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Nooteboom OVB-102-06 Ballast Carrier + MAN

Maker:  WSI
Model No:  9034a
Scale:  1:50
Review Date:  November 2008


WSI Index
Ballast Trailer Index


Cranes Etc Model Rating
Packaging   (max 10)7
Detail   (max 30)22
Features   (max 20)15
Quality   (max 25)20
Price   (max 15)11
Overall   (max 100)75%

Footnotes


The Nooteboom Ballast Carrier with container and deck upstands.
The Nooteboom box.
The parts out of the box including brochure and certificate of authenticity.
Profile view of the MAN.
Underside view - high detail.
A spare wheel can be removed from its holder on the trailer.
The container.
Loaded with ballast, the OVB-102-06 fulfills its purpose.
Detail underneath is excellent.  Here the steering axles (right to left, 1, 3-6) are set to maximum lock.
Independent suspension on each axle allows plenty of movement over rough terrain.
The Nooteboom Ballast Trailer supports a Liebherr LTM1300 to take down a Liebherr 630 EC-H Tower Crane.
The Nooteboom Group is a Dutch company which was founded in 1881 as a blacksmith and is now a specialist and market leader in the field of abnormal road transport.  It has four main subsidiaries, and the largest one, Koninklijke Nooteboom Trailers BV, is the major European player in the production of vehicles for abnormal road transport.

This is a model of a 6-axle ballast carrier designated the OVB-102-06.  In this nomenclature the 102 represents the total capacity of the trailer in tonnes and the 06 means that there are six rear axles.  It is typically used for carrying the counterweight of large telescopic mobile cranes.

Packaging

The model comes in packaging that is Nooteboom branded and has some details of the trailer printed on the box.  Inside, the model is contained within an expanded polystyrene tray with the model held in place with a clear plastic former.  The review model had one loose part in the box and this was easily refixed.  There were no other defects or missing parts.

No instructions are included, but a small brochure about ballast trailers provides interest and there is also a printed Certificate of Authenticity signed by the Nooteboom CEO Marc de Leeuw which is a nice addition.  A very small amount of assembly is required to join the parts of the model together and this takes just a couple of minutes.

Detail

The tractor unit is a MAN 6x4 unit.  Underneath, the detail is very good with transmission and suspension features reproduced.  The tyres are good too with a differing tread pattern on the front and rear wheels and these are mounted on detailed hubs.

The front of the MAN looks very convincing with realistic light clusters, number plate and special transport signage.  In addition to the windscreen wipers and door mirrors, the cab roof also has spot lights, air horns and good quality orange beacon lights.  Inside the cab, the detail level is reasonable.  The standard of the graphics on the cab is very high. 

Behind the cab there is a spare wheel in a holder and there are simulated air lines which are quite stiff so can be easily posed but they lack suitable connectors to fix to the trailer.  An excellent diamond plated walkway leads to the fifth wheel area.  At the back there are large plastic mud flaps and the rear light clusters have nice plastic lenses.

Overall the tractor is very detailed but feels slightly lighter than expected because plastic is used in a number of areas.  However nothing actually looks like plastic so the overall effect is very good.

The trailer certainly looks the part.  It has an excellent surface on the flat bed with timber decking which although reproduced in plastic looks very convincing.  The main metal structure has diamond plating at the front end.  Along the sides of the deck various tying points are present and at the rear the light bar has authentic looking detail.

A set of manual controls for the trailer are represented forward of the first axle, and the hosing runs to this panel.  On the opposite side is a spare wheel holder.  A separate pack of metal deck posts are provided with the model and these plug into holes in the deck edge.  The fit is not tight however so they are easily displaced and knocked out.

Underneath, the full quality of the model is revealed.  The structure is excellently represented and hosing extends from the front to each axle assembly.  Each axle is a fully detailed unit with suspension and hydraulic features.  The pair of hydraulic landing legs have metal pads.  Tyres and hubs are good.  Only the rear axle has mud guards and this reflects the Dutch version of the trailer.  In other countries mud guards are required on every axle and other versions of the model have these.

A Nooteboom marked container is supplied with the model.  This is metal and relatively heavy.  Within the casting it has typical structural ribbing and there is a door represented.  The roof has a diamond plated surface however the detail that it lacks is lifting eyes so that it could have been posed being lifted by a suitable crane.

Features

The tractor unit has a steerable front axle but it has a very limited lock because the tyres are fouled by a part of the model behind the axle.  It also has a fully tilting cab which opens up to a good angle revealing the detailed engine block.  The fifth wheel has a small range of longitudinal movement.

The trailer has an opening holder for the spare wheel and the wheel itself is removable.  The hydraulic landing legs can be screwed down and the design of this feature is such that the screw thread does not become visible and this is pleasing as it looks like a hydraulic cylinder.

In terms of functionality the trailer axles are very good.  Counted from the front, axle 1, and axles 3 to 6 steer with the rear four linked together.  Overall these give an excellent representation of the proportional nature of the steering with axle 6 steering the most.  Each axle has independent working suspension powered by small springs and this allows very good ability to pose the axles on rough terrain and representing the suspension of the real trailer.  As an additional feature, axle 1 can be raised and clipped out of service although a little more travel on the mechanism would have looked better.

Quality

The overall quality level of the model is high.  The castings are very good as is the detail level.  Plastic parts are present but thankfully they do not look like plastic so the overall look of the model is maintained.

Paintwork and graphics are of a very high standard.

Price

The model is very good value for the quality and features offered.

Overall

This model represents further evidence of WSI's ability to produce very good quality models, and enhances Nooteboom's offering to collectors and customers.

Heavy haulage fans will be pleased with the model and for collectors of crane models a good ballast carrier is an essential add-on with interesting poses possible with a heavy crane.  Overall the model is highly recommended.

Footnotes

The model first appeared in 2008.

 
Inside the box.
The MAN 6x4 tractor unit.  The front steering is posed at maximum lock.
Rear view.
The cab tilts well to reveal a detailed engine.
The trailer has an excellent simulated timber deck.  Here, the container is removed but it lacks a headboard.
Smart wheel hubs, and tie down points.
Loaded with container, hook and ballast slabs.
Axle 1 can be locked out of position.  A tie-off point for chains can be seen in the deck edge.
With suitable chains, loads can be secured to the tie-off points.  These are from the Chains and Hooks pack.