New Project Hulett Loader updated photos August 30, 2015

Alan makes magic. He is a gifted artist.

FrankM.

I'm concurring with everyone; this is an awesome project and a wonderful piece of craftmanship! Thanks for letting us look over your shoulder, Alan.

Alan,

I am really enjoying this project!

Dave

This is a very unusual and spectacular new project, Alan.

Boy, I'll bet you'll have some hours invested in that project.

Thank you for all the nice comments fellas. Here are a few pictures of the platform completion on the main structure. I will now be constructing the actual loading machine.

Alan Graziano

Just amazing Alan. Well done.

Beautiful work Alan

Joe

Very nice, looking forward to seeing the progress, and the completed project.

Don

Terrific work, Alan! I find the fact that the operator of a Hullett is sitting on the dipper utterly amazing. Every day at work would be like being on a amusement park ride. And they don't even have a door... they have to climb into a window (which would limit the girth of a Hullett operator, I would imagine). I was also surprised about how they get the last bits of ore out of the hold. They lower a front end loader into the hold by grabbing it with the bucket and then a bunch of guys push the rest into piles with brooms. I must take hours to unload one of those ore carriers. I wonder how many front end loaders have plummeted to their deaths by falling out of the bucket's grip?

Great great work! never seen so real!

J'aime beaucoup!

A french modeller who will follow this topic with big interest! 

This is truly amazing!

Alan that is amazing, you're a true craftsman !!!!!!!

Alex

Alan,

    Great stuff no doubt about it, your talents are amazing!

PCRR/Dave

Unbelievable, surely a master craftsman at work. This is a must see when finished.

Jack

I completed the main frame and painted it. I started on the actual loader as seen in the pictures. I am now seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

Alan Graziano

Alan, this is an amazing project. 

Fantastic! Imagine how difficult it would be if you didn't have the little one to use as a basis. I wouldn't know where to begin.

Ray,

For me it might be easier. I would have found drawings and pictures and created a sketch I could build from. Making pieces to match a kit is not easy for me. I am also taking Walthers interpretation of how the Hulett will be constructed. Even though there are new difficulties in building to match a kit, it is a fun and challenging project.

Thank you all for following this post and all the nice comments.

Alan Graziano

I don't know how I missed this Alan. What incredible work and detail! It's simply fantastic! Looking forward to the completed project...WOW

Terry

You can follow Alan using the assembly instructions which Walthers has posted online.  This is an HO scale model kit so multiply the dimensions shown in the footprint by 2.

Jan

So Al, the total length in O'scale is over 31" inches? That thing is enormous and really could only work on very large, massive layouts. It would be interesting to see where your client is going to put it. I really dig this project!

Looking great Alan!

Thanks for the update.

Hi Everyone,

Here are some pictures of the latest progress. I am now starting the digging part of the loader.

Alan Graziano

Awesome!

Alan; are you having second thoughts about taking on this project!!!

Thanks for the update photos, Alan.

Alan....this has got to be the most incredible model build!  Your attention to detail is second to none and represents the best of the best....WOW!!

Alan

Spence,

I am over the halfway point hump now and there is no turning back. Once I get to this point I see the daylight at the end of the tunnel.

Alan Graziano

Very nice! I hate to say this... that assembly in styrene looks very, very fragile. It really needs to be built of brass which would be infinitely more difficult and complicated. I find that those small cross section styrene assemblies really aren't very durable. The finished model will be gorgeous, but the owner probably shouldn't be allowed to play with it very much.

Fantastic model!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hi Everyone,

Here are some pictures of the nearly completed digging part of the hulett.

Alan Graziano

Alan,

Still looking fantastic. How did you coax the styrene into the curves simulating a cast part? 

Also, is there going to be a 1:48 scale ore carrier parked underneath. In the Chicago Museum of Science and Industry there were some lovely marine models in 1:48, and an ore carrier would be one heck of a model in that scale.

Myles

Alan,

that's even more impressive then the main body. Are all the reinforcements, gussets and connection points separately applied?

Don

Ray,

I used .020 and .030" styrene and worked it with my hands to make the bends.

I will be dropping this model off to the customer in Connecticut. He will probably have a wood ship hull waiting for me to bring back . If not he can use the Edmund Fitzgerald ore carrier that I built him about five years ago.

Don,

I thought this would be the most difficult part. It actually went pretty easy. Maybe at this point I am just numb from this model.

All the gussets and pieces are individual. I will tell you about it tomorrow if I see you at Alex's house.Maybe I will bring that section with me.

Alan Graziano

could you brief us on mechanically these beasts work?  thanks

Alan, 

I'm not going to make it to the open house. I'm having an open house of sorts myself. A friend who had some major hip replacement issues is coming over tomorrow to se the trains run on my outdoor suspended layout. She has been dealing with failed replacement to infection and re- replacement, and is finally recovered. She has wanted to see the trains for a long time. I'll just have to marvel at the photos. Again, excellent modeling.

Don

PS, your bringing the model to the get together reminds me of the lunches a group of us had at York where we'd bring a project we were working on for the group to see. 

Don

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RJfnk2S330

Here's a link to a video of a hulett. This video has been posted here before; very interesting stuff.

Don

Alan.

I like Styrene scratch building myself but not at this level, your work is amazing I am following this thread like a dog follows it's master.

Thanks for taking the time to post all the photos.

Roo. (In West Australia)

BEAUTIFUL Alan....you are a "Master of Models"!!

Alan