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| The Grove GMK 5165-2 looks sharp in red and white. Here the counterweight is attached which is not a realistic transport configuration. |
TWH 053 - Grove GMK 5165-2 Mobile Crane
Model Review October 2008
Page 1 2 3 4 Return to TWH Reviews Index Cranes Etc Home Page
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| The Grove GMK 5165-2 looks sharp in red and white. Here the counterweight is attached which is not a realistic transport configuration. |
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| The Grove box. |
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The model inside the expanded polystyrene tray. |
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| The parts out of the box. The main counterweight is already attached when the model is shipped. |
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| The crane in road configuration with counterweight removed. |
The Grove GMK 5165-2 is a five axle crane rated, as the name suggests, at a 165 US ton capacity. It has a 60m main boom, up to 18m of fly jib and can be fitted with 40 tonnes of counterweight. As a global company, Grove launches their cranes worldwide and they are designated to suit the local markets. In the US this crane is the 5165 whereas in the rest of the world it is the 5130 reflecting the 130 metric tonne rating.
This model is in 1:50 scale and is part of the TWH model programme being delivered for the Manitowoc Group. The review model is in red and white, a livery derived from Jeffers, part of the All Crane company of the US.
Packaging
This model comes in a box style which now seems consistent for new Grove models. It has a photo of the crane and some dimensioned line drawings. Inside, the model is well packed in expanded polystyrene trays with some additional soft packing. These protected the review model well and it was undamaged and had no missing parts.
Included with the model is a small version of the Grove product guide which has plenty of information on the real crane. Unfortunately there are no instructions on the model itself and as there are a number of small parts a simple instruction sheet would assist an inexperienced collector. With that said, assembling the parts is not difficult. Out of the box the model is already reeved and all that needs to be fixed are some mirrors and the lattice fly jib.
Detail
The model is satisfyingly heavy when lifted from the box, and it is apparent that it is a detailed crane.
Underneath, the chassis is very detailed with excellent metal transmission and axles, and a full set of replica hoses to each wheel. Engine details are also present. The wheels are the same as on the smaller GMK 3055 model with rough terrain tyres mounted on the same style hubs.
At the front, the driving cab sets a high standard. Inside the detail is very good, with clearly visible instruments and a fire extinguisher. On the outside there are some finely crafted mirrors which have to be fitted, including one unusual long one (see the photo on page 3 of this review to see where this fits). There are some very nicely detailed steps into the cab which are complete with a patterned surface. A loop for attaching the hook during transport is provided and an orange beacon light completes the detail on the cab.
