 | | The box. |  |  | | Smart looking Volvo. |  | | Livery details are accurate. |  | | Engine under the cab. |  | | Underneath the trailer. |  | | Extendible deck with transverse beam. |  | | Width marker pulls out. Landing legs are detailed. |  | | High detail at the back. |  | | About to have a crane section strapped down. |  | | Loaded with a Soilmec SM21. |
| Autaa is a French company founded in 1964 by Guy Autaa. It remains a family owned firm and has expanded from haulage to include lifting services also. Autaa has around 350 vehicles, and 25 cranes up to 350 tonnes capacity.
This is a model of a Volvo FH16-580 6x4 tractor with a Nooteboom 4-axle OSDS-58-04V semi lowloader. The trailer has a total capacity of 58 tonnes.
Packaging
The model comes in a typical WSI Collectibles branded box which has a window allowing the model to be seen. There were no defects or missing parts on the review model.
There is no information provided about the real vehicle or the model. There are quite a few parts supplied and most collectors will have little difficulty working out where they go.
Detail
The tractor is a Volvo 6x4 unit and it looks good in the Autaa livery with the graphics mirroring the real truck.
Underneath, the detail on the chassis is very good, with suspension and transmission details modelled. The wheel hubs are excellent, and there are different tyre tread patterns on the front and real axles. At the front the cab has sharp detailing, and the lights have either lenses or jewels. The mirrors are colour coded and there are a couple of beacon lights on the light bar on the roof. An authentic number plate is used which adds to the realistic feel of the model. Behind the cab, there is a ladder and coiled air lines, and the fuel tanks are modelled well. Plastic wheel arches cover the rear wheels and the rear lights have individual plastic lenses.
The trailer is highly detailed. Underneath, the structure of the trailer is modelled very well. The axles are highly detailed with the suspension fully represented and there is hosing running to each wheel. At the front there are a couple of landing legs, with the handle of the landing legs having a touch of blue paint which is a nice detail. The surface of the trailer is top quality with an excellent representation of a timber surface which has screw holes modelled, and the metal surfacing is textured well. Details along the edges of the trailer are really nice with tiny tie down points represented although they are not separate loops so cannot actually be used. On one side there is a control console.
The gooseneck has connectors for a couple of lines from the tractor, and the deck includes the offset aluminium strip which is present in the real trailer. On the front of the headboard is a spare wheel. A separate pack of metal deck posts is provided and these plug into holes in the deck edge and enough are provided to use as an alternative to the headboard if required. A pair of width markers attaches at the rear end of the trailer if required, and a couple of pull-out ones are stowed under the gooseneck.
Features
The tractor unit has a steerable front axle but the steering lock is very limited. The cab tilts to a good angle, and the fifth wheel can be adjusted for position longitudinally.
The trailer has plenty of features. All the axles have effective working suspension with good movement, and the rear two axles are self-steering and can adopt a very good angle. At the front the landing legs can be screwed down, and the marker boards stowed under the gooseneck can be slid into position. At the rear, a couple of hinged support legs can be rotated down if required.
The trailer bed can be extended to almost double its length, and there is a sliding cross beam too. For wider loads the trailer has a load floor width adjustment and this works with tiny extension consoles which can be pulled out and then replica beams can be laid between them.
Other configuration options are provided by fitting or omitting the deck posts, and the same goes for the headboard.
The model does not include the loading ramps supplied with other versions of this trailer so posing items of plant being loaded is restricted.
Quality
The overall quality level of the model is very high with fine detailing. Where plastic is used it does not detract from the visual appearance.
The paintwork and graphics are of a very high standard.
Price
The model is good value for its quality and considering that it has been made in small numbers.
Overall
This is a very high quality model which looks impressive in Autaa livery and would go very well with a crane in the same colours if one is ever produced. It is very detailed and the high feature count means it can be posed in a variety of interesting ways.
Footnotes
The model appeared in July 2010. It was made in a run of 200 models.
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|  | | The parts out of the box. |  | | Rear view. |  | | Good detailing behind the cab. |  | | Underside view shows great detail. |  | | Highly detailed axles. |  | | Fine deck details with the deck width extensions and deck posts fitted. |  | | Stabiliser leg at the back can be folded down. |  | | The extendible bed opened out. |  | | Loaded with the demolition boom from a CASE CX800. |  | | Width marker fitted at the rear. |
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