Large Scale crane models

[thegalline]

hello All

Posting some pictures of Railroad crane models that I designed and built.



This is the PRR 490797. a double ended tunnel crane. It was used in the tunnels under NYC by the Pensy.

It was 3rd rail electric powered and had a battery back up. What was unique about this crane is that only the booms pivoted due to the confines of the tunnels.

The model is made of laser cut and etched styrene and has over 2400 hand placed rivets.

Alan

[BarryC]

Excellent work on a very cool model, what scale is it?

Barry

[Herr Dr. Professor]

I have Barry’s question, too. You wrote “large scale,” so I’d guess G scale.

[thegalline]

hello Guys

The crane is in 1/29th scale which falls into the broad category of G scale.

Here are a couple of more cranes I have done. Both are also 1/29th scale.

First is 120 ton and the second is 250 ton steam cranes.

Alan

[sassgrunt]

Those are absolutely gorgeous models! I retired from Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard some years ago, and was able to find a few (very few) photos of the steam cranes they used in the Yard from 1903 until the early 1950's. All were narrow gauge, self-propelled, lattice-boom cranes, (mostly Brownhoist, Ohio, and Orton, I think...it's been awhile). They used to use them to go to the edge of the drydocks and lift machinery from the ships & submarines, and put that onto a flatcar, which they would then tow to the appropriate shop for repairs. Because they were around 8 or 10 feet wide but rode on a 3-foot gauge track, they had retractable steel beams to place wooden jacking pads under, as well as each end of the crane was equipped with a pair of rail clamps that would lock it to the track. Despite this, photos show the results of the operators trying to make a quick pickup, and not using these things; with the result of the crane toppling over into the bottom of the dock and being completely destroyed.

I toyed with the idea of building a display piece for the Shipyard Commander's office, but never made any headway. And, after seeing your museum-quality masterpieces; I'd feel out of my league to even try! Great work, and thank you for sharing them! -Mike

[Jimster]

Beautiful model. I dabble in everything from Nn3 to G scale and your model is absolutely first rate work!
Simply out of curiosity, why did you choose 1:29 scale?

[Herr Dr. Professor]

At the risk of repetition: what incredible modeling! Bravo!

[thegalline]

Jimster

Why 1/29th scale? That is what I was commissioned to design in. The first crane I did was in 1/20.3 scale see below. It was an experiment and I was not crazy about it. I then received a commission to do the 250 ton crane in 1/29th scale. 1/29th is a scale made popular by Aristocraft and USA trains using G scale track. I kept the prototype. The 120 and the double ender were capability models that came later and I just kept them all to the same scale. My personal train collection is in both 1/29th and 1/32nd scales.

I will start a thread soon on my HW passenger equipment and engines.

Alan

[Jimster]

Beautiful museum quality modeling for sure.