Mercedes Benz Actros MP3 4x4 Truck
Presented here is the Mercedes Benz Actros MP3 4x4 truck with tipping body and crane in 1:50th scale from Conrad, decorated in the feuerwehr German fire service colours.
The front of the cab features a crisp casting with authentically shaped contours of the Actros MP3 with a chromed Mercedes Benz logo prominent in the grill. The yellow Feuerwehr name is printed across the front of the cab with plastic lenses integrated into the front bumper, complete with small amber indicator lenses on the outer sides and a protective bar and ridged panel fixed to the bottom of the bumper.
The tipping body features fold down sides which is a nice touch on the model with a large chromed fuel tank mounted to the side of the chassis. A protective bar is integrated into the rear end of the chassis with light panels, complete with painted lenses also added.
|
The new cab casting has several holes where the supplied parts need to be fitted, these include two radio aerials which are made of a flexible plastic material. The rear view mirrors and passenger side safety mirror also need adding whilst the front mounted safety mirror is already attached to the frame. |
The chromed exhaust silencer box has the Mercedes logo embossed on the front with an intricate textured surface adding to the realism. |
|
|
The tilting cab provides access to the Mercedes Benz powerplant moulding at the heart of the chassis. The front axle features functional steering with a good degree of turn, complete with authentically treaded rubber tyres and highly detailed silver wheel hubs. The accurately shaped plastic guards fitted above the rear wheels have fixing detail cast into them with good detailing of the rear suspension system visible from the underside of the model. The drivetrain is complete, from the gearbox through to the distribution box, where driveshafts travel to the front and reax axles.
The fully functioning crane is a great addition to the model, with a three stage telescoping boom and precision engineered linkages allowing it to fold within the width of the chassis. The hydraulics are stiff, allowing any pose to be presented and the updated rotating plastic hook allows a suitable load to be lifted.
The outriggers can be extended with screw down pads providing added stability for lifting poses. For those collectors who also have the MAN TGS 3-axle fire service truck with roll on/off body, the supplied log grapple will fit to the tip of the Palfinger crane, allowing alternate posing possibilities and I feel Conrad have missed a trick here by not including the grapple with the model.
The tipping body has a good amount of movement with pivoting tailgate and a yellow stripe along the length of the body, complete with the fire service phone number. The model is packaged in the familiar foam lined inner cardboard wrap with Conrad branded outer printed box and is pictured below alongside the MAN TGS fire service truck, showing the large dimensions of the rugged 4x4 chassis.
