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| The parts are securely
wrapped. |
 |
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| The pieces
of the kit. |
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| The fitted YCC
booms look way better than the plastic versions that come
with the model. The additional hydraulic hosing adds
a nice detail touch. |
|
The NZG model of the
Liebherr LTM11200-9.1
Mobile Crane is one of the best crane models reviewed
by Cranes Etc in 2010. However, one of the few weaknesses
of the model is the plastic main boom cylinders. Although
they function perfectly well, the choice of material and
colour means that they look a little different to the rest
of the model. This kit from YCC provides metal replacement
cylinders to replace those on the model. The parts
reviewed are painted by YCC in Liebherr yellow.
Packaging
The kit comes securely wrapped in bubble foam, and includes
a spanner for adjusting the locking mechanism on the cylinders.
No instructions are provided, although they are available
online from the YCC website. They do not describe
how to remove the old cylinders however, and fortunately
this is fairly easy to do. They are held in place
by friction rivets and can be popped out by applying significant
force to the inside end of the rivet. Fixing the new
cylinders is easy, and just involves reinserting the rivets
and carefully using pliers to push them back in position.
Detail
and Features
The cylinders are very nicely detailed with fine hydraulic
pipes and junction boxes. Rubber hydraulic lines are
supplied which can be fixed in position and enhance the
detail in this area of the model significantly.
The NZG cylinders relied on friction and the YCC cylinders
do the same but in a significantly better way. The
top of the cylinder is on a screw thread and by turning
it, it tightens the grip on the cylinder ram. This
means that when it is not tightened the ram smoothly moves
enabling the ram extension to be set very easily.
Using the supplied spanner, the ram extension can be fixed
in position.
Obviously with a model like this the forces on these cylinders
gets very high so care is needed to make sure the grip is
tight enough to prevent a sudden collapse. For this
reason, it might be better to use a larger adjustable spanner
rather than the YCC spanner to tighten up. Care is
also needed to not damage the paintwork when using spanners.
Quality
and Price
These are high quality parts and the paint applied makes
them blend with the rest of the model well, and they significantly
enhance it. The parts are certainly not cheap, but
are very well made.
Overall
This kit from YCC enhances the basic NZG model and a really
good model is made better as a result. Collectors
wanting the best will be pleased to have these parts on
their model, and they are highly recommended.
Footnotes
The kit has also been produced in an unpainted version and
in Mammoet colours.
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|
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|
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| Removal of the
existing friction rivets. It is important that they
are popped from the inside out in the direction of the arrow.
|
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| The YCC cylinders
are a definite enhancement to the base model. |
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