 |
| The very long Nooteboom
box. |
 |
 |
| Stunning
decoration. |
 |
| Excellent
decoration behind the cab too. |
 |
| Very good detail
underneath. |
 |
| Excellent
details.
|
 |
| Landing legs
lowered.
|
 |
| Slight lean on
the headboard on the review model. |
 |
| Detailed
trailer. |
 |
| Big blade with
a realistic sag. |
 |
| Strapped onto
the crates. |
|
 Comment on this model.
The tractor is an 8x4 Scania R
Series and the trailer is the Nooteboom 4-axle
OVB-65-04 V(ZT) which is extendible to 48m and is commonly
used for wind turbine work. The kingpin load is either 18
or more commonly 25 tonnes,
and the axle load is 10 tonnes at 80 km/h.
The model is in the colours of
Thurhagen Akeri AB which is a small Swedish haulage
company.
Packaging
The model comes in a very long Nooteboom branded box
which is of presentation quality. Inside, the model is
contained within foam rubber. There were no missing
parts on the review model but the headboard on the
trailer was leaning slightly and there was a slight kink
in one edge of the deck.
There is no information about the real vehicle or
model. Adding the separate pieces is easy and the only
thing missing is how the blade should be correctly
loaded.
Detail
The tractor is a Scania R 620 8x4 chassis and it is very
detailed with transmission and
suspension elements modelled, and a realistic looking
exhaust. The tyres are different on steered and
driven axles, and they are mounted on attractive
wheels.
The decoration of the tractor is stunning with excellent
paint and graphics. The detailing is very good too
with nice lights, a number plate, and a beacon
light bar and horns on the roof.
Under the cab is a detailed engine with some coloured
parts.
Behind the cab the plastic equipment tower is highly
finished so it looks great and there is a light bar on
the top. The anti slip floor leading to the fifth
wheel is finely painted with only the ridges being
silver. Bolt heads are also highlighted between
the metal wheel arches. At the rear the lights
have plastic lenses and the graphics are excellent.
The trailer sets a high standard.
The real deck is made up of hardwood timbers within omega
profile beams and the model replicates this really well
on the top surface with the timbers also including screw
positions. Turn the model over and the underside of
the deck copies the omega profile perfectly which is an
excellent detail. Staying underneath, the structure
is modelled very well, with the support for equipment boxes
and spare wheel storage made of plastic. The axles
are very detailed, including the suspension, and there is
hosing running to each wheel and the telescopic main member.
The first axle also has the lift cylinder to make it a lift
axle, although it is non-functioning on the model.
At the front there is a couple of landing legs, a blue
tipped winding handle, and a control box with cables
coming out. The headboard is a metal casting and includes
a connection box for lines from the tractor. At the
rear there are wheel chocks stowed under the trailer, and
there are good quality lights.
The telescopic main member is metal, but not diecast as this material cannot achieve
realistic thin sections. To achieve the thinness on
the model the beams are made of aluminium. The
resulting beam sections are both strong and realistic,
and they replicate the structure of the real beam with
the vertical sides stepped in from the top and bottom
flanges.
A separate pack of metal deck posts are provided and these
plug into holes in the deck edge.
The windmill blade is a model of a 45m Vestas blade and
is a large single piece in resin, and it is the modelling
decision to authentically reproduce a blade without a
joint which leads to the model box having to be so
large. The blade is surprisingly heavy too. It has a
textured end to represent a temporary covering prior to
being erected. To transport the real blade wooden
pallets are used, and very good plastic versions are
included with the model. These are made up of separate
interlocking layers so they can be used for other loads
too. Also included are some foam pads to model
protection between the blade and
pallets. Elastic straps are used to secure the load,
and these work fine.
Features
The front axle steers
but the range of movement is very limited, and also self
centering on the review model which reduces the posing
possibilities.
The cab tilts to reveal the engine and it cab stay tilted.
The trailer functionality is excellent. The telescopic
beam extends really smoothly, and the
overall length of the tractor and trailer reaches over 90cm
(3ft). It also includes a moving transverse beam on
the front section of the telescope.
The four axles have working suspension and they are all
connected together and steer proportionally to achieve a good angle.
Underneath the trailer, the landing legs can be screwed
down to provide support when the trailer is disconnected from the tractor.
Other configuration options are provided by fitting or
omitting the deck posts.
Quality
This is a very high quality model which has high detail
and excellent engineering of the trailer.
The castings on the tractor are very good too, and any
plastic used is high quality and does not lessen the
look of the model. The paintwork and graphics are
first class.
Price
This model is good value.
Overall
The Telestep trailer remains one of the best WSI
trailers because of its high quality engineering and
details and the Scania looks exceptional in the
Thurhagen livery.
It is an outstanding model.
Footnotes
The model first appeared in October 2012.
|
|
|
|
 |
| High quality packaging.
|
 |
| A massively
long truck and load. |
 |
| The Scania is a
real 'looker'. |
 |
| Very detailed
graphics. |
 |
| Tilting cab and
engine. |
 |
| Proportional
steering. |
 |
| Trailer can be
used for other loads.
|
 |
| Deck posts
fitted. |
 |
| Deck finish is
as good as it gets. |
 |
| Definitely an
impressive model. |
 |
| Special crates
are used at the front. |
|
