Fork Lift

You mean this goofy undersized thing? ...

Woodland Scenics

Yeah, the Arttista looks better, Except the steering wheel looks too high, to me.

Nice job on the weathering, Steve.

Why didn't you start the showcase with this?

It has been a long time since the overhead guard became required in this country.  It took me a minute to figure out what was different. The little truck is typical of an early battery powered warehouse truck.  Very nice details. As many lift trucks as there are in this country, it is hard to believe there are not more models of them.

Great job SIRT. I always wondered why no one came up with some nice vintage style forklifts.

Very nice Steve...and I like the scene very much too!!

Alan

Just bought a JOAL CAT 1:50 scale on ebay that looks real nice!

Steve, you are the master at weathering

Didn't OST have an article on how to turn one of the newer looking forklifts models into an older variety?  I did the conversion and it turned out fine, easy to do.

Steve,

Nice work!

Looks great.

Really nice work here on that thing and again kudos on your weathering and detail work.

The paint chips on the front of the mast and the scuffed / scraped paint on the rear corners look right on!

One thing to keep in mind on forklifts, the forks will always be nice and shiny and polished.  They are continuously rubbing against the top and bottom runners and the side stringers in a pallet, which keeps them pretty clean and polished.

Nice job, Steve!

That looks great!...Nice job.

Chris

I love the Artista kit you have done.  A bit more detailed than the Woodland Scenics one I have (although that is a nice one, too).  I love how you weathered and banged it up a bit - never seen a real working forklift that didn't have a few bumps and bruises!

Your lift looks great, steve.    I couldn't justify the cash for the kit, so i've tried making them from scraps on the modeling bench.  It's easier than it sounds, look:

Here's a more recent version, that like most things i build, is about 90% done.

Literally, they were both made from scraps of bass wood, styrene straight and quarter round strips, some scrap brass, and wood furniture pegs cut for tires.  Save your money and make them yourself, If i can do it......

nick

Now we're talking!   Fabulous work, Nick. Thanks for taking the time to document the step-by-step.  So many people (including some fabulous craftspersons) are afraid to take the last step in the hobby, and they are missing the best part.  Postings like yours that show how it's done encourage more folks to give it a try.

I have huge respect for our wonderful commercial kit-makers.  But those who make the effort to try true scratchbuilding will never regret it. Knowing that stuff on your layout can be found nowhere else is a special treat. Rather than having your guests say "Oh, you have one of those." it is a lot more satisfying to hear "You made that?" 

thanks, pete, that's very kind to say.  Don't put our kit making friends down though.  I build kits too!  Sometimes i just look at something and it seems obvious how to model it.  That doesn't happen nearly as often as i'd like.   But, in my late teens i had a lot of first hand experience with fork lifts, so it just made sense to me in this case. 

Thanks again for the kind words.

nick

Absolutely not!  I hope I made that clear. Kitmaking is an important part of the equation, and I am in awe at the artistry that can be found in the kit market. And, the skills involved in taking a kit and "making it your own" are not to be sneezed at.  But, as you said, many people just assume that scratchbuilding is beyond them.  I hope that your work is an inspiration to them.

I supervised a dock for 12 yrs,  dont matter whether you buy or kit make,

Steve, :

Those are the doggonest looking trailer nicks and scrapes, on the lift,

that can be imagined ,  !!! looks good !