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| The box. A
photo of the model is on the other side. |
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| Rigged with
the 84m boom, Y-Guy, and with the smallest hook block. |
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| Detailed
chassis. |
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| Looks great
with a support truck. |
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| A big
mobile crane.
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|
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| On the road
with an 84m boom. |
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| Rigged with
partial counterweight. |
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Looking good. |
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| Impressive. |
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The Liebherr 1500-8.1 mobile crane has a maximum capacity
of 500 tonnes at 3m radius. It was launched at the
BAUMA Exhibition in 1998 and has been a very popular heavy mobile crane,
selling over 500 units.
The crane can be configured with a 50m or 84m main boom
and a Y-Guy boom support arrangement and these options are
possible with this version of the model.
It is in the colours of the UK
crane hire company
Baldwins.
Packaging
The model comes in a Liebherr-branded box design with the
model held within two expanded polystyrene trays.
There were no missing parts
or defects on the review model.
The model has a very good instruction manual. It
includes a parts list and clear photos showing the
assembly of the various configurations. The only thing
missing are reeving diagrams for the three hooks supplied.
There is no information about the real crane and the addition
of a reprint of a brochure or technical specifications would
have been fitting.
Detail
The chassis is very highly detailed and it has fully replicated
transmission and suspension systems. Other detailing
is high quality such as small hoses and tanks.
The tyres are very good with a fine tread pattern, and Michelin
branding moulded in the sidewalls. The wheels have
different hubs for driven and non-driven axles.
The driving cab has a tiny loop for hitching a hook
line whilst travelling, the door steps are textured and
the door handles are highlighted. Door mirrors, windscreen
wipers and beacon lights and a realistic number plate complete the
detail. Interior detailing
is high quality with Liebherr printed on the seat backs
and instrument stalks are tipped with colour.
Behind the driving cab the engine area is well
detailed in metal and plastic, and there is a fine mesh
grille. The chrome exhaust has realistic holes in the
pipes and black replica rubber skirts sit above each
group of wheels, with rubber mud flaps adjacent to the
outrigger boxes. The Baldwins graphics and colour scheme
is excellent.
The outrigger pads have 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, and there are locking
bars which keep the pads under the crane neatly. The
pistons are smooth with the screw mechanism being
internal so they look realistic and tiny graphics add to
the authentic look. Large metal spreader plates with
useable lifting points are also included with the model
and they are finished in Baldwins blue.
At the rear of the carrier the lights and wheel chocks are finely detailed.
The crane cab has metal grab rails with window wipers, and
there are very finely detailed lights. Cables run
to the crane body and small graphics add detail to the cab
exterior. The interior detail is also to a very high
standard.
Underneath the crane body the slewing ring and slewing motors
are realistically modelled. The crane body also benefits
from the high level of detailing with small graphics and
paint to add highlighting. The chrome exhaust is also
fine and there are many small casting details which add
to the authentic look.
The counterweight consists of a number of separate elements
and each one is capable of being displayed being lifted
as they have well-formed lifting points. The Liebherr
name is embossed within the casting on many of the ballast
plates.
The second and third winch assembly has the luffing assembly already reeved in the factory.
It is a detailed part including many hydraulic hoses and
a metal walkway.
The main boom rams are very nice metal parts
with Baldwins graphics. Boom
sections are supplied to enable the model to be displayed
in either a 50m or 84m configuration. The sections
appear to be aluminium as they are light and strong, and
have thin wall thicknesses and hence the boom profile is
excellent. Detailing on the lowest boom section
includes lifting
eyes, and the overall impression is very convincing. The boom head is also very good with
fine detailing and silver metal pulleys which probably
would have looked better painted.
The Y-Guy system for the telescopic boom is a separate
part. It is metal except for the plastic hydraulic
cylinder jackets. The guy rods are metal with the
body and boom head connection pieces being plastic,
The white plastic colour match was a little off to the
metal parts.
Three metal hooks are supplied and they are excellent quality
with metal pulleys.
Features
Axles 1 to 4 and 7 and 8 can steer as per the
real crane. The range of movement is limited, and the
mechanisms are a little too loose meaning that some
axles may not hold
an angled pose if the model is pushed, although this is not an
issue posing the model in a static display.
There is sprung suspension on each axle which is stiff.
The outriggers can be extended and lowered, and feature
an excellent pad pinning feature with fine wire clips.
The range of travel on the pistons is adequate if the
spreader plates are used, and the model can be supported wheels-free.
The operator's cab rotates from the transport position can
be tilted to a good angle. A tiny light assembly can
be rotated and a plastic ladder can be fitted.
The crane rotates without rocking, but there was some
stiffness on the review model.
The counterweight system can be fitted in various configurations,
including being mounted on the carrier deck during self-assembly.
Raising the boom is easy with the locking mechanism on
the main boom rams using a key to tighten grub screws
on the jacket tops.
Either the 50m or 84m boom can be fitted to the model.
Telescoping the boom is smooth and easy with a spring lock
to clip each boom section. It is possible to lock
each section at either 46%, 92% or 100% extension like the
real crane which is an excellent feature.
The Y-Guy system can be displayed as a transport load.
When in place the system performs well with each side tensioned
by using the key in the slightly rough winches. A
high tension can be maintained and the boom tensions up
well.
The key is also used to operate the main winch.
The winch is very stiff to operate however and would
benefit from some improved engineering.
Different hook blocks can be reeved, and they each have
rotating hooks and working safety latches which are very
stiff.
Quality
This is a very detailed model with a high metal content
and the overall quality of the model is very good.
The paintwork and graphics are generally excellent.
Price
It is good value for an excellent limited edition model.
Overall
This is a very detailed model although the engineering
of the wheels and winch would benefit from some
improvement. It remains one of the best mobile crane
models and it is attractive in the Baldwins livery.
Footnotes
The model first appeared at the BAUMA
Exhibition in April 2013 and was generally available
later. Versions in many different company colours have
been produced.
This version appeared in September 2017.
This model in Liebherr colours was awarded Model of the Year for
2013 in the
Cranes Etc Review of the Year.
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| The tray. |
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| Reasonable
steering angles. The real crane has a spare wheel
at the back. |
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| Ready for
the road. |
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| Detailed
cab. |
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| Loading up
the counterweight. |
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| Luffing
winch assembly is very detailed. |
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| Nice
graphics. |
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Y-Guy works well. |
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Realistic. |
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