Superior SPX960 Pipelayer
Presented here is the 1:50th scale Superior SPX960 pipelayer model which has been produced by Ros. The SPX960 is the largest machine in the Superior range with an operating weight of 61 ton and a maximum load capacity of 96 ton. The machine is powered by a Caterpillar C13 ACERT Tier 3 engine delivering 460hp.
The main cabin is of an open ROPS design with the operators seat and controls all modelled. Small printed safety and warning labels have been applied which really adds to the realism while authentically scaled grab rails are present around the cabin area.
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Access to the cabin is provided at the rear side with a ladder and platform which has a textured anti-slip surface. The rear fitted drawbar has a detachable pin allowing the pipelayer to tow other types of pipelaying equipment and it would be good to see Ros follow up with a Superior pipe bending machine.
A platform is mounted along the side of the engine compartment where two of the engine panels open up to reveal the modelled and decorated interior. the surface cast detailing is good with crisp printing of the machine's designation while the interior components are all present, with the panels having a slightly tensioned hinge which allows them to stay open. |
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The rear of the ROPS frame has a plastic moulded protective screen which looks good. |
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The front grille has very crisply cast dimples with protective guards protecting the light housings while the front frame has a red printed chevron pattern and off-side mirror.
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The counterbalance system consists of a hydraulically extending frame to which heavy weights are attached, keeping the machine balanced
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The model is supplied with two different sizes of weight already attached to the mechanism with a small spare weight block included in the box. To detach the weights, a small friction fit pin needs to be removed, allowing the block to slide off the frame |
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The hook has reasonable detail while the shieve block is attached to the A-frame with pins, allowing it to pivot. |
Two winches are fitted to the model, both using a winding key to operate the drum and wind the rope. The uppermost winch controls the boom and this works relatively smoothly with the boom having enough weight to move on its own. The shieves are plastic but the rope slides well.
The lowermost winch controls the hook block which, on the sample reviewed here, had been reeved incorrectly so the rope crossed. This was a simple thing to fix, re-reeving the rope over the shieves and tying off at the fixing point. Unfortunately, there is not enough rope on the lower winch to lower the hook all the way down to the ground and while the A-frame has a metal loop which is perfect for connecting the hook when not lifting, it will not lower enough to connect up. This could be fixed by removing the supplied rope and re-reeving with more slightly thinner rope. |
The range of movement of the A-frame is very good, almost achieving a horizontal position before the rope runs out. The track frames are convincingly detailed with tensioned idler wheels keeping the individually linked tracks taut. The grouser detailing on the track pads is very good and they rotate smoothly, finished with small printed markings.
The quality of the paint finish is very high with an even coat allowing the surface detailing to show through while the various printed markings are crisply applied. The Superior manufacturing company produce a number of interesting machines for the pipeline sector and it will be interesting to see if further models are produced from their range, particularly a pipe bending machine or a padding machine.
