 | | The box. |  |  | | The parts out of the box. |  | | Rear view showing the extension boom stowed. The steering is at maximum lock. |  | | Chassis detailing is very good. |  | | More great details at the rear. |  | | Lots of hydraulic hoses on the crane. |  | | Opening flap at the front. |  | | Twin piston outrigger. |  | | Extension boom fitted. The suspended load is a Tadano Faun ingot. |  | | The offset angle is controlled by a cylinder which tends to bleed. A latch would have been better. |
| The Tadano Faun HK 70 is a crane mounted on truck chassis which at the time of the review is the largest such model they offer. The chassis is a five axle 10x4 Mercedes Actros. The maximum capacity of the crane is 70 tonnes and it can lift to a maximum height of 61m with the boom extension.
This version of the model is in the colours of Dutch lifting specialist Mammoet.
Packaging
The model comes in a Mammoet branded box and it includes a uniquely numbered collector card. There were no defects or missing parts on the review model.
There is no information on the real machine included, and no instructions for the model. There are various parts to be fitted to the crane and anyone new to crane collecting would have appreciated a list of parts and some simple instructions describing where the parts go.
Detail
The truck chassis is very detailed. Viewed underneath, the suspension and transmission are reproduced to a high standard and various tanks are modelled too. Looking at the chassis structure around the wheels even more detail is present with various bolt positions and cables provided. The wheels are nicely modelled with treaded tyres on detailed hubs, with the fifth axle having larger diameter tyres.
The Actros cab has a convincing grille at the front and the lights have plastic lenses so they look authentic. Two tone door mirrors copy the original those on the original crane. A fine loop is provided at the front to attach the hook during transport. Behind the cab there is an excellent perforated exhaust jacket and a couple of air intakes. The outriggers are really good. They have detailed metal beams and the dual pistons on each leg which do not show a screw thread. There are adjustable pads which are pinned, and a set of plastic spreader plates are also included.
The carrier deck is covered in diamond plating and various storage boxes are detailed down each side. The main difference to the real crane is the lack of side impact bars covering the fuel tank and other equipment on the front half of the carrier. At the rear there is a non-removable ladder and a towing hitch which even includes a tiny winding handle.
The crane cab has metal grab rails on the outside and windscreen wipers. Inside the detailing is very good with a computer console and joysticks modelled and there is even an absolutely tiny graphic representing 'Faun' on the seat headrest.
Detail on the crane body is great with a mass of hydraulic cabling running to the various motors and cylinders. The only minor blemish is the silver pin used as the boom pivot which is a bit obtrusive and would have looked better painted black. The counterweight is made up of five plates like the real crane. The engine has also been modelled and this is revealed by lifting two opening side panels.
The five stage telescopic boom is metal and the bottom section has a metal spool, a pair of lights and holders for the extension boom, one of which is articulated. The main boom cylinder is plastic and the colour match is slightly off compared to the painted metal parts. At the boom head the main pulleys appear to be a single piece and they are silver rather than painted as on the original, and the Mammoet name has been applied to the sides of this section.
The extension boom is metal and is cast well, and it has a pop out guide pulley. There is a hydraulic cylinder which controls the angle of this boom and the colour match is slightly off to the rest of the model.
The thread used for the hoist rope is not so prone to twisting, which is good, so the hook can be displayed lowered a worthwhile amount without spinning. The hook is metal and has two pulleys. It comes ready reeved but only with two falls, so it hangs lop sided on one pulley, but this can be corrected by re-reeving with four falls. The hook is less useful on the extension boom however where either a single line hook or a hook block with an odd number of pulleys would have been better. A safety cut-out chain hangs from the boom top and it and the hoist rope connector are pinned so they can be transferred to the extension boom, although they do not fit well into the holes on it.
A metal ingot bearing the name 'Tadano Faun' is supplied as a display load.
Features
The steering of the front two and rearmost axles are linked and a small amount of movement is possible to obtain a more interesting pose.
The truck cab tilts to give access to the engine block. The rear outrigger beams extend out, and the front ones fold out and can extend a little, and the pads can be lowered and will support the crane.
The crane body has two opening panels to provide access to the crane engine. The counterweight is detachable and can be either stowed on the carrier deck or attached to the crane.
The crane functions work well with the hoist operated by a supplied key. The boom sections lock into place when extended, and as the extension boom is pinned to the main boom side it does not fall off when the boom is raised. The boom cylinder is not particularly stiff and bleeds down over time so a pin is provided to insert through a hole in the cylinder jacket.
The extension boom can be attached and also has a fold out section so two lengths can be chosen. The angle of the boom is controlled by a cylinder rather than a latch so it tends to bleed also.
Quality
WSI have produced a high quality model. It is mostly metal with appropriate use of plastic, and the paintwork and graphics are excellent.
Price
The model is good value for the quality and detail offered.
Overall
The HK70 combines WSI's truck modelling skills very well with their ability to engineer a crane model to produce a highly detailed result. It is easy to highly recommend this model.
Footnotes
The model was first shown in Tadano Faun blue and white at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in February 2010, and appeared for sale in May 2010. The production run in Mammoet colours was 1000 models.
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|  | | The model in the tray. |  | | Impressive looking crane. |  | | Tiny details impress. There is a small orange reflector on the bottom of the first wheel arch. |  | | Tilting cab. |  | | The crane setting up. The outrigger pads are supplied with the model. |  | | Opening engine cover shows a detailed engine, although the hinges are a bit coarse. |  | | The boom head has the Mammoet logo. |  | | Lifting steel from a Dennison trailer. |  | | Detailed extension boom. The hoist rope tie-off and safety chain cut-off pin to the boom head but the fit is not good. |  | | The outriggers can support the crane off the wheels. Overall, the crane looks very good. |
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