MTL Conrail Jimbo Crane Build

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I posted some pics in Weekend Update but figured I'd start a separate thread.

I picked up the MTL tie car set because even though I've never been a huge fan of their gons these looked like something really something special. Plus they'll add some fun to ops sessions and can fill out my MOW fleet.

I wanted to take a break from building turnout assemblies and laying track this weekend so I figured it was time to dig into assembling the crane on Saturday.

The castings were ok but I found two issues I needed to deal with. Neither were a major problem though.

The first was that there was a good bit of extra material under the floor of the crane. My bench sander made quick enough work of that though.

The other issue wasn't really apparent until I got it all together: the boom was slightly vertically deformed.

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It was too "flat" which meant that the grapple wouldn't sit down in the car like it should for transit. I had to do a couple things to solve this.

First was cutting away and replacing the hydraulic cylinder closest to the body. I made a new one out of some rod I had hanging around. That got CA'ed into place.

The second was bending and then slightly breaking the boom itself. I cut a small kerf under the elbow joint and pushed the boom down there. I then reinforced the joint with some more CA. That got the boom down where it belongs.

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Tonight I spent some time raiding my decal stash to add some labels. I don't think any of them really make much sense if you could read them. But you can't, so I'm happy with the outcome.

I still have more to do but I wanted to share the work so far.

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[Philip H]

I missed the Conrail set of these but now have a Montana Rail Link set of preorder (there’s some budgeting heartburn for you). I’ll redecal it of course (sorry @Shipsure) so if you decide to strip any lettering that would be useful.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I kept looking at the few reference photos I've got and realized it needed a few more details.

http://conrailphotos.thecrhs.org/Images/CR-55220-Class-G31E-0
https://conrailphotos.thecrhs.org/Images/CR-530062-Class-G36L

So... I made a muffler out of some wire and an air cleaner out of another piece of wire and a Tichy lamp. I made a railing (?) between the cab and counterweight out of some Plastruct railing. I also added one of @sschaer 's awesome sinclair antennas to the cab roof.

Again, I'm not making an exact model, but something that looks a bit more "interesting" than it did stock. Still much more to go though.

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[Ed Kapuscinski]

I missed the Conrail set of these but now have a Montana Rail Link set of preorder (there’s some budgeting heartburn for you). I’ll redecal it of course (sorry @Shipsure) so if you decide to strip any lettering that would be useful.

What road are you looking for? KCS I assume?

[Philip H]

Yep

Because then I can add it to my Brandt rail truck and riff on this:

http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/index.php?media/kcs-5338-m-o-w-at-greenville-tx.16627/full&d=1136691876

[Nato]

     Ed, Great work on this. Nate Goodman (Nato). 

[dem34]

Yep

Because then I can add it to my Brandt rail truck and riff on this:

http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/index.php?media/kcs-5338-m-o-w-at-greenville-tx.16627/full&d=1136691876

Just sayin, that would probably be pretty badass with a cheater boxcar.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Yep

Because then I can add it to my Brandt rail truck and riff on this:

http://www.railroadforums.com/forum/index.php?media/kcs-5338-m-o-w-at-greenville-tx.16627/full&d=1136691876

Very cool.

@Shipsure , is KCS in the queue, by chance?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

    Ed, Great work on this. Nate Goodman (Nato). 

Thanks!

I'm not happy with it yet, but it's getting there!

[Philip H]

Just sayin, that would probably be pretty badass with a cheater boxcar.

And then I'd have to get rolling wheels on the Brandt as its a solid resin casting . . . .

hum . . . . .

[bbussey]

I'm not happy with it yet, but it's getting there!

I'll wait until you're done, and then just copy what you did. 

Are the tie loads the ones that came with the set?

[Ed Kapuscinski]

I'll wait until you're done, and then just copy what you did. 

Are the tie loads the ones that came with the set?

Yep. They're nice. They might get some additional paint though. You know, for variation.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

It never ceases to amaze me what some additional "detail painting" does to a model. That's most of what you see here, although I also re-did the muffler because I wasn't happy with the previous incarnation #AgileModelRailroading!

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I had thought about adding a Conrail decal to it but I thought I'd rather not so that I can plausibly mount it on other gons for different photos (for instance, when visiting other layouts).

[dougnelson]

That's a nice project.  Are those DKS's old ties in the gon under the crane?  I have a few of DKS's various old ties and they are a really nice trackside detail.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

That's a nice project.  Are those DKS's old ties in the gon under the crane?  I have a few of DKS's various old ties and they are a really nice trackside detail.

It's been a lot of fun so far.

They're not. They're actually the ones that came with it. The DKS stacks are probably going to live in a gon for distribution.