Modeling an American Hoist crane

[daniel_leavitt2000]

PW has one of these atractive little numbers:
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=387592
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=387593

I never seen it in person but I really want to model it. I know its between 20-40 ton capacity and built by American Hoist. I searched for small capacity cranes in N scale and here are the choices:
Stewart has a 25 ton American crane. The cab and body are totally off but the book looks to be about right.
Railway Express Miniatures has a small (10 ton?) Burro crane. Looks to small to work here.
REM also sels an American tracked crane. Again, too small and the wrong cab to work.
GHQ produces a tracked Bucyrus crane. The boom matches and the body is the right shape, but its tracked and the body may be a bit small.

I think I may have to use the GHQ body on the Stewart chassis and use whichever boom is larger. Its not a perfect solution and I don't like spending over $50 on a project thats this far off. Anyone have any better ideas?

[Dave Schneider]

Have you thought about a Tichy crane with an etched boom?
http://www.tichytraingroup.com/index.php?page=view_product.php&id=479&category=Freight+Car+Kits

The proportions of the Tichy crane seem pretty close to what you are looking for. It looks like all you would need to do is enclose the cab and figure out how to add a different boom. The Tichy kits are well made and quite reasonable.

Best wishes, Dave

[sirenwerks]

Stewart Products makes a 25-tonner in N but I can't vouch for its true-to-prototype-ness since I've never actually seen one in person, model or proto. But from the pics, it seems like a good starting point. You're definitely going to need to replace those wheel sets for something more lo-pro and less shiny, will have to lower the hi-cab, and probably gonna have to rework the boom for appearance's sake but the Stewart model seems closer to the right dims than the Tichy model. The project would make another great article, and I'm sure Bob could whip you up a new, etched boom.

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/683-1200

[DKS]

Stewart Products makes a 25-tonner in N but I can't vouch for its true-to-prototype-ness since I've never actually seen one in person, model or proto. But from the pics, it seems like a good starting point. You're definitely going to need to replace those wheel sets for something more lo-pro and less shiny, will have to lower the hi-cab, and probably gonna have to rework the boom for appearance's sake but the Stewart model seems closer to the right dims than the Tichy model. The project would make another great article, and I'm sure Bob could whip you up a new, etched boom.

The cab on the Stewart model is a pretty crude, blobby soft metal casting. With all the mods it might need, it'd almost easier to scratchbuild it.

A better starting point for the boom, at least, might be the Bucyrus crane from GHQ: http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/284-53011

[up1950s]

[daniel_leavitt2000]

the Stewart body is WAY off of the crane in question. I looked though American Ohio's website and coulden't find anything on a low profile cab. I wonder if this was a special deal for low New England clearances.

David, the BucyRus cab from GHQ was what I was looking at. It looks close enough. The boom matches the prototype. The Tichy platform looks like the closest match. So GHQ body on s Tichy platform?

Rich, thanks for the pics, they really helped a lot.

[ljudice]

Isn't the Tichy platform way too long???

It's amazing someone like GHQ never did a model like this!

[Dave Schneider]

Isn't the Tichy platform way too long???

It's amazing someone like GHQ never did a model like this!

I don't think so. The Tichy platform is like 3 "truck lengths" long. That looks pretty close to the proto photos to me.

Best wishes, Dave

[DKS]

Isn't the Tichy platform way too long???

It's amazing someone like GHQ never did a model like this!

I don't think so. The Tichy platform is like 3 "truck lengths" long. That looks pretty close to the proto photos to me.

Best wishes, Dave

I tend to agree. I think the GHQ cab and boom grafted onto the Tichy platform will get you pretty close to home plate.

[ljudice]

Guys, I have an Overland Ohio crane - a newer and larger prototype - and the two trucks ALMOST TOUCH.

The Tichy platform is WAY too long!

I think the GHQ + Stewart frame is a brilliant solution....

Lou

[DKS]

Guys, I have an Overland Ohio crane - a newer and larger prototype - and the two trucks ALMOST TOUCH.

The Tichy platform is WAY too long!

I think the GHQ + Stewart frame is a brilliant solution....

Interesting, because the two trucks in this reference photo are a good distance apart...
 
http://rrpicturearchives.net/showPicture.aspx?id=387592

My eye might be off, but it's telling me the Tichy is a pretty good match.

Or have I missed something obvious here? (Not the first time, to be sure.)

[sirenwerks]

The Tichy frame is way too 'thick' and doesn't have the inset side like the prototype Daniel wants to model. I also agree the Tuchy frame seems too long in the wheelbase.

[ljudice]

By the way David, I see you have a cat that thinks s/he is a parrot.  We have one too, she can sit on my shoulder - always facing BACKWARDS for hours at a time.