People who have seen posts or youtube of my rather oddball crawlspace layout (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8y5TGxR8Hb8) know that I incorporated a 15 x 5 foot original section into the new layout after moving. However, in the old room I had access to both sides of the 5 foot wide panel. In the new room I had to place this up against the wall.......making access to the far side difficult.
Having seen topside crawlers (originally used for work under the hood of high pickup trucks etc.) advertised in rail mags for $250 or so, and needing a low long version (oddly low because of the low height of my benchwork) I had to make my own.
I had the wheels on hand. Just needed angle iron and a few drill bits and nuts and bolts. Fellows over at the metal yard cut all the iron to length when I bought it.
Painted up tuscan red.....I needed the outriggers because the bottom rails had a tendancy to bend in under weight.....because I could not place a brace across the front of them......I needed them to fit around a leg of the benchwork here and there.
Comfy top.
Didn't know if I actually had the physics correct and didn't know if it would actually work.....so I called a rather corpulent friend over to give it a test drive.....success! That's over 200 lbs easily on the end. Shocking how friends can let themselves go, eh? Well if it will hold that weight in that position it would have no trouble with me leaning out along the top.....and it doesn't.
Works well. Now I can work on making that backdrop blend better.
Nice! And well engineered.
For use on my layout the platform height would have to be adjustable - but I don't have any reach problems (yet) with my comparatively narrow modeling zones.
[Steel trestles? Last time I looked the high bridge was an arch and the low bridge was a through truss...]
Chuck (Bridge rivet counter modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - with lots of bridges, but no trestles)
Metalwork is outstanding, but your Photoshop technique could use a few lessons.
Dave
Lackawanna Route of the Phoebe Snow
In that test picture of Cisco Kid's Creeper,
Is that who I think it is ?
Who is that ?
I think, I think it is..................
No it can't be,
But yet, yeah, it could be, I think it is,
Can it be ?
Do you really think it is ?
Yes ,Yes it is, I am sure now,
YES, it is ALFRED E. NEWMAN.
Nice work Cisco. That is one fine looking creeper.
Johnboy out.............................( for those who remember "Mad Comics")
from Saskatchewan, in the Great White North..
We have met the enemy, and he is us............ (Pogo)
Nice job and no welding needed. I built mine from 1x4 oak and made the top height adjustable. I just need to find a place to store it?
-Bob
Life is what happens while you are making other plans!