PlaymoFriends
General => Report & Review => Topic started by: playmofire on January 06, 2011, 20:20:58
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I've long had my eye on the 4323 truck and trailer and managed to get one off eBay for £50 this summer, MISB. So here's a review.
First, the usual shots of the box.
Well, I thought photobucket was clumsy and long-winded, but flickr beats it hands down so I'll abandon this and go and watch tele.
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:(
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:(
Trying again this evening.
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Right, here we go again using photobucket.
I've had my eye on this set for some time, but a £70 or so it was a bit much. However, last year I got one on eBay BIN at £50 including postage after making an offer. It is a stupendous set.
First, box front and back:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Boxfront.jpg)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Boxback.jpg)
The a test to see it's working.
It is working, so now box end:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Boxend.jpg)
and then the box sides:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Boxside1.jpg)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Boxside2.jpg)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Boxside3.jpg)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Boxside4.jpg)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Boxside5.jpg)
Because of the fact that there are two vehicles to review (the truck and the trailer), there are a lot of photos, so the review will take some time.
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could anyone tell me why this set is so much money in US $90
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could anyone tell me why this set is so much money in US $90
This is about £55 in UK pounds, so it's cheaper than the original UK price
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Let's look at the truck now.
First, two showing the truck chassis:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Truckchassis2.jpg)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Truckchassis1.jpg)
and then a front view:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Front.jpg)
followed by a side on view:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Sideclosed.jpg)
and then front and rear threequarter views:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Threequarterfront.jpg)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Rearthreequarter.jpg)
and, finally, a side view with the container sides open:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Sideopen.jpg)
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After this post, I'm having a little break, so a look at the cab.
A general view of the cab from behind:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Cab1.jpg)
Note the little slot for a mobile 'phone, although there is also still the slot for a two-way radio:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Cab2.jpg)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Cab3.jpg)
Now, a view of the cab from the front, note the slot at the rear of the cab:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Bunk1.jpg)
which houses the lift out bed for the driver:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Bunk2.jpg)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Bunk3.jpg)
lastly on this post, the driver asleep with the cab roof in place:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Bunk4.jpg)
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Right, I'm back from my break and we'll look at some detail on the truck.
The cab tips forward to reveal the engine, showing radiator header tank, cylinder head with six plugs and gearbox:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/DSCF0120.jpg)
On the right side of the chassis (looking from the rear) there is a drop down cover which reveals a compressed air tank and related gear:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Compressedair.jpg)
and on the other side another drop down cover reveals a large fuel tank, the filling nozzle of which is accessible through a hole in the drop down cover so the tank can be filled with the cover in place:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Fueltank.jpg)
The final bit of detail is the TIR plate on the right hand rear of the chassis, the registration number being on the left hand rear of the chassis and taking the usual form of PM followed by the last two digits of the year of release and then the set number (you can see this clearly on the picture of the truck chassis from the rear:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/TIRplate.jpg)
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could anyone tell me why this set is so much money in US $90
Good question! The radio control unit is sold separately, so that's not a factor. Maybe they consider it being four large units at $23.00 each. The truck tractor with removeable container being the first & second units & the detachable trailer with removeable container being the third & forth units.
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Lastly, looking at the truck we'll see the process for unloading the container body.
First, the truck parked:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Sideclosed.jpg)
The support legs on the container are pulled clear:
Here's the extra photo showing the support legs in the unlocked position before being lowered. There are photos of the locking mechanism later on.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Unlocked.jpg)
Then the support legs are lowered down:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Bodydrop1.jpg)
before finally being brought in contact with the ground:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Bodydrop2.jpg)
allowing the truck to drive away:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Bodydrop3.jpg)
leaving the container standing:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Trailerbodystanding.jpg)
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Good question! The radio control unit is sold separately, so that's not a factor. Maybe they consider it being four large units at $23.00 each. The truck tractor with removeable container being the first & second units & the detachable trailer with removeable container being the third & forth units.
Maybe, but $90 is still less than £70 and the USA is 3,000 miles further from Zirndorf than the UK is, so you're getting a bargain.
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Now onto the trailer, starting with two photos of the trailer chassis:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Trailerchassisside.jpg)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Trailerchassis1.jpg)
I don't seem to have one form the rear, so I'll take one tomorrow and post it.
Now, the trailer chassis with the container on front view:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Trailerfrontthreequarter.jpg)
rear view:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Trailerrearthreequarter.jpg)
and side view:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Trailerside.jpg)
The container can be offloaded in the same way as from the truck itself.
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It's a bit of a disappointment that there is only one palette and one packing case with the set, although extras and the cage palette can be bought from DS. The container takes two palettes end on across the container, which leaves a space for other cargo. (I've got some photos of the container loaded which I'll sort out and post later next week.) An extensive set of stickers for the packing case comes with the set.
Edit: I was wrong - it takes three palettes and there is then room for two of the crates here one on top of the other:
http://playmodb.org/cgi-bin/showpart.pl?partnum=30-22-9330
See a later post for a photo.
The separate parts:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Packingcase3.jpg)
view 1 showing the stickers:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Packingcase1.jpg)
view 2 showing the stickers:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Packingcase2.jpg)
spare stickers:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Sparestickers.jpg)
Another break and then I'll finish the review.
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Beautiful pictures! Very thorough :thanks:
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Maybe, but $90 is still less than £70 and the USA is 3,000 miles further from Zirndorf than the UK is, so you're getting a bargain.
Mileage is not the issue as much as nearly $100.00 including tax for a plastic toy! I agree with Chris, that some of Playmobil's prices are a little far fetched with no justification!
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Thank you for the excellent review, Gordon! Very well done!
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Let's start summing up with a photo of the truck and trailer together:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/TruckTrailer.jpg)
Overall, I'm very pleased with the set, especially as I bought it at a good price about £20 below the standard price. It's only when you open the box that you realise just how big and impressive the set is with the striking colour scheme and impressive printing on the container sides. The steel coloured wheels are a neat detail touch, too, and will no doubt be used more on other heavy vehicles (they made a second appearance on the 4820 and 4821 fire engines). With the sleeper cabin and the detachable container there is lots of play value, especially if you also own a forklift truck for loading and unloading. As a bonus for the fire fans, the red hub caps look very smart on the new fire engines see photo later on, while with a bit of repainting the whole unit would make an excellent major incident support unit. However, the set is now discontinued, although there may still be some in the shops especially where the set is only dropped this year. If you can't find one, then just the truck is available through DS.
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Thank you for the wonderful review Gordon! Beautiful pictures! I actually have this set and its such a wonderful truck! :love: Very glad you were able to get one too! :)
Baden :wave:
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Wow! Great set! Thank you for a, as always, great detailed review Gordon! I have o tell you that I am tempted very much in getting one myself...
I believe my biggest local toy store still has a couple of these trucks... maybe...
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Thank you for the wonderful review Gordon! Beautiful pictures! I actually have this set and its such a wonderful truck! :love: Very glad you were able to get one too! :)
Baden :wave:
Thanks, Baden, it is a wonderful truck as you say. I'm trying to find some photos of it loaded up with fire brigade equipment for the move of my brigade from Copt Hewick to its new home at Scalby.
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Thanks, Baden, it is a wonderful truck as you say. I'm trying to find some photos of it loaded up with fire brigade equipment for the move of my brigade from Copt Hewick to its new home at Scalby.
Can't wait to see them then! ;D
B-W :wave:
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HI
This is a great truck that when we learned about its release we were very excited about it. We put an RC unit in it and it is a lot of fun and challenging driving it around.
I was also a bit surprised about the price but that was not going to stop me from getting it. I hope to get a few more for our sea port
Rasputin "The Mad Monk"
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great review. Thank you for sharing
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Thanks for the great review, Gordon! I agree there should be more boxes and pallettes, especially for the price!
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Super truck and a great review, Gordon! I love all the attention to detail that PM puts into it. :love: You are a lucky guy to have it in your collection. ;)
Joe
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Thank you for your kind comments folks. It is, indeed, a great set and having it out today for some more photos for this review I decided that it was a "keep for ever set".
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Here are some extra photos of the trailer unit as promised, together with photos of the locking mechanism which secures the container unit to the truck or trailer.
First, a rear view of the trailer showing the red "nudge bar" which applies the brakes and warns the driver when the trailer hits an obstruction when being reversed:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/trailerrear.jpg)
It occurred to me when photographing the trailer that a similar bar should be fitted to the truck too, but there isn't as this photo of the truck and trailer together shows. Moreover, the design of the truck chassis doesn't allow one to be fitted:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Truckandtrailer.jpg)
Notice that the trailer also has a tow hitch so that a road train of a truck with a number of trailers could be built up.
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it's a very nice truck
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Now for the locking mechanism.
The first photo shows a side view of the truck chassis - note the two holes in the central "spine" of the chassis, one at the rear and one towards the front. These accommodate the locking pegs which attach the container to the truck. The trailer chassis follows the same design.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Lockingpoints.jpg)
In this underside view of the container the central "spine" of the truck/trailer chassis slides down the central channel on the underneath of the container. Here, the support legs are pulled clear of the trailer body and the locking pins which are part of these are retracted, leaving the central channel unobstructed for the container to slide onto the chassis.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Unlocked1.jpg)
This second picture of the underside of the container shows it with the support legs pushed in as they would be to lock the container on to the chassis. The locking pins are clearly visible in the central channel and would be pushed into the holes on the central spine of the chassis, locking the container in place.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Locked1.jpg)
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To finish off, some miscellaneous photos of the truck, starting with one showing a fully laden container - three palettes plus two crates:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Fullload.jpg)
Now some photos of the truck in use for moving equipment from Copt Hewick Volunteer Fire Brigade to it's new base and organisation of the New Scalby Volunteer Fire Brigade.
First, an overall view showing the truck fully laden at one of the smaller stations. The driver is just about to fasten the sides of the truck while I am talking with my Senior Technical Officer (in the yellow reflective jacket) about the operation.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Loadingup3.jpg)
The next two shots show the cage palettes on the truck and trailer and the equipment in them - in the truck from left to right body panels, suction hose and portable pumps and in the third cage cans of foam concentrate.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Loadingup1.jpg)
On the trailer unit, from left to right we have large fire extinguishers, then a mix of more portable pumps and traffic cones and, last, reels of hose.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Loadingup2.jpg)
The last photo shows one of the fire appliances fitted with the red hub caps from this set.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/4821redhubs.jpg)
Well, that's it and thank you for taking the time to read this review and I hope you found it interesting and enjoyable. :wave:
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Thank you for the extra photos Gordon!! Great to see how much this truck can be loaded, especially with fire equipment ;) !
Now I want ont of these trucks too ;D
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Absolutely incredible review, Gordon! :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow: :wow:
I love this truck (and love it even more now) but the price has always put me off :(
Damo :)
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wow! amazing set!!!! I think I want it. I have other priorities though... but I would get it right away!
thanx Gordon
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HI
Great review Gordon , I was not familiar with the "nudge bar" that applies the brakes. In my trucks you just push you way through the obstacle :lol: I mean really, who put that thing behind me anyways ;) I also never thought about more trailers. We have a length limit here in California but I am familiar with Tractors pulling what seems like a train load (we call these Tractor Trailers here)
Thanks for taking the time to do it .
Rasputin "The Mad Monk"
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HI
Great review Gordon , I was not familiar with the "nudge bar" that applies the brakes. In my trucks you just push you way through the obstacle :lol: I mean really, who put that thing behind me anyways ;) I also never thought about more trailers. We have a length limit here in California but I am familiar with Tractors pulling what seems like a train load (we call these Tractor Trailers here)
Thanks for taking the time to do it .
Rasputin "The Mad Monk"
Thanks, Ras. I think the road train is more an Australian thing than a worldwide idea, hence length limits in some regions. Years ago a former school friend who was about 5ft 4 inches tall and slimly built decided in her early 20s that she wanted to go to Australia and, after working for a couple of years in an office there opted for a career change, earned her road train licence and then got a job in the Outback driving a road train consisting of a truck and up to 5 of these trailers!
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Excellent review of this set Gordon :)9! Thank you :thanks:!
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Thanks, Bill, Damo, Panos and everyone else for their comments.
Looking through some photos, I found the one below of a real life version of this type of truck and trailer as a comparison with the PM version. It's doesn't show much of the trailer but I'm visiting the company on Wednesday and I'll see if I can get some better shots then.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Therealthing.jpg)
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Hi
Does the real one actually have the container jacks ?
Rasputin "The Mad Monk"
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Hi
Does the real one actually have the container jacks ?
Rasputin "The Mad Monk"
Yes, but they're much finer than the PM ones. On the photo below I've put a white line round the front one on the truck.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Reviews/4323%20truck%20and%20trailer/Realthingtext.jpg)
I'll try and get some detail photos on Wednesday.
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Wonderful pictures of your truck moving your equipment. I love the pics and the stuff in the truck! ;)
Baden :wave:
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Wonderful pictures of your truck moving your equipment. I love the pics and the stuff in the truck! ;)
Baden :wave:
Thanks, Baden.
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nice bay Gordon.
this truck is on my want too have list
dutch new price is € 80,00
i have too wait a Little
tanks for the Pict's
groet Peter
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Great review Gordon.
Mad Nick
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Very nice review! ;D
Great truck, but yes, pricey. I want it tho... :(