24-30 Plant Feature.indd - Miniature Construction World

TRUCKS AND PLANT SPALDING SHOWThree versions of the MAN TGX 8x4heavy haulage tractor from NZG.The Goldhofer six-axle STZ-H6extending semi-trailer with MANTGX tractor unit from Conrad.Model Trucksand ConstructionMike Forbes andSteven Downesreport from thisyear’s SpaldingModel Truck &Construction showfor those who werenot able to make it....The two-axle TGXwith the latestversion of theMercedes-BenzActros tractorunit from NZG.Therewere lotsof newmodels ondisplay, includingmany fresh from theNuremberg Toyfair,for visitors to havea closer look at, aswell as collectors andmodellers with their own models on show– and there were some great dioramas tosee – plus plenty of traders offering modelsfor sale.Unfortunately, the show was hamperedby bad weather, snowfall on the Sundaymorning making travelling conditionsdifficult, which resulted in a lower thanexpected number of visitors on the day. Forthose that turned up, there were plenty ofnew and interesting models on display. Forthose who were not able to get there, hereis a run-down of what there was to see...Fresh from NurembergNZG recently announced its new rangeof MAN trucks and several examples ofthese were displayed, consisting of a twoaxleTGX V8 in black, a threeaxleTGX 6x4 with NooteboomPendel X trailer in an Anthracitecolour scheme and three versionsof the TGX 8x4 heavy haulageprime mover, including an orangeR6 version with rear tank anda chrome and company liveriedversion of the V8 version with rear mountedMAN HAKwith Atlasskip body.SHOW REPORTDisplaying their enthusiasmEach year, there are more displays bycollectors and modellers of their modelfleets. The standard of modelling andpresentation has been universally high.We have seen some of the models atprevious truck and plant shows and itwas good to have a the opportunity ofanother look at them, while there weremany that have not been seen before.The exhibitors came from all over theAbove Part of the display of TWH and SwordModels on Steve Bates’ trade stand.Left Foden S70 in Metropolitan Water Board livery.UK, from the North of Scotland to the SouthCoast.Both halls at Spalding’s SpringfieldsExhibition Centre were in use, thesmaller hall containing a large ‘play-pen’demonstration area, for the radio-controlledmodel truck enthusiasts to operate theirlarge-scale vehicles. Complete with realisticsound systems, they manoeuvred aroundeach other, as well as escaping to ‘drive’around both halls from time to time...A large display, including a depot and aquarry, was mounted by Ian Maclean fromnear Inverness, with a whole fleet of 1/50scale vehicles in Wimpey livery, mainly cleverconversions of various diecast models. Itwas interesting to work out the origins of allthese trucks and the parts used to convertLeft and below Two views of Ian Maclean’slarge display of 1/50 scale vehicles inWimpey livery, mainly clever conversions ofdifferent diecast models.24DIECAST COLLECTOR May 2010May 2010 DIECAST COLLECTOR25

TRUCKS AND PLANT SPALDING SHOWcooling pack, functional steering of thefront two axles, fifth wheel coupling andfront bumper mounted towing bar withdetachable cover.New MAN models fromConrad include the‘oldtimer’ HAK15.200 two-axletruck with Atlasskip bodyfeaturing anopeningbonnet,detailedcab andremovableskip and atwo-axle TGSM tipper truck with detachable gritter boxand snowplough with fold down sides onthe tipping body and roof mounted warningbeacons.The Goldhofer six-axle STZ-H6 extendingsemi-trailer from Conrad featuresdetachable loading ramps that can bestored in the compartment under the traileralong with functional steering of the traileraxles, two of which can be raised off theground, just as on the full sized trailer. Themodel is supplied with a MAN TGX XXL SLTprime mover which has working steeringof the front two axles and a detailed reartank and cooling system, complete withsmall fan and metal housing and tilting cabrevealing the engine beneath. The MAN TGXis also the prime mover supplied with theGoldhofer vessel bed trailer which can beconfigured in a number of different optionswith the supplied parts, allowing both widthand length extension with plastic deckpanels and detachable gooseneck.For construction fans, the exceptional1/50 scale Liebherr LTM11200-9.1 mobilecrane from NZG was displayed to itsfull height, which makes an impressivesight, with exceptional levels of detailingThe 1/50 scale LiebherrLTM11200-9.1 mobile cranefrom NZG was displayed toits full height at the show.New Hollandbackhoe-loaderand wheel loaderfrom NZG.MAN with snowplough and grittingequipment from Conrad.Liebherr R944C tunnellingexcavator from NZG.Above and right Just some of the manymodels displayed by members of the NorthEast Diecast Collectors Club.them to represent vehicles once in theWimpey fleet.Les Edwards, a local modeller, whose 1/76scale conversions have often featured inour letters pages, had a number on display,with fleets from London Brick, Marston Brick,Blue Circle, plus a variety of tippers, usingRoadscale, Langley, Marquis and other parts,to convert EFE and other models to his ownspecifications.Stan Walton, Ray Mackay Senior and Juniorand Andrew Chadwick from the North EastDiecast Collectors Club had a whole rangeof their excellent handiwork on display,including ice cream vans, as seen in lastmonth’s letters pages, recovery vehicles,fairground vehicles, Leggetts Freightwaysand Dinky Supertoys conversions.Robbie Holmes also of Northern Scotlandhad a wide-ranging and spectacular display,which won him First Prize for the Best Table.As well as forestry, scrapyard and garagedioramas, he had a depot display, featuringmodels of the vehicles of D Steven & Sonof Wick, as well as a model of the Northlinkferry to the Orkneys, with trucks re-finishedin the liveries of Oban Express, Northwards,Macaskill and other operators serving theNorth of Scotland and the Isles, all in 1/50scale.Winner of the second prize was BruceRalston from East Sussex, with a finedisplay of 1/50 scale plant, including Euclid,Left and below Excellent fun fair transportin miniature from Ray Mackay Junior.26DIECAST COLLECTOR May 2010May 2010 DIECAST COLLECTOR27

TRUCKS AND PLANT SPALDING SHOWthroughout, including independent steering ofall nine axles and working X-pattern extendingoutriggers, with plates that pin onto the mainscrew down jacks. Even the crane mats aresupplied in the box, which is great to see. Theseven-section telescopic boom is very heavy,with a fully replicated boom raising mechanismand Y-guying system which can befully deployed to give a height of2.5 metres when used with thesupplied lattice jib.The new version of the Liebherr630EC-H40 tower crane fromConrad, the largest 1/50 scale towercrane so far produced was on display andfeatures new pennant lines to prevent the jibfrom drooping which was noticeable on theprevious version. Each lattice mast sectionhas an integral platform and access ladder,complete with safety cage and photo-etchedwalkways have been added along the entirelength of the jib. The model can be configuredwith single or double lifting block and thetrolley traverses smoothly along the jib.Above Liebherr LB28 drilling rig fromNZG.Below Norscot’s Caterpillar G3516Gas Engine.Right Cat AP655D paver with canopyfrom Norscot.Dieci Pegasus 50.21tele-handler from Ros.The new range of NewHolland models looks veryimpressive, consisting of theexceptionally detailed B115Bbackhoe loader, which is the mostrealistic-looking backhoe I have seenin 1/50 scale with all the hydraulic linesreplicated along with working steering ofboth axles and fully- functional front andrear digging equipment. Joining the backhoeis the W170B wheel loader and both areproduced by NZG. The three ‘first metal’prototypes of the E215B tracked excavatorfrom Motorart were also displayed andhave some interesting boom options.Liebherr is expected to release a raft ofnew models this year and three from NZGwere on display during the day, includingthe RL64 pipe layer, which features metallinked tracks, a working boom with hookblock and detachable counterweights fittedto the side-mounted balancing arm. TheR944C tunnelling excavator (supplied withboth road header cutting attachment androck pick) has captured the movementRTG RG21T tracked pilinghammer from Bymo.and functionality of the full-sized machineperfectly and is another surprise releasefrom NZG, which demonstrates the fantasticlevels of detail which are now possible ona 1/50 scale model. The LB28 dedicatedBelow Some of Les Edwards’ 1/76 scale lorries.Right Robby Holmes’ forestry diorama.Terex and Caterpillar models, includingdevelopments and conversions of standardmodels, incorporating a high level ofadditional detailing.Other plant on show included RoddyTurner’s dragline in 1/76 scale, which stilldwarfs its operator as he sits and controlsthe model machine, just like the real thing.There were also Paul Jones’ workingMeccano models of a dumptruck and loader,a large-scale steam wagon in the livery ofthe legendary Davis Bros company, and lotsof hand-built, kit-built and converted modelsof trucks and lorries in many scales, from1/76 to 1/24. One stand had a mix of scales,which made an interesting display, whileothers ranged from the Emhar Bedford ‘O’kits, built and finished in a range of differentliveries, to something like 60 different CorgiClassics tankers – did you know there werethat many in the range?Everywhere, the enthusiasm andknowledge of the collectors and modellerswas apparent, with discussions going onwith visitors about the details to be seen andenjoyed.There were also plenty of models for saleas well, with traders putting on specialdisplays of model trucks and plant, as wellTrucks re-finished in Scottish liverieson Robbie Holmes’ Northlink Ferry.Some of Bruce Ralston’s Terex plant models.28DIECAST COLLECTOR May 2010May 2010 DIECAST COLLECTOR29

TRUCKS AND PLANT SPALDING SHOWAtlas AS300 tandemdrum roller from NZG istiny in 1/50 scale.Liebherr A924C wheeledexcavator in G Mesken livery.drilling rig is another good release fromNZG with poseable boom, adjustable drillingauger and Kelly bar and extending trackframes with metal linked tracks.Norscot has unveiled its new range ofCaterpillar tracked and wheeled paversand a sample of the AP655D tracked paverwith canopy was displayed, featuring anextending screed, rotating rubber tracks andtipping hopper sides. Another recent releaseLiebherr LR634 tracked loader in Heffner livery.from Norscot is a highly detailed 1/25 scalereplica of the Cat G3516 Gas Engine.Other models on display included thetiny 1/50 scale Atlas AS300 tandem drumroller from NZG, the 360 degree rotatingDieci Pegasus 50.21 tele-handler from Ros,with both personnel basket and liftingjib, and the new RTG RG21T trackedpiling hammer from Bymo, while severalcompany liveried models were also shown,including the Liebherr L586 wheel loaderin Vinci decoration, the Liebherr LR634tracked loader in Heffner decoration andthe Liebherr A924C wheeled excavator inG.Mesken decoration. DCRight Roddy Turner operates his 1/76 scaledragline excavator.Below How many Corgi tankers can you see?as specialised dealers in photographs andliterature, including brochures and books.Outside, for those who braved theweather, there was an AEC Matadorrecovery vehicle in the livery of theWestern Welsh bus company, a Foden S70heavy haulage unit in Metropolitan WaterBoard livery and a Peter Brotherhoodmaderoller on display, in addition to theCommer in the main hall.It was a shame that the weather keptsome enthusiasts away. Hopefully, ourreport will help to make up, as well asencouraging you to make the tripnext year. If you like trucks or plant, youwon’t be disappointed...30DIECAST COLLECTOR May 2010