Best Of Scratchbuilding a Container crane, Finished incl. night shot

[engineshop]

I did the last big step this afternoon. The boom and pillar are now glued together and only the wires need to be soldered.
I still have to do some minor cosmetic pieces but that has to wait until all the soldering is done.
I am still looking for something I can use for the huge cable wheel on the side of the crane that provides the power in the real world. Nothing seems to be right or the perfect size.

[John]

Freaking awesome ..

[tehachapifan]

Looks fantastic!

Can't wait to see it lit up!

Russ

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I am AMAZED.

That thing is awesome.

[engineshop]

thanks all.
It actually was easier than I expected.
With all the internet, I was able to find close up pictures and drawings and with the help of forum members and their published work, I got a lot of ideas how to do it and what to avoid.

[tehachapifan]

Roland-

What did you find in the way of internet resources for close-up pics, etc?

I was only marginally successful when I did research for mine.

Russ

[James Costello]

Thats SERIOUSLY impressive.

How awesome would a couple of those and a yard of containers look.... ;D

[engineshop]

Roland-

What did you find in the way of internet resources for close-up pics, etc?

I was only marginally successful when I did research for mine.

Russ

Russ
I took me almost two years of searching. The Kalmar web site was a great start.
Check the press release folder for pictures.

http://217.197.57.148:8080/webnative/listdir?/disk1_1/pcjobb/Kalmar+Pressmaterial

In the 01 folder of that side, in the 2005 folder, you will find the picture of the crane I modeled. Titel of the picture "050110_MSC_2005_01_06.jpg"

The company has also some pdf news release online.

The 3-2005 newsletter has a side view drawing of one of their cranes, which I used to get the right dimensions.

http://www.kalmarind.com/show.php?id=1022301

This website is great too. It labels all the parts of a crane and then I just put those names into Google Images. Cranes are like computers. Different components are made by different companies and those companies have sometimes great pictures or even drawings.
http://www.worldtraderef.com/wtr_nl/WTR_site/cranes.asp

[tehachapifan]

Thanks, Roland.

First website does not seem to work.

Could you double check that one?

Thanks!

Russ

[engineshop]

Russ
Here is the main web site for Kalmar

http://www.kalmarind.com/

Use the link NEWS and then PRESSPICTURES

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Now how ya gonna paint that thing?  ;D

[engineshop]

Painting?
I actually have to make a temporary paint booth since my regular one is to small. It will be a a drive way project since I think it is easier to walk around it than turn the model.

[tehachapifan]

Russ
Here is the main web site for Kalmar

http://www.kalmarind.com/

Use the link NEWS and then PRESSPICTURES

OK, great.

Thanks!

Russ

[engineshop]

With the pressure from Greenlight Intermodal N-Scale Contest, I finally finished my container crane.

The N-Scale semi is just for size comparison.



The cables for the Spreader including the tangling electric cable is made of EZ Line. I think it looks better than yarn.





Nosebleed seat.





The cable that would pull the boom up when the crane is not used, is also EZ Line. It was much easier to pull it tide than anything else I could think off. It should also not put any strain on the rollers if I accidentally hit them.





No part is actually operational. The trolley can be pushed back and forth but the Spreader cannot be lowered, nor the boom of the crane. I wanted everything as close as possible to scale and there was just not way to animate the crane with those thin styrene pieces.

It does however has flood and blinking lights and I will take some pictures tonight.



I still need the huge wheel on the side that winds up the electric cable when the crane moves up and down the shore. I have not found anything close and even bought Micro-Mark's etch kit to do one myself but it is still in the box.

I started 2 years ago to find all the information and without the internet I would have not be able to built my crane. Since Kalmar Industry was the only manufacturer of cranes that had great pictures and even a partial line drawing of their newest product online, I thought it would only right to put at least their name on my crane.

[SquirrelHollow]

Fantastic work.  It's great to see this project finished.

Man... those stairs get me every time.  Great job!