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| The simple lines of the National 1400. |
TWH 002 - National 1400 Boom Truck
Model Review July 2008
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| The simple lines of the National 1400. |
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| National Crane box. |
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Inside the box. |
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| All the parts out of the box. |
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| The Sterling cab. |
The National Crane Company originally started in 1945 and is now a division of the Manitowoc Crane Group. It is the leading producer of commercial truck-mounted boom trucks in the US. The National 1400 Telescoping Crane is a 30 tonne (33 US ton) capacity crane which can lift to a maximum height of 39m (127ft) on the main boom, with a further extension jib which can add 9m (30ft).
This model has the crane
mounted on a Sterling truck. It is made in
Packaging
The box consists of a picture sleeve that has a photo of the real machine and some technical data. The sleeve covers a pair of expanded polystyrene trays and the model is well packed within. The review model had no defects or missing parts.
A small but detailed product guide brochure is included which gives information about the real crane. It does not describe the model however, and some instructions would have been helpful to a novice collector to describe how the extension jib should be attached to the boom during transport, for example.
Detail
Underneath, the model has some detail with plastic prop shafts and simple engine details. The wheel hubs are detailed and the rubber tyres are treaded albeit with an unusual pattern. A set of mud flaps are modelled behind the rear wheels, although they are plastic.
On the front bumper a stabiliser unit is permanently attached. The front of the hood has headlights although without lenses, and the driving cab has windscreen wipers and plastic wing mirrors, with lights and air horns on the roof. Treaded steps provide access to each side of the cab and behind each of these is a detailed fuel tank. A well scaled grab handle is alongside each cab door. The cab doors do not have 'glass' which makes them easy to open but the model would probably look better with the glass in. Inside the cab the model is well detailed with foot pedals and instruments visible. Under the hood is a detailed engine.
Behind the cab is a chromed exhaust stack and after this is a tank with hydraulic lines and some warning signs which are illegible. A plastic frame is attached to the tank.
The carrier deck has a textured surface and it contains the outrigger beams which are metal, as are the pads. At the rear there is a simple painted light cluster with some nice ladder handrails.
The crane cab has windscreen wipers and metal grab rails and the interior detail is fairly basic. Within the crane body there is plenty of hydraulic hose detail and the slewing motor is modelled. At the back of the boom the winch is detailed complete with more hoses. The grille which encases the winch is false as it is modelled by a transfer rather than a photo etched piece. A boom angle indicator is provided on each side of the boom and there is a plastic cable drum on one side.
The boom is a 5 stage telescope and all parts are metal and the pulleys in the boom head appear plastic. The hook is metal, and a simple extension jib is provided with the model.
