 | | High quality presentation box. |  |  | | The parts out of the box including the brochure. |  | | Details at the rear. |  | | The tractor is very detailed underneath. |  | | The jeepdolly is very detailed. |  | | The rear dolly has front and rear steering to make it very manoeuvrable. |  | | The rear lift adaptor holds the windmill tower. |  | | Create your own windmill erection site with the Mega Windmill Transporter, a Liebherr LG1550 and a Grove GMK5110-1. |  | | The 'SӔRTRANSPORT' sign attaches to the rear of the 7-axle dolly. |  | | The attachment point for longer hazard warning plate. The connection point for the control cable is shown in the lower circle. |  | | Short coupling the dollies. |
| The growth of wind power generation has created a whole industry in terms of transporting and erecting the wind turbines. To enable quick erection the windmills are designed to split into separate loads, comprising tower sections, the nacelle (the turbine house), and the blades. Nooteboom has taken the lead in designing specialised haulage to transport these pieces, and this led to the introduction of the Mega Windmill Transporter (MWT) which was developed with the wind turbine maker Vestas, in 2003.
The MWT uses lift adapters. The lift adapter is attached to both ends of the windmill component and the hydraulics are used to lift it from the ground for transport, and later lowering for unloading. This system also means the windmill piece can be lowered during transport to clear a low bridge, or raised up to 1.5m to clear obstacles (such as crash barriers) whilst turning. The MWT is highly manoeuvrable, and consists of a 3-axle JPD-55 jeepdolly and a 7-axle NLD-70 self-steering dolly. The jeepdolly is suitable for 3 and 4-axle tractor units and it has maximum kingpin load of 25 tonnes, and axle load of 10 tonnes/axle, at a maximum speed of 80 km/h. Axle 1 is a lift axle, and axle 3 steers. The self steering dolly has steering on axles 1, 2, 3, 5, 6 and 7. The maximum axle load on this dolly is also 10 tonnes/axle at 80 km/hour.
A complete MWT in the configuration of this model has a deadweight of just over 40 tonnes. The maximum lifting capacity of the lift adapter is 100 tons and tower sections up to 40m long have been transported with this equipment. This model version of a Mega Windmill Transporter is in the livery of the Danish haulier Frank Norager.
Packaging
The packaging used is of a very high quality. It comes in a smart presentation box and inside the model parts are held within black foam rubber which looks very professional. There were no defects or missing parts on the review model
Also included is a nice small brochure which describes the general history and features of Mega Windmill Transporters, a Certificate of Authenticity and a Limited Edition card. There are no instructions on assembly of the model however and this is an omission as a simple sheet would certainly help an inexperienced collector place the few small separate pieces correctly on the model, and describe its features.
Detail
The tractor unit is a MAN TGA 42.530 8x4 unit. Underneath, the detail level is high with transmission and suspension features reproduced, and a good detailed gearbox. The tyres are good too with a differing tread pattern on the steering and non-steering axles, and these are mounted on beautifully painted hubs.
The front of the MAN has realistic light clusters, and a Danish 'special transport' sign. Exterior detail on the cab includes door mirrors, windscreen wipers, spot lights, and good quality orange beacon lights. Inside the cab, the detail level is good. The standard of the graphics on the cab is very high.
Behind the cab there are simulated air lines which can be posed fixed to the trailer. The fuel tank and the various equipment boxes are all modelled in plastic, but to a very high quality, so the overall effect is excellent. A very good 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.
The transporter is made up of two components, a jeepdolly at the front, and a self-steering dolly at the rear. The jeepdolly is three axle and the detail underneath consists of finely modelled replicas of the various axle components. Small rubber tyres are mounted on detailed hubs with plastic mudguards covering each wheel. The structure of the jeepdolly is cast well and some of the detailing on it is first class. A tiny Nooteboom logo impresses as do very small controls and signage. At the front there is an orange beacon light and a connection point for lines from the tractor. The upper structure carrying the lift adaptor continues the high quality. A nicely rendered generator, hydraulics box and fuel tank are stowed at the front and the main lift adaptor cylinder has hydraulic lines running to it. There are excellent diamond plated walking surfaces at the lift adaptor gantry. A tiny remote control unit is positioned below the lift adaptor.
The self-steering dolly is a seven axle unit and it replicates all the high quality detailing of the jeepdolly with the addition of a special transport sign at the rear. A steam train is rendered in graphics behind the lift adaptor and this is an accurate representation of a particular vehicle in the Norager fleet. The rear bumper even has 'Finn's Futtog' imprinted which is Danish for 'Finn's steam train'. A red control cable links the two dollies.
The windmill tower section is a large and heavy piece made out of resin. Detail is formed in the exterior surface to show the segmented structure and there is a set of access hatches moulded in also. Each end has a moulded piece to represent a tarpaulin blanking plate bearing the Vestas name and this is realistically done.
Features
The tractor unit has steerable front axles which are linked together but the range of the lock is fairly limited. It has a tilting cab which opens up smoothly to provide a good view of the engine block.
The jeepdolly has a steering rear axle, and each axle also has working suspension. Axle 1 is a lift axle and this works on the model. At the front there are a couple of support legs which can be rotated and used to park the jeepdolly when not connected to the tractor. The lift adaptor structure has a range of horizontal movement which is achieved by disconnecting a pin. The connection to the windmill components is adjustable through hydraulic cylinders both vertically and fore and aft. The main cylinder has a pin hole and the supplied pin can set the position of the lift adaptor so that the windmill tower is held with the lift adaptor structure horizontal.
The self-steering dolly has the same functions as the jeepdolly. However the steering is different with the front three axles linked together, and the rear three axles also forming a linked group. The steering is proportional and is very effectively represented. A mechanism to force rotation of the upper structure is also replicated on the model.
It is possible to display the transporter in a short coupled travelling configuration without the windmill tower (see the Assembly Guidance below). The tower section does not have any designated lifting points but it is possible to connect some hooked chains and display the tower being lifted. It is not possible to remove the tarpaulined ends however.
Quality
This is an excellent quality heavy haulage model combining high detail with very good quality manufacture. The paintwork and graphics are first rate. As with many WSI models there is an amount of plastic used to achieve detailing, but this is done in a quality way so does not detract from the model.
Price
Although the model is not cheap it offers a lot for the price.
Overall
WSI have produced a top notch model of the Nooteboom Mega Windmill Transporter. The whole package is enhanced by being provided in a presentation box, and the assembled model will impress any heavy haulage collector, and for that matter any model collector. Overall this is an outstanding model.
Footnotes
The model appeared in April 2009 at the Bemmel exhibition. It was made in a limited edition of 350 models.
Assembly Guidance
The model lacks an instruction sheet covering both assembly and some of the features of the model so these notes are provided to give some additional guidance.
Fitting small parts
A number of parts are supplied in a separate bag. These are fitted as follows:
The 'SӔRTRANSPORT' sign is fixed at the rear of the seven axle dolly. Two 'L' shaped pieces are support legs for when the jeepdolly is not fixed to the tractor. They are fixed either out of service, or down to provide support (see photo). Four hazard warning plates are provided, two long and two short. The two long ones should be fitted on the jeepdolly, and the shorter ones on the self-steering dolly (see photos).
Fitting the tower section
To fit the tower, pull up the lift adaptors to enable the parts to enter the holes in the tower ends, and adjust the upper part of the adaptor to grip the windmill tower. To hold the position of the tower use the supplied pin in the main lift cylinder. The red control cable is held in position by fitting the small hooks into the lower part of the lift adaptors (see photos).
Short coupling the dollies
To display the model without the tower sections, the hooks of the rear lift adapter are put on top of the hooks of the front one, and the vertical cylinder of the rear lift adapter is completely retracted. The top part of the front lift adapter is put down on top of the top of the rear lift adaptor to interlock the pins.
Jeepdolly Axle 1
This axle is actually a lift axle and can be posed out of service. To achieve this, turn the jeepdolly over, depress the axle, and there is a small tab (see photo) which can be moved to lock the axle in a raised position.
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|  | | Inside the box, the model is beautifully presented. |  | | The MAN TGA 8x4 Tractor. |  | | The cab tilts to provide access to the engine. |  | | The tractor attached to the transporter. |  | | The first axle on the jeepdolly can be locked out of service. |  | | Very high detail level. The steam train graphic is unique to this vehicle in the Norager fleet. |  | | The transporter rigged for the road in short coupled formation having delivered its load. |  | | The hatch on the side of the windmill tower. |  | | The tower can be lifted by a suitable crane with chains although there are no lifting points modelled. |  | | The front support legs are separate parts which have to be attached to the jeeepdolly. Here one is shown in the travel position, and one is down. |  | | The rear dolly connection points for the hazard plates and control cable. |  | | Use the tab in the circle to fix the lift axle on the jeep dolly in the raised position. |
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