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Liebherr LTM 1500-8.1 Mobile Crane Luffing Jib - White

Maker:  WSI
Model No:  04-2111
Scale:  1:50
Review Date:  April 2021


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Cranes Etc Model Rating
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Packaging             
Detail    
Features    
Quality    
Price    
Overall    

Footnotes


Liebherr LTM 1500-8.1 Mobile Crane Luffing Jib - White Video.  [YouKu Video]
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The box.
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Parts make very good transport loads.
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Short fixed jib.
 
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Nice mini diorama.
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Using the dolly to draw the jib in before raising it.
Excellent mesh walkways.
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Jib dolly.
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Impressive.
Connection fits the LTM 1750 boom head.


The Liebherr 1500-8.1 mobile crane was a very popular heavy mobile crane and it was run by fleets worldwide.

The fly jib can be fitted in many fixed or luffing configurations.  A maximum system length of 145m under hook can be achieved.

This kit is an updated version of the kit introduced at the end of 2014.  The main change is that the plastic boom sections of the first version are replaced by aluminium sections.

Packaging

The model kit comes in a Liebherr-branded box with the model held within two expanded polystyrene trays.

There were no defects or missing parts on the review model. 

The model includes an updated and improved assembly manual compared to the first version.  It has a parts list and clear photos showing the assembly of the maximum length configuration.  Other parts are also described.

The manua includes reprints of Liebherr documentation showing the large variety of possible configurations.   These do not show the guy bar arrangements for every configuration so the user has to work these out themselves.

Assembly of the jib is straightforward, although the main connection holes of the jib to the boom head needed some inner paint removal to allow the bolts to fit easily.

Detail

The kit is very detailed with accurately modelled components throughout.  Metal pulleys are used, and there is metal mesh used for various walkways and platforms.  Connections are generally made using brass nuts and bolts, and in some places, pins.

The heaviest lattice section includes hydraulic hoses along its length.

The intermediate lattice sections are modelled in aluminium to reduce the weight of the jib, which is around 1.6m long in its biggest configuration.  Because they are metal, they are painted and so there is a perfect colour match across the parts of the kit, unlike the first version.

Generally, the detailing is really good.

Features

The main feature of the kit is the sheer variety of configurations that it is possible to build.  In addition the parts also make good transport loads.

The hydraulically controlled section which allows an offset fixed jib has metal cylinders secured by grub screws and it works well.

One aspect of the luffing jib is that it uses the winch and luffing gear supplied on the LTM 1500 base model.  In practice this is not so easy to use because of the brake mechanism on the drum. This is particularly true during assembly.  However, the sequence used on the real crane can be replicated where a winch line is used to tow the luffing bridle to the A-frame.

Also the kit would have also benefitted from a single sheave and/or single line hook block to provide variety to the ones supplied with the crane which are a larger size.

The jib adaptor that connects to the telescopic boom head also fits the Liebherr LTM 1750 mobile crane model.  Although there are differences between the LTM 1500 and LTM 1750 jibs in real life, this kit does provide a good option for LTM 1750 owners.

Quality

This is a very detailed kit which is well made and the parts fit together well.  It has a very high metal content.

The paintwork is very good.

Price

The kit is relatively pricey, but it is a big kit and offers lots of flexibility.

Overall

This revised kit from WSI addresses the main weakness of the original kit, and the use of all metal sections produces an excellent jib. The kit allows impressive displays to be achieved and at the maximum the overall model can be nearly 3m tall.

Footnotes

A kit first appeared at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in 2014 and was generally available at the end of that year.  This version of the kit with aluminium sections replacing the plastic ones in the previous version became available in April 2021 in a variety of colours.
 
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The tray has many parts tightly packed.  Very good manual is included.
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Nice to arrange a fleet.
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Excellent hydraulics detailing.
Fixed jib angle can be adjusted.
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Assembling the luffing jib.
 
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Lifting a tower crane section.
Excellent profile.
Fixed jib from this kit fitted to the LTM 1750 model.