 | | The outer box. |  |  | | Heavy presentation box. |  | | Bottom layer contains the vehicles and boom. |  | | Marker boards at the rear. |  | | Boom is massive and heavy. |  | | The boom carrier chassis is reasonably detailed. |  | | Imposing poses are possible. |  | | The boom has to be extended a little to accurately represent the loading requirement of the carrier. The inner logo is imperfectly rendered. |  | | The boom carrier AMK 1000-93. |  | | Opening cab door. |  | | Wheel chocks are well made. |  | | Boom removed. |  |  | | Good detail behind the cab. |  | | Outriggers fixed, waiting for the boom. |  | | Driving up the boom to connect it. |  | | Boom up and hook on. |  | Outriggers can hold the weight of the crane.
|  | | Great details all round. |  | | Hook is excellent. |  | | Impressive boom cylinders. |  | | Counterweights and pin. |  | | Detailed engine block from the crane. |  | | Lifting a load at height. |
| The Gottwald AMK 1000 had a nominal lifting capacity of 1000 tonnes and was for many years the largest telescopic crane in the world. It was built in the mid 1980s for Riga Mainz of Germany.
The crane was carried on a 10-axle carrier designated AMK 1000-103 and the boom was carried on a separate 9-axle transporter designated AMK 1000-93.
Riga Mainz operated the crane for eight years and it was then sold to Breuer of Germany where it worked for three years. It then went to Taiwan and was operated by Long Hook for five years. In 2004 ownership transferred to Chisun.
This model is in the colours of Riga Mainz in a later version of the livery.
Packaging
The model comes in a heavy outer cardboard carton which has a foam layer inside which protects a coloured picture box. Inside that is a heavy black presentation box which contains the model and its many parts wrapped in tissue and contained in stiff foam rubber.
The packaging is excellent but the model is heavy with many small delicate parts and it is not surprising that a few parts were loose in the box on the review model as a result of the postal system. However these were easy to glue back into place. One other very small part (a hydraulic line connector on the boom) was missing. YCC recognises the risk to the delicate parts and a bag of various spares is included in the box.
All this means that the model has to be handled with care as any pressure on small parts whilst lifting it will inevitably damage them.
A glossy brochure is included which has machine specifications and information about the history of the real machine. High quality photos of the various liveries modelled are included, and straightforward graphics show the main aspects of the assembly. However there is no guidance or diagram for reeving the three hooks supplied. Also included is a Perspex block which contains a laser etched facsimile of the crane and boom carrier in 3D. It is also engraved with a unique model number and it is very superior to any normal numbered collector card.
Overall the packaging is of the highest quality notwithstanding that there were some broken small parts on arrival which are more likely due to the packing process than the packaging.
Assembly is easy enough in principle, but was not without some problems on the review model. The winch drum was extremely stiff and took some effort to free up by applying 'WD 40' and oil to the bearings and rubbing surfaces. One of the counterweight plates had holes which did not line up with the plate above so the connecting pins would not fit. This was rectified by grinding off the edge of four pins to produce a special set that would fit.
The shape of the boom with its corrugations provides a particular challenge to apply the graphics, and a couple of the logos were not perfect. Again YCC has recognised the likelihood of the issue and provides spare graphics transfers with the model to enable the owner to make repairs. The boom corners of the inner sections are also likely to be rubbed by extending and retracting the boom and more spare transfers are provided for this.
Detail
The boom carrier and crane carrier share a common level of detail. Underneath, the chassis has reasonable detail with the main transmission components modelled although it may have been difficult for YCC to get the information to achieve high accuracy. The wheels are excellent with detailed hubs (which are different on the driven axles) and tyres which have Michelin and the tyre details in the sidewalls.
The driving cabs set a very high standard and they look convincing, and the cab door hinges are a reasonable modelling compromise in terms of size. The wipers and mirrors are finely crafted, and the lights and number plates look great. Interior details are fine. Both carriers have tiny and delicate reflectors between the wheels.
At the rear the light clusters are also excellent and the warning notices and number plates add authenticity. The carrier decks have a high level of detail within the casting, and small metal wheel chocks fit into special holders.
The boom carrier has two lift assemblies which are modelled well and only perhaps the silver rivets would have looked better painted red. A red and white tow bar is provided. It does not have any connections and just rests on the carrier deck.
The crane carrier has the heavy turntable support modelled well with hydraulic cabinets and motors.
The crane body structure looks very strong and the connection points for the boom and counterweight have the hydraulic pinning system modelled. One amazing aspect is the degree of modelling detail in the area of the winch drum. much of it cannot be seen in normal view and is only properly visible from underneath. This includes a metal engine block which is a fine casting.
The boom foot is lifted by two massive hydraulic cylinders and these are all metal components. There is excellent hydraulic pipe detailing up the boom foot to the main boom connection point.
The operator's cab is finely modelled. Interior detail is very good and the work platform and handrails are metal and fine gauge. Work lights and an aerial add to the detail.
Four massive outrigger beams support the crane and these are made of metal and are heavy. Again there is fine detailing with hydraulic pipes and lines. The pistons have a smooth external appearance so look authentic. Heavy metal pads fix to the pistons.
The counterweight consists of a number of separate plates and these interlock together and are secured by tiny locking pins which look great.
The four stage telescopic boom is a very heavy piece of modelling. The structure is great with the corrugations in the walls modelled well. The decoration looks great, noting the imperfections mentioned earlier. Detail at the boom head is great with a hydraulically adjustable rear pulley block and anemometer. The pulleys are metal and very free rolling. As an additional detail two marker boards are supplied which fit into the boom head for when it is resting on the boom transporter.
Three different sizes of hook are supplied. They are metal and detailed with excellent pulleys.
Features
The carriers have fully sprung suspension on each axle and each steerable axle steers. The wheel spacing is tight so they need to be carefully set to avoid touching when they are steered.
The cab doors open widely.
The boom lifters on the boom carrier can be raised and lowered but the boom is way too heavy for them to hold it up off the deck so dummy 'boom cushions' are supplied which look discrete and enable the boom to be posed at the correct height on the boom carrier for offering up to the crane for connection.
The outriggers fit to the crane using magnetic buttons which hold them well. They are extendible and the mechanism is very smooth. The pistons can be screwed down and the pads are magnetic which is a great feature as it makes moving the model easy as the pads remain stuck on. The outriggers can support the heavy weight of the model.
The operator's cab can be rotated out from transport position, and also tilts. However on the review model this was initially fairly loose so that the cab drooped down. This was fixed by removing the vertical pin and tightening the retaining screw. The aerial folds down for transport and the metal access ladder can be raised and lowered. The cab door opens and closes.
The boom lifting cylinders are perfectly smooth in operation as they are beautifully engineered. They are locked at any extension by tightening a discrete grub screw at the top of each cylinder jacket using the special tool supplied. These are the best boom cylinders seen on any crane model reviewed by Cranes Etc as at the time of the review.
The connecting pins for joining the boom and the counterweight to the crane are contained within the hydraulic pin holders and they slide into place just like the real thing.
The telescopic boom extensions pull out smoothly but they are so heavy that if they are not pulled out straight it is easy for friction on the edges to scrape the paint hence why YCC include some paint transfers for touch up if needed. The sections have conventional locks to prevent the sections being accidently pulled out to far. The real boom locking pin mechanism has been modelled and this is used to lock the telescope sections at intermediate or full extension.
The model rotates very smoothly even though the weight and forces are high.
The boom also has working rollers to guide the winch line, and the anemometer at the end can be rotated.
The winch drive is accessed by removing a small magnetic cover and then a special tool can be inserted and powered by an electric screwdriver to raise and lower the hook. There is plenty of friction in the mechanism to hold any load on the hook, but a more positive action push brake would have been better.
The hook blocks have rotating hooks and working spring loaded safety latches.
Another display option is provided as the front and rear parts of the crane carrier vehicle can be disconnected and leave the crane standing on a pedestal formed of the outriggers.
Quality
The model is very well made and looks great, and the teething problems associated with the review model being an early production version do not detract from the finally completed model.
It has a very high metal content and is very heavy, and the engineering is generally very good and excellent in places.
The paintwork and graphics are excellent other than for the defects stated earlier.
Price
This is an expensive model in anyone's money but it does by an excellent model of an exceptional crane which will be made in relatively small numbers.
Overall
YCC have produced another excellent model which will be sought after by collectors that can afford it. Hopefully the few problems encountered on the review model will be resolved for later batches, but for the discerning collector the Gottwald AMK 1000 will be an essential part of a serious collection. By any measure it is an outstanding model.
Footnotes
The model first appeared as a prototype at the Nuremberg Toy Fair in February 2011. Shipments began in January 2012. Five versions were produced and the first run production quantities are:
Riga Mainz (history) - 90 models
Riga Mainz (modern) - 200 models
Breuer - 200 models
Long Hook - 80 models
Chi Sun - 55 models
This model was awarded Model of the Year for 2012 in the Cranes Etc Review of the Year.
| | |  | | Telescopes at full extension to the 100% boom locks. |  | | Boom section pinned at an intermediate position. |  | | Is it real or is it a model? |  | | Working rollers guide the winch rope. |  | | Crane carrier transport detached. |  | | Lifting on the pedestal. | |  | | Strong outriggers take the load. |  | | It just looks great. |
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|  | | Colourful picture box. |  | | Top layer has the outriggers, counterweight, hooks and small parts. |  | | Laser etched block also has a unique number engraved on the edge. |  | | Crane and boom carrier. |  | | Crane carrier. |  | | Excellent cab detail. |  | | Under the crane carrier. |  | | Each axle steers. |  | | The crane carrier AMK 1000-103. | |  | | Great detail at the rear. |  | | Equipment on the cab roof. |  | | The pinion drives to the toothed ring are missing details. |  | | Detail behind the winch is very good. |  | | The Riga Mainz ballast carrier is from the wrong era which is why the Cranes Etc team are arguing. |  | | Excellent hydraulics from the outriggers. |  | | The boom being connected. |  | | An impressive pose is possible - if you have the space. |  | | Great detailing |  | | Boom top looks impressive. |  | | Detailed cab. |  | | Three hooks are supplied. |  | | Underneath the crane body reveals exceptional detail. |  | | Lifting a fermentation tank with ease. |
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