Airfix Crane

[Algae]

I recently bought an Airfix crane with the idea of modifying it to represent a piece of subway MOW equipment. Besides the obvious changes like removing the buffers (which I thought would be ideal as jacking pads for outriggers) and installing standard couplers, does anyone have any other suggestions?

I'm guessing that the prototype had diesel-hydraulic propulsion, but a set of third-rail shoes would look good on hose side-frames...

[dknelson]

My goodness I have not seen an Airfix model of any kind in many years, and I am not sure I ever saw this crane model before.  Thus I do not know if it is an original Airfix product or one they brought over from the olde Kitmaster line.  Airfix has since left the model train business although they are still around.

Whether Airfix or Kitmaster there is a chance that there is collector's value to an unmodified product -- but my own view is that models are meant to be used as models and not as bartering chips so go ahead and modify.  Those fascinating trucks have some resemblance to things you see in some purpose built rail equipment intended for the steel mill industry (even some electric locomotives that served coke processing plants had trucks that looked a bit like that). 

My only thought or concern about your project is -- does your subway line have clearance standards and would this crane meet them?  If it is in fact OO scale 1:76 model to run on HO track, even the small British prototypes could still mean a model that would be bulky.  The subway crane cars I see on Google Images all look purpose-built with an overall outline (with the boom down) that is like that of a subway car.  It may be necessary to make the crane snuggle down closer to the rails with smaller trucks and wheels than we see in the boxcover drawing.

Dave Nelson

[Algae]

Yes, it's original; and it's part of a collection that I bought at about 1/3 of what the going prices on ebay are, so I don't feel the least bit of compunction about actually building it.

There's plenty of clearance through the tunnels, as my "subway" cars are a mix of Bachmann PCCs and Rivarossi coaches shortened to about 60' (by the removal of the washroom area) and mounted onto 4-wheel trucks. (Sort of like Cleveland mixed with the New York electrified commuter lines.)

Another thought that I had was to split the boom in two half-way along its length and hing it to fold back along itself for travelling.

* * *

While browsing through some British forms that mentionthis crane, I found that apparently this particular prototype was likely an export unit, as almost all of these cranes that were constructed for domestic (UK) use were on 8-wheel rigid frames.

[BroadwayLion]

That boom will present problems in your subway tunnels. NYCT does have cranes, but the boom is rather short and of course they use a flat car under the boom. NYCT cranes are not self propelled, they will be pulled or pushed either by a diesel locomotive, or possibly an electric locomotive. They are of little use in the tunnels, but may need to transverse a tunnel to get to some out door place where they are needed.

Here is an NYCT crane car...

Remember that that boom represents some terrific overhang issues, and may not even clear elevated ROWS. NYCT is likely to hire a street crane for such work rather than use their own.

Show the LION pictures of your railroad. Him loves subways. He thinks the passengers taste like chicken.

ROAR

[dstarr]

Glaze the windows.  Give it wire grab irons. Give it a good paint job.  Weight it up the NMRA standards.  Add lights.  Cranes often had a couple of flood lights on the boom end to make operation in poor lighting conditions a little safer.   A crane train would have an idler flat car under the boom, a flat car with spare ties to block up the outriggers,  a gondola with rail for track repair, a flat with extra trucks to place under derailed rolling stock, a box or baggage car full of tools and gear, an ancient diner to feed the crew.