footnotes
The model was first introduced in Liebherr colours as
WSI 9478 and was available
from March 2010. A number of versions in different
liveries have been produced.
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|
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| The parts
out of
the box. |
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| Good wheels
and the outrigger pads are stowed in the offset position.
|
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| Parked up
and ready to roll. |
 |
| Very small
graphics add detail. |
 |
| Realistic
outriggers and plastic pads. |
 |
| Liebherr on
the seat back. |
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| Outrigger pistons
are smooth. |
 |
| Profile view. |
 |
| Fly jib
stays on with the boom up. |
 |
| Liebherr
ingot adds weight and keeps the hoist ropes tight. |
 |
| Lifting a
column. |
 |
| On site
with the Sarens SGC
120. |
|
