Another Gantry Crane!

Nice !

Very nice. It reminds me of the Bethlehem Steel Ore bridge.

Neville:

The crane is shaping up to be GREAT! Keep us posted on its progress. Also, I miss seeing photos of your layout. I was part of your BRHRR Yahoo group and enjoyed your layout photos as well as those of your operating sessions.

Looks great! Looking forward to more pics.

Malcolm

OK A story. Lets start at the beginning.

At the present time my two operators are away so there is no train running for about ten days during these times I try to "treat" myself to a project that I want to do, not to benefit the operation of the layout, this is my treat to myself. The gantry crane I originally built for the Highline never really got me excited, something about it I didn't like and I thought one day I am going to build another crane that fits into the scene better this is what I am doing now. So follow along with me and lets see if second time is better.

The photos today are 1. The crane that is being replaced.

2. The trackwork Modification..... needed to fit the new crane in place (this is maybe why I did not change the crane before because that track happens to be the slag track for the furnace and is used a lot during an operations day) so with the Furnace cold this is the time to do these modifications!

So today's job is to lift that siding and move the last part of the track over I don't think I will ever finish this Railroad. 

Stay with us and thanks to all you guys for the kind remarks and Randy I remember you now from the "old" days. Roo.

I'm feeling lonely with all these O Scale Meets, stuck in the workshop by myself at least I have you guys to talk to.....Guys... guys????

Anyway back to reality, things are moving along at a steady pace I had to remove the Blower house and some parts of the Furnace so I could work in the area the first photo shows everything about the crane will fit so I can put the crane together the second photo shows some of the track supports had to be fabricated to swing the track across. I have never glued any of the furnace and related parts down to the baseboard or together in anticipation that something like this might happen. When I am satisfied with the whole thing I will do that then and blend everything into the scenery. I am going to weather everything one day and I will have to dismantle some of the furnace to do this . Did I tell you I am going to live to 150 years! Ha Ha. Roo.

Roo, you're moving along at quite a pace.  Do you move so quickly when you're on a walk?  If the old gantry isn't being salvaged for parts and needs a new home you can always ship it stateside.  Even though it never excited you it is a marvelous bit of construction.

Roo posted:

I'm feeling lonely with all these O Scale Meets, stuck in the workshop by myself at least I have you guys to talk to.....Guys... guys????

Anyway back to reality, things are moving along at a steady pace I had to remove the Blower house and some parts of the Furnace so I could work in the area the first photo shows everything about the crane will fit so I can put the crane together the second photo shows some of the track supports had to be fabricated to swing the track across. I have never glued any of the furnace and related parts down to the baseboard or together in anticipation that something like this might happen. When I am satisfied with the whole thing I will do that then and blend everything into the scenery. I am going to weather everything one day and I will have to dismantle some of the furnace to do this . Did I tell you I am going to live to 150 years! Ha Ha. Roo.

 

 

Neville:

Your progress is looking to be quite good. Keep the photos coming.

I'm getting close to some photos, building stairs for the crane at the moment, a fiddly time consuming job but it's worth it maybe show you the stairs as I build it might give someone an idea and I'm sure there are younger blokes out there that could do a better job than me I'm not shaky yet but my eyes are not as good as they were. Still with plenty of light and magnifying glasses usually fixes that!  Roo.

Some photos of the stairs and platforms needed. More later, while the glue dries I'm track laying.  Roo.

It doesn't look much for almost a weeks work but the good news is everything now fits and there is plenty of clearance between the Blower house and the Furnace Oven pipework. I did have to move the rails the crane runs on and the slag track which in turn meant I had to widen the roadbed and of course the piece of pine that supports the inner rail for the crane that had to be cut down by hand to level the crane but I am happy to see it in place everything level and everything clears so now to finish it all off before the boys get here next Friday I won't say nothing and see if they notice the changes. Ha Ha. More soon when it's all finished and painted. Roo.

Roo it's coming along very nicely!

Thanks mate.

Here are a couple more photos. The stage I'm up to is, I have finished all the work at the Highline and it is now ready for the crane to be delivered at the same time while tidying up the Highline I went around the other side of the Blower house and built a small maintenance crossing for road vehicles nothing fancy just dirt as it does not get used very much. A O Scale Steel Mill model could be a lifetime work there is no end to the details it just seems to go forever.

The other photo shows the crane and the work platform now installed,it's all just sitting there waiting for the glue to dry. Roo.  

Ready for paint!

The white styrene in the photo (disregard the old codger holding it) shows the modifications needed to turn it into an O scale crane.

Roo.

Looks great Roo!

Your work is unbelievable! Great job.

That is a GREAT photo of both you and the Gantry!

Roo posted:

Here are a couple more photos. The stage I'm up to is, I have finished all the work at the Highline and it is now ready for the crane to be delivered at the same time while tidying up the Highline I went around the other side of the Blower house and built a small maintenance crossing for road vehicles nothing fancy just dirt as it does not get used very much. A O Scale Steel Mill model could be a lifetime work there is no end to the details it just seems to go forever.

The other photo shows the crane and the work platform now installed,it's all just sitting there waiting for the glue to dry. Roo.  

Neville:

Your modeling is second to none!

Thank you all your a great bunch of blokes.

The crane is now in Red Oxide PRIMER the final colour I have not decided yet. I have placed some O scale figures on the crane to give you an idea of the change from HO to O scale I have the Control cab and the trolley to finish which should not take long I think it is an improvement on my first effort I am happy with it.

I am both happy it's finished and sad that I won't be working on it anymore I really enjoyed this project. Roo. 

The gantry and the old codger both look first rate.  It's amazing how one project seems to always involve a change to the existing so that it will fit in. 

Roo posted:

Ready for paint!

The white styrene in the photo (disregard the old codger holding it) shows the modifications needed to turn it into an O scale crane.

Roo.

That sure gives an idea of the size of the gantry, it is much larger than I thought. Great work. Too bad the your layout is so faaaaar away, I would like to be able to visit. Oh well. one can dream.

You might win the lottery Dave! Roo.

I built the trolley and the control cab both separately till I decide what colour it's going to be at the moment the trolley can be removed when the control cab is glued to it it's there forever. Thanks everyone it's been a fun model. You will probably see it one day in other photos in the future.  Roo.