I love that crane car Wayne and every bit of effort you put into it.
I ain't running yet but soon I'll be running to the mailbox like a little Kid waiting for this kit to hit my doorstep.
TF
web site
https://www.tichytraingroup.com/
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
SeeYou190 Having laced wire rope throught the sheaves, pulleys, and fairleads of a few 1:1 scale cranes... I'll take doing it to a model instead, but not by much. -Kevin
Having laced wire rope throught the sheaves, pulleys, and fairleads of a few 1:1 scale cranes... I'll take doing it to a model instead, but not by much.
-Kevin
Rich
Alton Junction
SeeYou190Having laced wire rope throught the sheaves, pulleys, and fairleads of a few 1:1 scale cranes... I'll take doing it to a model instead, but not by much.
While I never had to do that job, I didn't enjoy handling cables when we had to pick-up dropped hot ingots. If one of the overhead tong-cranes couldn't reach it directly, we had to "saw" a longer cable under the ingot (often just stripped, so anywhere between 1500º/2000ºF). Once the ingot was dragged (often from outside the building) to where the crane could reach it with the tongs, the cable was scrapped.
Here's a view inside the mill...
...two complete run-through tracks for trains, and two tracks, to the right and a few feet lower, for the two cable-powered buggies which delivered hot ingots (2300º/2350ºF) to the mill for rolling.Thats one of the three pit cranes hovering over the buggy tracks...they had cable-operated tongs on a stiff-legged assembly that slid within guides in the cage that's visible - the tongs could be rotated 360º.
Wayne
Living the dream.
Overmod...One note: Wayne might want to recap precisely how he makes the hold-down spring for the boom, and the sliding weather doors....
After an incident or two involving the boom cables, I decided that since all of the cranes on the layout are more suitable as "scenery", rather than cranes actually doing something, I added a simple spring, made from piano wire, to prevent the cables from going slack and jumping off their sheaves.All cranes, along with their attached boom tenders, are stored in boxes with one flip-down side, making it easy to both take them out of the box or put them back in storage.This is Walthers' American derrick, slightly modified to better ressemble several at the steel plant where I worked. It should have a reel for a magnet cable, as these cranes were often called-out when there was an in-plant derailment, with ingots or slabs needing to be picked-up
Here's the small piano wire spring at the base of the boom, which prevents the boom from flopping around and dislodging the cables from their sheaves...
The Tichy wreck crane, with a lot more cabling, was time consuming, but not too difficult to do originally. However, after an incident where pretty-well all of the cables were off the sheaves, it took much longer to correct. To prevent further such mishaps, I used a fairly long length of piano wire to keep the boom at a level suitable for travelling, with downward tension to keep the cabling tight and in its proper place. It originates inside the crane's cab, and extends out from under the cable drum...
...extending up through the boom's steelwork...
...almost to its end...
It's not especially prototypical, but at least not overly noticeable, (unless one is viewing these pictures).
The boom on this crane, which may be from Model Power (it has "Made in Austria" on its underside) is much heavier than the ones on the Tichy and Walthers cranes, so it hasn't yet had a similar de-rigging incident nor has it received a hold-down spring...
I added a few details to make it a little more North American-looking, and a little better detailed than it was originally - not bad bargain, I think, for a couple of bucks off the "used" table at a now-sadly defunct LHS (a five minute drive from here).Its boom tender was scratchbuilt on an Athearn 50' flatcar.
After a bit of research, I did learn that many (perhaps most) steam-powered cranes had on-board storage for a limited amount of coal and water, although I do have several tenders suitable for use with all of them. This accounts for the ladders on most cranes, so I added some platforms to their roofs. the Tichy cranes has moulded-on roof hatches, but I added ones to the Model Power crane, which was originally representative of a diesel-powered crane.
The doors for inclement weather slide in tracks made from Evergreen channel stock.
The platforms and hatches on the Model Power crane are even more noticeable...
PRR called the "crew car" a "camp car" as it was the base of operations for a work crew - often in a camp on a siding near the work site with camp, diner, kitchen, office, tool, and supply cars converted from boxcars and painted MOW yellow or gray. Get some old wooden boxcars, a drill, hobby knife, window and door castings and go wild -
PRR-MOW-Crew-Cars-Harrisburg-PA-6-65.jpg (777×477) (trainsarefun.com)
A guess a generic name would be "bunk car"
Later old sleepers and dining cars would be demoted to work train service as well
ALT_65DEC12_08_A-P.jpg (1024×709)
I remember being astounded by this model when it was introduced, and I still am.
One note: Wayne might want to recap precisely how he makes the hold-down spring for the boom, and the sliding weather doors.
And another note: Surely someone by now has figured out a way to either spring-load or sheave the various cables so the boom can be raised and lowered without the risk of tedious rat's-nesting and realignment. What's been done along those lines?
Thanks for the link Ed.
I downloaded it and now I have a paperless catalog in my collection
Track fiddlerI read your post Dave and will be looking for one of those Tichy catalogs.
Seek and you shall find:
https://www.tichytraingroup.com/Portals/0/Instructions/N_SCALE_CATALOG_2020_updated_ver4.pdf?ver=2020-09-08-193935-113
Good Luck, Ed
I read your post Dave and will be looking for one of those Tichy catalogs. Reading your post got my curiosity up to check out all their other kits.
As far as guitars Kevin, I still pluck on my bass. The rock star dream was left long ago in my teens as well. I think every kid had that dream for a while in their youth. I still love the hand-eye coordination playing a musical instrument as a great pastime when I'm in the mood.
Shock ControlWell, yeah, they were pretty great. Did you see the documentary? I guess it depends on the era and region you are modeling.
I am a true junkie for music documentaries.
I tried to be a musician when I was younger. A hand injury in 9th grade put an end to 9 years of intense piano training. I was proficcient on five different concert band instruments, but specialized in trumpet.
I took up the electric guitar when I was about 15, but never learned many essential abilities. By this time I was deeply into math and physics trying to become an engineer.
By the time I was 20 I was married with two daughters, so it was necessary to get a real job where the paychecks come on time.
I still love to watch anything about the music industry, and think of a dream long lost.
The HO version of the Tichy wreck crane was initially sold by Gould, and it was really a ground breaking achievement for the time. As I recall Bob Hundman of Mainline Modeler predicted that the Gould wreck crane was going to change everything about what prototype modelers would now expect to find in a plastic kit. Of course not too long after that he wrote an editorial stating that he had badly over estimated how important prototype modeling was to the hobby and that he hoped a new gardening magazine would help him stop losing money ...
I do recall reading that the Gould (now Tichy) HO wreck crane was well designed and things fit together well; not so much difficult to build as just time consuming and demanding patience.
Gould later put out an interesting USRA tank car which as it turned out, no railroad had actually purchased but it is still a great kit and great model and Tichy now sells that as well. One or two other cars in the Tichy line were initially offered by Gould; one is a flatcar if memory serves.
As I stated in another thread not long ago, if you ever have the chance to see the complete line of Tichy offerings -- or nearly complete -- as I have at Milwaukee's Trainfest, it is astounding what a prolific company they are and how massive their catalog is, in a variety of scales. They also have decals.
Dave Nelson
SeeYou190 Shock Control Does the Wrecking Crew kit include little N-scale figures of Hal Blaine, Carol Kaye, and Tommy Tedesco? If not, it should. Being from the South, we prefer The Swampers, but we acknowledge The Wrecking Crew. -Kevin
Shock Control Does the Wrecking Crew kit include little N-scale figures of Hal Blaine, Carol Kaye, and Tommy Tedesco?
If not, it should.
Being from the South, we prefer The Swampers, but we acknowledge The Wrecking Crew.
Well, yeah, they were pretty great. Did you see the documentary? I guess it depends on the era and region you are modeling. If you are modeling Muscle Shoals, you could have figures of little backup musicians sinking in the swamp. I have been looking for a good N-gauge Wurliter electric piano, but I can't find one. ;)
doctorwayneThere are a few folks that aren't overly fond of too many pictures.
A picture, especially in Model Railroading, is worth one thousand words.
Sharing my pictures, and enjoying pictures shared by others, is one of the great attractions of these forums.
Thanks, TF. I'd guess that most viewers would rather see pictures than a long-winded written-out description, although there are a few folks that aren't overly fond of too many pictures (something of which I'm sometimes guilty).
Wayne, I always like when you add your pictures into the picture at hand.
You are viewed as a Craftsman of the Elite. Now I have fine examples of the model I wish to build.
The day I thought my music scope was broad enough.
Then the next day I found out it wasn't
Thanks for the music lesson
kasskaboose Based on the photos, it appears that the cars don't have horn-hook couplers. A good sign! I don't know about Tichy being of value for my 1980s era. Are they more popular for folks modeling the 1940s-1945s? Perhaps something to investigate?!
Based on the photos, it appears that the cars don't have horn-hook couplers. A good sign! I don't know about Tichy being of value for my 1980s era. Are they more popular for folks modeling the 1940s-1945s? Perhaps something to investigate?!
Track fiddler SeeYou190 Shock Control Does the Wrecking Crew kit include little N-scale figures of Hal Blaine, Carol Kaye, and Tommy Tedesco? If not, it should. Being from the South, we prefer The Swampers, but we acknowledge The Wrecking Crew. Lost I may not be The Brightest Bulb since LEDs but I still don't get this one. If you would be kind enough to elaborate TF
SeeYou190 Shock Control Does the Wrecking Crew kit include little N-scale figures of Hal Blaine, Carol Kaye, and Tommy Tedesco? If not, it should. Being from the South, we prefer The Swampers, but we acknowledge The Wrecking Crew.
Lost
I may not be The Brightest Bulb since LEDs but I still don't get this one.
If you would be kind enough to elaborate
The Swampers (AKA Muscle Shoals Rythm Section) were the equivilent to the Wrecking Crew, but at the Fame Recording Studio in Muscle Shoals, Alabama.
They were the backup band for famous recordings by Percy Sledge, The Rolling Stones, Aretha Franklin, Bob Dylan, and so on, and so on...
Shock ControlDoes the Wrecking Crew kit include little N-scale figures of Hal Blaine, Carol Kaye, and Tommy Tedesco?
caldreamerThe wrecking train set was originally put out by Dimi Trains. Tichy Group purchased Dimi Trains. The kits are the same in a new box.
I thought this was the case. Like I said, I had the DimiTrains N scale crew car, and it looked exactly the same.
TF, send me your personal email address to my blog email and I’ll forward a Tichy special to you. melsmodelrailroad@gmail.com Mel My Model Railroad http://melvineperry.blogspot.com/ Bakersfield, California I'm beginning to realize that aging is not for wimps.
Good to see you little Timmy
Always good to see you
Thanks, now I look forward to the assembly
O M G you have to ask ???
TICHY RULES!!!
I spent 100 hours detailing the bejebers out of mine.... which turns out to be a curse. ( Somebody paid me a boatload of cash for it.)
You will love assembling those!
Rust...... It's a good thing !
First: The wrecking train set was originally put out by Dimi Trains. Tichy Group purchased Dimi Trains. The kits are the same in a new box.
Second. The wrecking trains set does not come with any figures. I would suggest that you purchase the fPreiser railroad or consturction worker set(s). They have all kinds of figures that are suitable.
Caldreamer
Track fiddler No Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. TF
Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Sammy Davis Jr. TF
Actually, the Wrecking Crew played on some of their records!
Back on topic, my first train set as a kid, which was actually my older brother's, was a Tyco/Mantua HO PRR maintenance train, with an 0-6-0 shifter & sloped tender, bunk car, gondola, floodlight caboose, derrick, and clearance check car. So I am 100% down with your wrecking crew set!
caldreamer TF: I am very familiar with the company and know the owner very well. I have the same kit that you have in N scale. The kits are plastic and quality is very good. They assemble very easily with very good instructions. I suggest that you paint the kit parts prior to assembly which is easier than trying to paint an assembled kit, espessialy the crane. If I can be of any furthur assistance please let me know. Caldreamer
TF:
I am very familiar with the company and know the owner very well. I have the same kit that you have in N scale. The kits are plastic and quality is very good. They assemble very easily with very good instructions. I suggest that you paint the kit parts prior to assembly which is easier than trying to paint an assembled kit, espessialy the crane. If I can be of any furthur assistance please let me know.
That's cool to hear you have the same one Caldreamer. Could post a picture here? I would love to see what the three part kit looks like all strung together.