 | | The box. |  |  | | The MB Actros tractor looks great. Decent movement in the steering mechanism. |  | | The fifth wheel is fixed in position. |  | | Tilting cab. |  | | Super single tyres look good. They are too wide to carry as a spare in the holder. |  | | Axle one raised out of service. |  | | Carrying counterweight and jib parts. |
| Riga Mainz is a family owned German company which was first established in 1929 and it began to focus on cranes in 1956. In 2006 a joint venture with Baumann was formed. The company currently owns cranes up to 750t capacity.
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 on the real machine or model included. The only assembly is to fit the optional deck posts which simply slot into place.
Detail
The tractor is a Mercedes Benz MP3 6x4. The chassis detail level is high as is usual for WSI with suspension and transmission parts rendered well. The wheel hubs look very smart and tyres with appropriate tread patterns are mounted on the axles.
At the front, the cab has a nice chevron-marked bumper although surprisingly there is no number plate even though there is one at the rear. The lights have lenses, and there are two tone door mirrors and nice air horns and beacon lights on the roof. Behind the cab, coiled air lines are provided, and there is high quality diamond plated walkway and plastic wheel arches. At the rear the lights have plastic lenses.
The trailer is modelled really well underneath with hosing extending from the front to each axle assembly. Axles are fully detailed with suspension and hydraulic features. This version of the model has no mud guards except on the rear axle, and the tyres are large fat 'super singles' which look really good mounted on the detailed hubs.
The pair of hydraulic landing legs has metal pads and hoses run to these too. The deck surface is mainly plastic rendered to look like timber decking complete with fixing screw locations. 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 complete with a number plate. A set of manual controls for the trailer is represented forward of the first axle, and the hosing runs to this panel. On the opposite side is a spare wheel holder but it is empty on this model as it is not wide enough to accommodate a large tyre of the type used here. Tiny graphics are used across the trailer and the headboard has a Riga Mainz trailer number.
A separate pack of metal deck posts is provided with the model and these plug into holes in the deck edge.
Features
The steering of the front axle is stiff, but a decent range of movement can be obtained.
The cab tilts forward to allow access to the engine block.
The trailer has an opening (but empty) holder for a spare wheel.
The hydraulic landing legs can be screwed down and the piston is smooth so it looks realistic.
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 being linked together and 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 rougher terrain. As an additional feature, axle 1 can be raised and clipped out of service.
Deck posts can be fitted or omitted as desired.
Quality
This is a typical high quality Nooteboom ballast trailer model. The paintwork and graphics are very good quality and are true to the original Riga Mainz truck.
Price
The model is made in limited numbers and so the price is higher than on standard versions.
Overall
This is another very good looking model and it would look great paired with a crane model in the same colours. The quality is very good and it is easy to highly recommend it.
Footnotes
The model became available in August 2010. It was made in a run of 200 models.
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|  | | The parts out of the box. |  | | Smart wheel hubs. |  | | Very detailed underneath. |  | | Headboard has Riga Mainz fleet numbers. The landing legs have realistic pistons. |  | | Steering on the trailer. |  | | Super singles give the trailer a tough look. |  | | Loaded with Liebherr ballast. |  | | Paired with a Liebherr LTM 1200-5.1. |
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