Garden Railway Forum

Ingenious and very neat (as always) solution, Peter.

Rik

Not afraid to jump into modding an expensive model, love to see it.

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Tue May 30, 2023 10:57 pm That is enough surgery for day one, now I'm going to glue on a few hundred rivet heads before bed.

Most of us count sheep, but I guess you might be immune to them in Wales..


Phil.P

You are so right Phil, sheep are commonplace but a heard of rivet heads at bedtime work wonders, especially with the support of my faithful dog!

So many rivets!.... I did complete the first truck last night but don't have enough to finish the second. An order from Cambrian Models has now been dispatched and should be here within days.
Meanwhile, I have other mods to do, as well as domestic chores, so work continues.
Another 16mm Association Garden Railway meeting to attend on Saturday... it all happens in West Wales!

Edit.... forgot to add the picture.

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Wed May 31, 2023 6:50 pm

100_0187.JPG


Edit.... forgot to add the picture.

That happens all the time for me Peter...

The four bogies have now been stripped down to remove the axles and wheels (very neatly running in brass tube and clipped into 3D printed holders, similar to Swift Sixteen). Also, the magnetic couplings have been removed, simply because I don't use them and now is not a good time to replace all of my couplings!
In fact, they are incredibly powerful and automatically locate perfectly with each other.
I have managed to remove the magnets on two of the couplings and attach a standard buffer in their place....
You can see the bogies have now been painted, lightly weathered, matt lacquered and reassembled.

The magnetic couplings between the two trucks have also been replaced with a brass bar to permanently couple them together.

More parts have been disassembled in order to get a better paint finish (I hope!) ....
It's a real adventure but most enjoyable.
(two of my friends are proud owners of these models now so it will be interesting to see them running together)

More modifications have now been made, including diagonal stays which connect the lower part of the counterbalance weight to the top of the winding drum housing. Also, a hand-wheel brake column on the bogie behind the counterbalance. Both of these features I found on a detailed drawing which was posted on 'G Scale Central'....
Due to the fitting of the brake wheel it became necessary to move the crane pivot point forward by 10mm to allow the bogie to swing without striking the weight box....
The outrigger screw jacks had to be cut down slightly allowing them to be fully retracted within the width of the wagon. They are held in place by pressing up under the flat-bed and behind the edging strip I fitted earlier....

That certainly looks as if it means serious business, Peter. Love the colour scheme.
The additions look spot on!

Rik

Very nice that Peter, loving the colours too. Hard to see how they can produce one similar or as good as yours.

That looks excellent!

Does it run well?

The width explains why the one that Colonel Stephens bought for the Ffestiniog only seems to have been photographed at Boston Lodge - according to drawings, the newly restored Baldwin is 7' wide and only just fits between the walls and bridge parapets between there and Minffordd, so that crane would have stood no chance! It might have squeezed up the Welsh Highland though, so maybe I could justify it - perhaps you could measure the height when you get a chance?

Anyway, it's a lovely model. As you say, it will been fun to see what your fellow S Wales modellers do with theirs. A pair jib-to-jib, breakdown train style would make a fun train...

Andrew wrote: ↑Fri Jun 09, 2023 9:48 am That looks excellent!

Does it run well?

- perhaps you could measure the height when you get a chance?

Thanks Andrew, and others.
In answer to your questions, yes, it does run very well indeed. I have added a small amount of lead sheet to the underside of both trucks and allowed the bogies a little slack! Even the first test run, minus crane, was a great success. With the crane mounted it behaves extremely well with the jib rising and falling on its drum support. I will probably add a guide on top of the jib support to keep the jib centred as it negotiates curves. I also added a large diameter steel washer as a slip-ring under the crane pivot point, so it is now smoother in operation than plastic to plastic.
The overall height of the crane is 9' 10" (16mm scale), which is the top of the gear wheel operating the jib lifting gear.

Still to come are the four pads which go under the screw jacks to stabilise the crane when in use. These are not supplied so are currently in production on my workbench.

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Fri Jun 09, 2023 2:42 pm Still to come are the four pads which go under the screw jacks to stabilise the crane when in use. These are not supplied so are currently in production on my workbench.

I've not seen any photos of the original but I wonder if there would be such things as a toolbox on the match truck, plus various chunks of wood etc to act as props and wedges under the feet and maybe some extra ropes and straps for lifting????

Rik

ge_rik wrote: ↑Sat Jun 10, 2023 7:14 am

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Fri Jun 09, 2023 2:42 pm Still to come are the four pads which go under the screw jacks to stabilise the crane when in use. These are not supplied so are currently in production on my workbench.

...... maybe some extra ropes and straps for lifting????

Rik

On this point I'm ahead of you Rik... not ropes, but chain! The 'pads' are also in place and represent solid timber 2'6" x 1'6" x 4" thick, each with 'steel' banding and carry handles, as per the drawing previously mentioned above. I doubt there is space for a toolbox as well.

Wonderful job you're making of that. The last photo looks damn-near 1:1 scale.

Finishing touches... to ensure the jib remains central on its support barrel I have fitted a bent brass rod. Before this I noticed the jib would slide to one side when rounding curves but not return to its central location. The full sized crane would be locked in a static position and the jib would move very slightly off centre, however, our curves are more severe and the crane must be allowed to slew otherwise derailment would surely follow!
This simple device works perfectly and is hardly noticeable. It still allows full operation of the jib without interference, if required, although I doubt very much whether mine will ever be asked to perform its tricks...
The final thing was to stow the hook in a fixed position to look tidy, nothing more!

It's the finishing (or finessing) touches which make a lot of difference.

Rik

Looks excellent Peter.
Glad you liked the model. The extra details have made it awesome
Best wishes
Porterhouse models

Really like it Peter, you've done a brilliant job there has usual.

Attached is a photo of rhe prototype.
No sign of a toolbox or straps on the match truck. Dont think the cranes got used much! Best wishes
Porterhouse models

ge_rik wrote: ↑Sat Jun 10, 2023 7:14 am

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Fri Jun 09, 2023 2:42 pm Still to come are the four pads which go under the screw jacks to stabilise the crane when in use. These are not supplied so are currently in production on my workbench.

I've not seen any photos of the original but I wonder if there would be such things as a toolbox on the match truck, plus various chunks of wood etc to act as props and wedges under the feet and maybe some extra ropes and straps for lifting????

Rik