Volvo FH16.520 8x4 with Nooteboom Euro low loader

Built in order

I built this model in 1997 on request of Nooteboom Trailers B.V. in Wychen NL. A few years ago I sent some pictures of LEGO-models to this company and then they asked me to borrow one of those models. They wanted to show it on their stand during the European Road Transport Show in Amsterdam. Unfortunately I already broke of this model. In that period Nooteboom brought out a new type of trailer on the market, the so called Interdolly^®. They thought it was a good idea to build such a trailer on scale and I agreed. They made some conditions and I did the same to them and so I started to build a Volvo FH16 with a 7-axle low loader of Van Santen Transport, a Dutch hauler.

The LEGO-model

The tractor was not too difficult to build. The chassis was ready in no time as well as the engine and the driver's cab. The tractor has an 8x4 configuration. Both front axles are steered and the boogie is driven. The driver's cab can be tilted and you can open the front grille. Futher the tractor is supplied with a fuel tank on the chassis at the back of the cab with a spare wheel above it, width shields and working flashing lights on top of the roof. When I had built this Volvo, the real one didn't exist. This one was still in progress in the factory and would be delivered in July 1998. My model is from 1997. It was all about the low loader. From Nooteboom Trailers I received the information necessairy like chassis drawings and pictures. By coincidence the real trailer was just ready to be delivered when I took a visit at Nooteboom Trailers. During my visit the hauler would collect the trailer but unfortunately that was cancelled by some reasons. At the delivery the Nooteboom engineers gives a demonstration how to operate the trailer so the driver knows how everything works. In that case I could take a lot of pictures but that was a pitty. I have already made a similar trailer but I never made the so called Interdolly^®. The Interdolly^® is the 2-liner between the gooseneck and the floor of the trailer. Thanks to the Interdolly^® a heavier load can be carried with a similar vehicle. B.t.w., the Interdolly^® can be removed easily when the truck only has to carry a small machine. The Interdolly^® has four steered axles. Two pneumatic cylinders brings them into movement with steering beams. The five-axle module has also steered axles (all of them). The floor can be separated and replaced by another floor, e.g. a 'Baggerbrücke' for the haulage of silos. My model has a small floor, the so called 'spine floor', which can be extended very easy. The carriage is a CAT 375ME excavator. This machine is also built from LEGOs.
This model was in a show case on the stand during the European Road Transport Show in 1998. My friend Ron Jansen also gave a model at one's disposal to be show on the stand of Nooteboom Trailers. Especially for our models Nooteboom made two large showcases in which the models suited very well. Both showcases where 2.5 metres in length and were supplied with a large mirror on which we placed our models. Then people could also see the underside of the LEGO-models. It was guaranteed for a great deal of attention and Nooteboom was very satisfied with the results. A camera crew of a Dutch car magazine made a two-volume registration of the event. I was also very pleased when I saw my model on TV! I think that's a big compliment on your work. Unfortunately for Nooteboom their own products where not to be seen on the TV :)

Other data

Length:	215 cm
Width:	26.7 cm
Height:	33 cm
Wheelbase:	31.8 cm
Construction:	three months (load incl.)
Date:	November 1997 to January 1998

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