Crane Locomotives
- Thread starter spikey faz
- Start date
spikey faz
Western Thunderer
That's an option definitely. But I just like the idea of having the Southern lettering and numbering.
B4 numbering appears to commence at 81, so maybe I could use 80?
Mike
spikey faz
Western Thunderer
In the end I copied the drawing! A bit leftfield I suppose, but it works for me. 
Mike
Mike
spikey faz
Western Thunderer
Chassis, running plate and body all screwed back together.
Mike
Mike
spikey faz
Western Thunderer
AJC
Western Thunderer
A bit late since you've gone for LSWR - though the Southern might not have relettered quickly, or just put a new number on! - but such an engine would have been numbered in the departmental series with an 'S' suffix ('DS' prefix under BR) so you can legitimately choose any number you like...
Adam
spikey faz
Western Thunderer
AJC
Western Thunderer
I'm a big fan of the thrift, too (and the LSWR lettering is very classy). A lovely model of a handsome thing. Bradley's books on LSWR locos almost certainly have details of LSWR departmental loco numbering - but the only example I can think of off the top of my head was Mr Drummond's 'Bug', numbered in the main LSWR series, 733.
Adam
spikey faz
Western Thunderer
I'm still learning how to weather with oil paints, but I'm quite enjoying the process.
Mike
Mike
michael mott
Western Thunderer
Mike I have just finished, trolling through the thread from the beginning a most enjoyable time. some really interesting models.
michael
michael
spikey faz
Western Thunderer
Cheers Michael.
They're not the most glamorous engines, but they served a purpose and I like 'em!Mike
spikey faz
Western Thunderer
Back in 2021 I posted on this thread that I'd started work on a Backwoods Miniatures crane kit. The project stalled as I was finding some of the assembly a bit fiddly. I can now admit I really messed up the crane chassis and boiler! 
I recently pulled the box of bits out of the loft and determined to make the kit work this time, even if I do deviate a bit from the instructions.
Not a lot to report so far, but I have made a replacement chassis for the crane.
The wheels are about the right size, but the gearbox is the wrong orientation (the idler gear clouts the rails). I'm currently Perusing the High Level catalogue for a suitable replacement.
I'll need to source a replacement boiler as well to replace the one I messed up.
I'm the meantime I'm just researching the Internet for a suitable prototype.
Mike
I recently pulled the box of bits out of the loft and determined to make the kit work this time, even if I do deviate a bit from the instructions.
Not a lot to report so far, but I have made a replacement chassis for the crane.
The wheels are about the right size, but the gearbox is the wrong orientation (the idler gear clouts the rails). I'm currently Perusing the High Level catalogue for a suitable replacement.
I'll need to source a replacement boiler as well to replace the one I messed up.
I'm the meantime I'm just researching the Internet for a suitable prototype.
Mike
spikey faz
Western Thunderer
That's the kind of thing I'm aiming for. Nothing too big that'll overpower the rest of my layout.
Mike
spikey faz
Western Thunderer
Ah! That's extremely helpful. Thanks.
I'm not sure I'd be able to replicate the motors. I think you showed how to do this in your book. I had a copy, but it went missing!
Mike
spikey faz
Western Thunderer
I was intending modeling the crane with a fully open cab. But, it appears some vital parts that form the piston assembly are missing from the kit. So, it looks like I'll be modelling this with a fully enclosed cab. At least I won't have to spend too much time modelling the boiler.
In the meantime've been mocking up a chassis to see what it will look like. Motor and gearbox have been ordered from High Level.
Mike
So, it looks like I'll be modelling this with a fully enclosed cab. At least I won't have to spend too much time modelling the boiler.In the meantime've been mocking up a chassis to see what it will look like. Motor and gearbox have been ordered from High Level.
Mike
spikey faz
Western Thunderer
Although I said I was going for an enclosed cab to make up for the missing parts, it was bugging me a bit. So I had a go at making the parts (slidebar trunking and piston) as well as a second attempt at soldering the boiler wrapper together. Well, success I think.
Once the motor and gearbox arrives I can work out how big/small the chassis needs to be. I may go for some slightly smaller wheels if there's space.
Mike
Once the motor and gearbox arrives I can work out how big/small the chassis needs to be. I may go for some slightly smaller wheels if there's space.
Mike
Giles
Western Thunderer
When I first built my 0-14 crane, I built it as a single axle drive (N20 via bevel gears), and I found it exceedingly erratic in its ability to pull itself along (although it was quite heavy due to its function). Of necessity I had to find a way of diving the other axle as well, which in my case I did by adding a train of spur gears between the axles. That did the trick, and now it will not only Drive reliably, but haul anything! The EM gauge crane drives the second axle via a shaft with opposed bevel gears