Back when I first re-entered the hobby, the modular concept was really ramping up. Folks where constructing modules with all sorts of individual themes. One that came to my mind was a powerplant scene/module. I had written,...
The power plant subject came up on another thread just recently, and that is what prompted me to look back for this posting. I just don't recall seeing a lot of good power plant scenes that might cover a broad era of their use. As I mentioned before not a lot of young folks even know where and how our electrical power comes from/is generated. I wanted to create a whole scene with the older style coal plant (with coal piles sitting along side the delivery tracks). then perhaps some ongoing construction to a portion of that plant with turbines sections (peaking and otherwise) being added to the plant. Then over the river bridges (source of cooling waters),... a nuclear plant under construction. I had (have) collected lots of various transformer delivery train cars, and lots of various style construction cranes This could be a pretty exciting scene to visit, particularly with today's multiple flashing LED lights on construction equipment. Click to expand... Click to expand...
The power plant subject came up on another thread just recently, and that is what prompted me to look back for this posting. I just don't recall seeing a lot of good power plant scenes that might cover a broad era of their use. As I mentioned before not a lot of young folks even know where and how our electrical power comes from/is generated. I wanted to create a whole scene with the older style coal plant (with coal piles sitting along side the delivery tracks). then perhaps some ongoing construction to a portion of that plant with turbines sections (peaking and otherwise) being added to the plant. Then over the river bridges (source of cooling waters),... a nuclear plant under construction. I had (have) collected lots of various transformer delivery train cars, and lots of various style construction cranes This could be a pretty exciting scene to visit, particularly with today's multiple flashing LED lights on construction equipment. Click to expand...
I began collecting lots of construction cranes. I seem to recall that a lot of them came from European sources, sold thru Walthers. I saw some modules at the Timonium show with multiple cranes involved in tall building construction, and one very impressive one with multiple tall fire fighting equipment/crane type ladders fighting a burning building (lots of flashing lights, etc). Naturally the mere height of these cranes catches our eye. So what I am seeking here is for images that other folks might have on their layouts, OR images they may have captured at a train show or a club layout,....SHOW US YOUR CRANES....
Brian
My Layout Plan
Interesting new Plan Consideration
Check out these N scale cranes I photographed at the Arctic Run Train Show in Stevens Point, WI earlier this year: https://photos.app.goo.gl/2xHdjzRuVa2pjtLw6
ROCK MILW Check out these N scale cranes I photographed at the Arctic Run Train Show in Stevens Point, WI earlier this year: https://photos.app.goo.gl/2xHdjzRuVa2pjtLw6
I saw thouse,quite impressive craftmen ship, and in Nscale
ROCK MILWCheck out these N scale cranes I photographed at the Arctic Run Train Show in Stevens Point, WI
Wow, excellent! I only have one crane on my layout, and it's an overhead I scratch built, using some parts from a Con Cor kit.
Mike.
My You Tube
Frankly, every mass produced model of a crane I have ever seen looks like garbage.
The best model crane I know of (it is actually a dragline), is the Classic Construction Models Manitowoc model 4600.
This one will set you back a couple grand.
I am so glad they never produced a model of a later 4600 with the dual Cummins diesel power, low cab, and Red & White paint.. I would be a couple thousand dollars lighter in the checkbook if they did.
And a fine-looking strapping young lad on the real thing in 1995:
-Kevin
Living the dream.
SeeYou190Frankly, every mass produced model of a crane I have ever seen looks like garbage.
I agree.
m hortonNot necessarily so, Walthers new lattice boom crane is a decent model, you can add a Sheepscot lattice boom to those Insleys made by Woodlands Scenics, or use the two kits offered by Sheepscot, they're not bad models. I personally would steer clear of that lifelike crane, but to each his own.
Hey M,
Can you add some more info regarding the cranes you mentioned? Or provide links? Sheepscot? Walthers? Insleys? Woodland Scenics? Life Like?
Thanks, Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
Walthers scene master dragline kit,#949-11006, you'll have to go to. Sheepcots web site for their offerings, I believe they have two cranes, plus the brass lattice boom kits(soldering is required), and check various web stores for the woodland scenic Insley crane, it comes as a back hoe. Oh, and custom finishing offers a cable operatored back hoe, check web sites also.mh
m hortonWalthers scene master dragline kit,#949-11006,
Still very bad.
The cab is on the wrong side for an American (country not company, but true for American Crane too) crane/dragline except for Lima. Lima was the only one I know of with the operators cab on the left side of the house. This meant all the engines used in Limas had to be left hand rotation.
The house looks kind of like a Bucyress-Erie model 88, which could be rigged as either a shovel or dragline. Like I said, the cab is on the wrong side, and all the details are wrong..
That model looks nothing like any crane I have ever seen.
Maybe someone with more crane knowledge can offer better information about what this is supposed to represent.
It looks like they took the old "Steam Shovel" model and just tossed a boom and drag bucket onto it.
I guess if you wanted to make a sub-par Z scale model of a Lima 2400-B that model could be the starting point.
KIBRI,
A German manufacturer offer numbers of very fine HO models of crane from different period.
They are exact 1/87 scale as far I'm concerned
They could be easily adapted to US model cranes
This topic pretty much highlights the basic challenge of N Scale modelling: getting the latticework light enough and spidery enough. The thick heavy models currently available are very close to that dreaded toy-like appearance.
Please note that I am not whining because of the lack of N Scale stuff, even though it might appear I am. I'm always on the lookout for new avenues to explore, especially construction equipment and over-the-road trucks and trailers. This thread has helped a little.
I saw this crane being used on the layout of the York Pa model railroad club,...
Seems to me that while it's great to keep the modeling bar high accepting reasonable facsimilies in our scenes is often part of the model railroading hobby. And 'one man's garbage is another man's treasure.'
I like my Artitec tracked crane and glad to see Sheepscot products available at the Gandy Dancer Hobbies website.
Mike, Really dig your traveling gantry crane, I had the pleasure/displeasure of operating a smaller version that was track mounted and air-motor powered.
Regards, Peter
These folks are usually at Amherst and some of the cranes are fantastic.
http://1-87vehicles.org/index.php
mostly all scratchbuilt but there are some with parts/examples for sale.
They have a list of retailers, but for the most part, these are just for display. I've tracked a few of them down.
Some of the modelers on the 1/87 site will custom build you something.
It is a great site to LOOK and get inspired for your own scratch build.
Notice that those great looking N scale cranes in a previous post, were not for sale either.
m hortonUnit and link belt and American have cabs on left side,
Those are a different style crane.
Smaller driveable or trailerable equipment (excavators, shovels, boom graders, cranes, etc) tends to have the cab on the left side.
Tracked draglines and boom cranes, except for Lima, and as far as I know have the cab on the right. Putting the cab on the left causes all kinds of engineering problems when you leave hydraulicly controlled cranes and go to braked drum operation. Lima uses left hand rotation diesel engines to get around the problems.
I suppose there would be other solutions, but I do not have any experience with them.
It amazes me how modelers that insist that locomotives must be accurate down to the headlight style and walkway tread will setlle for such low quality models of heavy equipment.
HO-VeloI like my Artitec tracked crane and glad to see Sheepscot products available at the Gandy Dancer Hobbies website.
Peter, I enlarge your image and zoomed in on the tracks. Your work on the lower assembly is remarkable. Your finish really is an amazing accomplishment of capturing the look of a well used piece of heavy equipment.
There must be a group out there that does this. A blog? Facebook?
I just did a quick search, didn't come up with anything.
I wonder if Fine Scale Models has anyone that does this?
The only construction crane I have is the one from Jordan Products, but it's not yet been built.
This overhead crane, built in the '70s, is almost entirely scratchbuilt, a composite based on several real cranes on which I worked.
Wayne
I found this picture of a small American Crane with the cab on the left side. This one is powered by a left hand rotation Detroit Diesel 4-71 engine.
Can you imagine what it would be like to spend 40 hours a week sitting three feet from a two stroke Detroit?
This is really a great pike-sized model for a layout. It could be modeled without any compression, and there does not look to be any too dificult to make details or rigging.
mbinsewi Notice that those great looking N scale cranes in a previous post, were not for sale either. Mike.
Um . . . yeah, I did notice that.
But on another, more positive note. I noticed your intermodal gantry crane. Looking good, Mike!
Robert
I have one
I never met a master styrene modeler that made me feel inferior before
The mans work was phenomenal
His display was at the big train show that only comes through St Paul about every 7 to 10 years
N scale all custom built piece-by-piece with styrene
I'm not saying I don't think I could do this but I would need a whole lot more time on my hands and a strong desire to want one to make the time
With that said I just had to appreciate this talented artist's work
TF
SeeYou190Your work on the lower assembly is remarkable. Your finish really is an amazing accomplishment of capturing the look of a well used piece of heavy equipment.
Kevin, Can't take credit for the Artitec RTR crane's superb 'out of the box' weathering job and have little knowledge as to it's prototypical accuracy. There's certainly advantage to "model what ya' know."
Thanks & regards, Peter
Menards has some HO scale construction cranes. I have one of the large towe cable excavators on the layout.
https://www.menards.com/main/search.html?search=HO+scale+diecast&page=2
Neal
Thanks for the compliment, Peter.
This is the kit that started it off:
I also have two of the Walthers powered American crane cars, and I found a package of lattice crane boom sections on Ebay.
Not sure what I will build, but I just had to have them:
Neal, that Menards crane is pretty close to a Liebherr crane, maybe something in the 800 to 1200 series.
NJ International makes crane boom flatcar loads.
https://www.walthers.com/crane-boom-section-freight-load-kit-pkg-5-each-section-6-1-2-x-1-x-3-4-quot-empty
How useful they'd be to actually make a crane boom I have no idea. I thought Plastruct made some too but cannot seem to find them.
I believe the various Kibri offerings are Liebherr prototypes.
Dave Nelson
Dave, the kit you linked to is what I have in my post. I haven't figured out what I'm going to build yet.
Out of the package, they look very good.
I think there are a few cranes at this show...
http://www.p-kun.com/gallery/topics/shizuoka2008/show2008-2.html
...including this particular one that can ride the rails...
Kibri made a model of this one, #16000
I have one, along with a somewhat similar model on road tires.... Kibri 10130
Mike,i like the looks of that yellow crane of yours. I have something like it,...a Vollmer HO #5625,...never built...
.....looks like it is no longer available?