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| Large XCMG
branded
box. |
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| Metal base. |
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Detailed machinery deck.
Safety cage on the A-frame ladder is a great detail. |
|
|
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| Plastic basket
is over large. |
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| The full model. |
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| Climbing cage. |
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The XCMG XGTL 180 is a luffing jib tower crane.
It is in the small scale of 1:100 presumably in order to
make the overall size of the model manageable.
Packaging
The model comes in a large good quality XCMG
branded box and inside it, the model is contained within
a pair of expanded polystyrene trays.
The review model had no missing parts
or defects.
No instructions are provided. The model is largely
preassembled in the box, including the reeving.
Assembly is limited to clipping the jib to the machinery
deck. However, the reeving of
the luffing gear and hoist line was either incomplete or
incorrect out of the box, and had
to be re-strung.
Detail
The tower is attached to a concrete-coloured metal base
plate which adds weight for stability. The tower
is of heavy construction and the lattice work is thick
for the scale. Small vertical plastic ladders run
inside the tower. The tower is made in three
sections which are screwed together firmly.
The climbing cage is modelled and the hydraulic ram is
done well. The many work platforms are plastic
frames and look over-scale.
The cab is plastic with a seat and controls modelled
inside.
The machinery deck is detailed with winches and cabinets
and the counterweight is nicely modelled. The
A-frame is particularly good and the access ladder has a
metal safety cage which is remarkable in this small
scale. The jib backstops are also modelled.
The luffing gear has single blocks of metal pulleys.
The pendant bars are plastic.
The jib is reasonably straight and it has a number of
small metal pulleys throughout which are used to guide
the hoist rope.
The hook is very good. It is metal with metal
pulleys and can accommodate four falls or rope.
However the modelling of the jib tip really only
accommodates a single fall of rope to the hook.
A large plastic basket is provided as a load for the
crane, but it is over large and unrealistic.
Features
The
tower could be built to a lower height by leaving the
central section out.
The model rotates smoothly.
The luffing gear winch can be operated by using a winch
key. However because of friction in the system the
jib cannot be lowered without intervention.
The hoist winch also operates. However, there is
too much friction in the system to allow the hook to
lower under its own weight or with a load and manual
help is required. There is not enough rope on the
drum to lower the hook to the ground.
Quality
The
model has a high metal content and is well made
considering the scale.
The paintwork and graphics are
very good.
Price
It is understood to be reasonable value at the
typical selling price in China.
Overall
This is a good looking model in the small scale
of 1:100 and it has some very nice detailing considering
the small size.
Footnotes
A flat top crane, the XGT 7530, was produced at
the same time.
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|
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| In the box. |
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| Looks good on
the skyline. |
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| Heavy tower
construction. |
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| Good jib
profile. |
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|
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| Looks
realistic. |
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