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| XCMG
branded
box. |
 |
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| Bottom Tray. |
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|
Outrigger pistons cannot retract
fully. |
|
|
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| Interesting
display. |
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| Boom lifts
itself for unloading. |
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| Crane drives in
to attach the boom. |
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| Engine view
with covers removed. |
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| Detailed small
graphics. |
 |
| Tyres have
branding in the side walls. |
 |
|
Spooling drums on the boom. |
 |
|
Sliding cab door. |
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|
Full boom extension. |
 |
|
Fly jib in service. |
 |
|
Configured for an on site move. |
|
The XCMG XCA1200 is an eight axle all terrain crane with a
capacity of 1200 tonnes. It is aimed particularly at
wind turbine erection applications.
This is the version of the model for the China market.
A version for other markets includes a heavy lift head
and an adaptor for the attachment of a luffing fly jib.
Packaging
The model comes in an XCMG branded box and the model is
contained within a pair of expanded polystyrene trays.
The parts are covered with soft paper. The trays
are too thin in places to cope with shipping forces and
some of the parts were loosely packed on the review
model and able to move about during shipping causing
paint chips.
The review model had no missing parts or manufacturing defects.
Tools are provided to help with the assembly and
operation of the model. An instruction sheet is
provided which is in English and Chinese, but it is not
up to the quality of the model, and lacks a full parts
list.
Detail
The chassis is detailed with the transmission and
suspension modelled. The wheels have tyres with a
nice tread pattern and branding in the sidewalls.
The carrier cab has a protection rack on the roof, and
thin windscreen wipers. Interior detail is
reasonable and there are mesh steps.
Behind the cab the detailing of the engine area has
variety with some nice fine mesh grilles. Tiny graphics
add detail along the carrier sides.
The outrigger beams are metal with
marker graphics applied, although the pistons cannot be
retracted fully which spoils the look a little in
transport mode. The pads and transverse beams are nicely
shaped, and the pads include magnets to stick them to
the transverse beams. Metal spreader plates are
included.
The crane cab
has a protection grille and there are metal handrails
although they seem a little thick and high. The
crane body has some graphics and there is a hole in one
side to access the main winch with a key. The
counterweight tray is a solid piece and it can be fitted
with either a box or a luffing winch assembly.
Handrails are provided to be attached, and they reflect
the crane in use rather than folded for transport.
The winch drum has good quality rope, but it appears to
be wound in the wrong direction on the review model.
The counterweight is made up of nicely shaped blocks
with useable lifting eyes, and each has the weight
indicated by graphics.
The
heavy boom has some nice details including spooling
drums and sharp graphics. The main
boom rams have metal jackets, and hydraulic hoses and
pipes add detail. Support legs are modelled which
allow the boom to unload itself from transport. They are
well detailed with hydraulic hoses. The pulleys
are separate metal sheaves. A telescopic hydraulic ram
sits on top for folding the fly jib and would have
looked better painted rather than all silver.
Superlift arms are included and these can be attached
and utilised as an option. However, they are not
reeved up in the box and there is no information about
how they are reeved which is not obvious given the
configuration. The beams are nicely detailed with
graphics, and flexible metal straps connect to the boom
foot.
A pair of plastic boom supports are provided to enable
the boom to be loaded onto a transporter.
The fly jib is
made up of separate bolted sections so the configuration
could be altered. The metal lattice work is very
good and there are fine quality mesh walkways.
Three metal hook blocks are supplied. One is a single
line block and another has three sheaves. There is also
a heavy lift block. All the hook blocks are very good quality.
Features
The model rolls well, and
all axles steer independently, so any modes of the real
crane can be replicated. The steering angle is mostly
very good.
The carrier cab doors open to a moderate angle.
There are two removable covers on the engine deck, and
they are held in place by small magnets.
The outriggers open out and extend, and the pads can be
screwed down. The crane can be fully supported wheels-free
at a good height and the outriggers remain perfectly
straight.
It is possible to remove the rear outriggers for
transport by unpinning them. However, that leaves the
boom rams overhanging which looks odd and maybe these
are also removable on the real crane.
The crane cab rotates out from a transport position, and
the cab door slides open nicely. A small amount of
tilt is possible on the cab.
The counterweight tray can be posed on the carrier deck
to simulate self ballasting.
A luffing winch or small box can be fitted to the
counterweight tray as an option.
The boom supports can be rotated out and down, and the
pads lowered, to simulate self-unloading. In
practice it is difficult to keep the legs vertical while
supporting the boom so care is required.
The boom raises easily as there is no friction in the
boom rams. A pose is held by tightening grub screws in
the ram jackets and this works well. The
heavy telescopic sections pull out smoothly and
lock at full extension, and three locking positions are
provided which are around 50%, 90% and 100%.
The superlift arrangement can be fitted and it tensions
up the boom well in practice with the winches having
positive action brakes.
The fixed fly jib can be attached
and it requires the top telescopic boom section to be
removed. The model really needs a blanking plate to
fit over the open end. One is provided for the
heavy lift head attachment point, but not the fly jib
attachment point.
The model can posed transporting the fly jib between
locations.
The main winch has a positive brake action and performs
well. Each of the hook blocks can be used,
although the largest one really requires the heavy lift
head to look right.
Quality
This model has a high metal content with little plastic
used. The quality level is very good overall.
The paintwork and graphics are
also very good.
Price
It is a good value large crane model based on the
price charged from China.
Overall
This is an impressively large mobile crane
model from Yagao. It is a very good blend of
detail with many functional parts. It is not
flawless, but most collectors will be pleased with it on
display.
Footnotes
The model was produced in an enhanced version with a
heavy lift head and luffing jib adaptor.
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|
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|
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| Top tray. |
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| On the road.
Assumed configuration with the crane cab at the front
rather than the back. |
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| Steering is
good. |
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| Detailed
chassis. |
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| Very heavy
boom. |
|
|
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| Self
ballasting. |
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Large ballast plates. |
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Large heavy lift hook. Excellent outrigger
assembly. |
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Opening door. |
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Crane supported off the wheels. |
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Superlift performs well. |
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Superlift deployed. |
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Folding up for transport. |
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