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| The box. |
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| Moderate
steering angle. |
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| Detailed
chassis. |
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| Attractive
colour scheme. |
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| Detailed
cab.
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| Profile
view. |
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At work. |
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| Load
testing. |
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| Nice
geometry. |
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The Tadano ATF
60G-3 mobile crane has a maximum capacity of 60 tonnes at 3m radius.
It has a maximum main boom length of 48m.
This model is in the colours of Schot,
the Dutch lifting and transport company.
Packaging
The model comes in a
Tadano-branded box design with the
model held within two expanded polystyrene trays. There
is some technical information about the real crane
printed on the box.
There were no missing parts
on the review model. One of the graphics was
imperfect.
No instructions are included with the model.
Detail
The chassis is highly detailed. There is a fixed
ladder at the front and the transmission and suspension
is modelled.
The tyres are very good with a fine tread pattern, and Michelin
branding moulded in the sidewalls. They are mounted on
detailed wheels.
The driving cab has a loop for hitching a hook whilst
travelling, there are door steps, and the door handles
are highlighted. There are door mirrors, windscreen
wipers, beacon lights and a camera stalk. Interior
detailing is good. The Schot decoration is attractive
with sharp graphics.
The carrier deck has holder for the single line hook,
and nice textured surfaces. Four access ladders
are modelled. At the back the lights and chevrons
look nice.
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.
Plastic spreader
plates are also included
with the model.
The crane cab has metal grab rails with window wipers. The interior detail is also to a high
standard.
Underneath the crane body the slewing ring
is modelled. The crane body has
hydraulic hoses and connectors, and a beacon lights adds
detail. The handrails are folding.
The counterweight consists of a number of separate parts
and they have lifting points. Not all parts can be
carried in transport mode. The fixing rams have screw threads which are visible when the
counterweight is not attached.
The main boom ram
is a very nice metal part. The boom sections
have realistic thin wall thicknesses giving a very good
profile, and there are Schot graphics on each section. The boom head has silver metal pulleys. The
tying-off shackle and hoist cut-out chain are riveted to
the boom top.
Two metal hooks are supplied and they are very nice
parts.
The small metal lattice fly jib has metal pulleys
although they were tightly fitted and not free rolling
on the review model.
Features
All axles have independent steering with a
moderate angle.
There is
also sprung suspension on each axle which works well.
The outriggers can be extended and lowered, and feature
an excellent pad pinning feature.
The range of travel on the pistons is adequate if the
spreader plates are used, and the model can be supported
on the spreader plates wheels-free.
The operator's cab does
not tilt as this happens internally on Tadano cranes.
Four ladders on the carrier deck can be rotated and
lowered when the crane is in service.
The handrail on the crane can be folded down or opened
up.
The crane rotates reasonably smoothly without rocking
after some initial stiffness.
The counterweight system can be fitted in various configurations,
including most of it being mounted on the carrier deck for
transport. The method of attaching the counterweight
uses two rams with screw connections which works well
enough.
Raising the boom is easy with the locking mechanism on
the main boom ram using a key to tighten a grub screw
on the jacket top.
Telescoping the boom was smooth, and spring clips lock each boom section at
approximately 50% and 100%.
A key is used to operate the main winch. It works very
well, having a spring action to ease off the brake.
The lattice fly jib can be left off the crane
or carried on the side of the main boom. It
attaches to the boom top with steel pins and a bolted
ratchet can be set at two angles.
Quality
This is a detailed model with a high metal content
and the overall quality of the model is high.
The paintwork and graphics are very good.
Price
It is
a good value model.
Overall
This limited edition looks attractive and has a more
detailed appearance than the version in Tadano factory
colours.
Footnotes
The model first appeared in February
2020.
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| Many parts. |
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Counterweight fixing screws hang down. |
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| On the
road. |
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| Fold down
ladder. |
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| Full 13
tonne counterweight. |
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| Graphics on
each boom section. |
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|
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| Load
testing. |
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Fly jib rigged. |
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