Crane Locomotives

[Osgood]

This is my favourite crane locomotive because it was the very first I came across - in an 1876 volume of either The Engineer or Engineering. Scrapped in early 1920s when the works closed (info from IRS article).
I have a suspicion there was a G.A. or detailed drawing or sorts in the article too - should I take a look in my file?

View attachment 126241

Re post #13: having given up the search a long while back I just found the drawings while looking for something else - I'd mis-filed them
Oblique views only here as I'm not sure where we stand with copyright on material from the Engineering journal.
At least you now have the reference, Oct 13th 1876 - are these journals accessible online?

 

[bambuko]

Try:
Graces Guide

used to be free, but not any more...

 

[spikey faz]

I acquired a Dapol Sentinel last year. After Col (Eastside Pilot) waved his magic wand over the wheels and converted it to Scale7 standards I was going to use it as a shunting loco. However..... I was aware that Sentinel built a couple of ash grab locos for the LNER. So, I thought I'd have a go at building one using the Dapol model as the basis.


Chop, chop!


Extended wheelbase. I was keen to keep it four wheel drive, so I acquired some extra Dapol gears.



Mike

 

[spikey faz]

I'll be using part of this kit for the crane. Not strictly accurate, but that's never stopped me before!

Mike

 

[Osgood]

That'll look very close - so close you'll get away with it!

 

[spikey faz]

That'll look very close - so close you'll get away with it!

That's what I think too.

I've made a start on the bodywork/chassis. Nickel silver with some rivets to distract the casual viewer from some of the more obvious discrepancies. Dapol buffers recycled.






And a mock-up with the crane.



Mike

 

[spikey faz]

The prototype appears to use a steam engine to power the crane, but the kit has an internal combustion engine. Fair enough. Let's assume the original steam engine wore out and the crane manufacturer provided an upgrade. The rest of my model will be less than 100% accurate (as usual), so no worries.

Mike

 

[spikey faz]

Despite having a tough week so far (work/training) I have been able to get a bit more done. I've also managed to destroy a bit of the Dapol bodywork with paint-stripper (don't ask!) so that set me back as well.





Mike

 

[spikey faz]

I've just got to figure out how the various cables and pulleys work and where they go. The instructions that come with the crane kit omit this rather vital information!

Mike

 

[Osgood]

The pictures here should help you:

1/43 Truck crane LAZ-690 (164) collection model cars | eBay

Giles electroradiothingyed one of these so may be some good piccies on his thread.

 

[spikey faz]

The pictures here should help you:

1/43 Truck crane LAZ-690 (164) collection model cars | eBay

Now, why didn't I think of that?!

Cheers Tony.

Mike

 

[spikey faz]

I've been cobbling the axleboxes together. They're not quite the same pattern as the prototype, but they will be a lot neater than anything I attempt from scratch, so will have to do.



The above photos hopefully also show the fineness of the wheels, having been re-profiled by Mr Dowling.

Mike

 

[spikey faz]

PS

Please ignore my shonky track! I've just noticed the fishplate that's on the wrong way round as well.

Mike

 

[spikey faz]

Re-configuring the Dapol axlebox tie-bars. Many hours and a 0.5mm drill = cross eyes!





Mike

 

[spikey faz]

A slight diversion today. I noticed yesterday that 'Southwick' had suffered a nasty paint chip to the side of her cab. Fortunately she comes apart quite easily and I'm midway through patching up the paintwork. I thought I'd post a few pictures showing how she comes apart. Makes maintenance a lot easier. The smokebox door is held on with mini-magnets!




Mike

 

[spikey faz]

Back to the Sentinel crane.

I had originally planned to use part of the Dapol body, but I had a bit of an accident with it and some paint-stripper! So I had to build the cab from scratch. Probably a better option anyway.












Mike

 

[spikey faz]

I thought I'd have a go at making the support brackets for the spring mountings. Not 100% accurate, but good enough for me. Only got to make 20 of them!





Mike

 

[spikey faz]

....and about an hour later:



Mike

 

[spikey faz]

Sanding gear and water tank are now being constructed. Nothing sophisticated, just bits of Slaters Plastikard, assorted washers, brass angle and lots of glue and filler!





Mike

 

[spikey faz]

The prototype water tank rather inconveniently features many rivets, which meant I had to break out the RP Toolz Rivets Maker in an effort to represent these in model form.

0.7 mm is about as small as I could go in order to preserve my sanity!



Mike