Panasonic NV-180 (Grundig VS-120): Longplay?

Hi there, on a fleamarket I got a NV-180/VS-120 portable vcr. Cover sligtly damaged, but works fine. Some questions to those who are familiar with this vcr: This unit has 4 videoheads. When I start a longplay-prerecorded tape, a label "LP" occured in the display, sound seems to be OK, but the drum- servo does not lock-in. Failure or are the two additional video-heads only for better freeze-frame? The LC-Display has not enough contrast, when I look perpendicular on it, nearly nothing can be seen. Is this normal or what is to do?

I think, the drive mechanism is the best panasonic had ever made.

thanks