MAN TGX XXL 8x4 Prime Mover with Ballast Box
Presented here is the 1:50th scale MAN TGX XXL prime mover with ballast box from Conrad in the Bohnet company decoration. This is one of two recent releases that are painted in the Bohnet company colours, the other being the MAN TGX XXL with light duty module and Goldhoffer drop centre low loader bed with three and four axle line modules.
The model features a tilting cab revealing the engine block at the heart of the chassis. The cab's side panels have accurate panel detailing with amber warning beacons and air conditioning unit mounted to the roof and self-fit rear view mirrors with reflective lenses and yellow painted surfaces. The cab interior has been replicated and is visible through the front and side windows with plastic inserts above the cab doors, a plastic sun screen is fixed across the front of the cab with the Bohnet name printed across it. On the sample reviewed here, the company details on the cab sides are stickers however these are printed on the production models.
The front bumper has integrated driving lights with clear and amber tinted plastic lenses along with a heavy duty front towing frame with removable bar. The fifth wheel fitted to the chassis pivots and there is a towing pintle hitch fitted to the rear frame. The plastic wheel guards have some nice fixing detailing with integrated light modules and simulated rubber mud guards, complete with printed MAN logo.
|
The rear ballast box features a removable cover which is moulded to simulate a tarpaulin cover and the entire assembly can be removed from the model to reveal a functional fifth wheel coupling.
The ballast box can be interchanged with the MAN TGX with light duty module, as pictured above for an alternate look on the shelf. |
The detail behind the cab is very good with a frame containing two large tanks along with a cooling pack complete with a circular mesh guard and silver walkways with a textured surface.
|
The underside of the MAN TGX has a replicated drivetrain between the two rear axles although, due to the construction of the front two axles, the driveshaft is not modelled between the engine mounding and the driven axles. The front two axles do have working, linked steering and achieve a reasonable degree of turn. The rear axles float within the frame, simulating the suspension of the full sized truck and the tyres have a detailed tread pattern moulded into the surfaces with intricately detailed silver plastic wheel hubs.
The model is packaged in the familiar cardboard box with inner, foam lined insert. As expected from Conrad, the paint finish is excellent with crisp decal printing throughout. This is another good addition to the ever growing MAN model truck fleet and looks good in the Bohnet colours, pictured below alongside the MAN TGX supplied with the Goldhofer drop centre trailer.
