00 scale Harbour Crane - in low relief

I will offer this up for the May Monthly project: The aim is to construct a low relief dockside crane which will tower behind some warehouses on my layout. After lots of searching on the internet and studying photographs I came up with this example. It stands about 240mm high, with a 300 mm jib. It is based on a Luffing Crane as used to unload ships at Middlesbrough Docks. Here is a sketch plan, in tow parts. The jib attaches to the mount on top of the cab:




I also have the Airfix kit which I may cut in half to produce two low relief cranes.

Bob

Definitely accepted Bob and very welcome it is too. I think there will be a lot of interest in that.

This is going to be an interesting build Bob.

Were these cranes "unique" to Middlesbrough or is that just where you happened to get the plans ?

[user=6]Petermac[/user] wrote:

This is going to be an interesting build Bob.

Were these cranes "unique" to Middlesbrough or is that just where you happened to get the plans ?

I am no expert on cranes Peter, I get the impression these were pretty much a standard design for this type of crane. The reason I chose the middlesbrough version is due to the clarity and angle of the photographs, which gives me something to work out the scale.

Afetr more thought, I am probably going to build this at 3/4 scale, to give the impression that it is set back behind a warehouse complex. I also need to work out how to deliver a 3 dimensional effect. A silouette would look too flat and false. I am thinking of building two flat cranes and placing them on top of each other, slightly offset, to give a feeling of depth. The only problem I have is that I will have about 10mm depth to play with.

Bob

 

Yes should be an interesting project.

Most of the cranes on the Thames were this type.

Where I served my apprenticeship 1953 to 1958, we had three Stothert & Pitt luffing cranes on the coal wharf to feed our power station, five smaller versions on the deepwater jetty for unloading the many pulp boats. With a couple of steam cranes on the china clay wharf.

After 2 1/2 years in the various machine shops. It was the ambition of all engineering apprentices to have their next 1 1/2 years under the wing of the outside fitters. (Jetty cranes, the yard loco’s, and the overhead travelling cranes used for stacking the wood pulp throughout the many yards).

The second most popular being our last six months in the power house.

The least popular, six months with the mill fitters, inside maintaining the various papermaking machines and auxiliary plant. (No ships to watch going up and down the river, or liners in and out of Tilbury docks).

This will certainly bring back memories of a bygone era, nearly all that type of industry sadly gone.

Tilbury docks, now mainly a container port about as exciting as watching paint dry. (Progress but not as interesting as in those days long gone).

Found this link may be of some use to you.

Just copy and paste.    igg.org.uk/gansg/12-linind/dock-ch

[user=421]Old_Steamer[/user] wrote:

Found this link may be of some use to you.

Just copy and paste.    igg.org.uk/gansg/12-linind/dock-ch

Thanks Brian, some useful stuff there.

I thought I had better get this project underway. I have started off by building the main base of the crane. This was constructed out of thin plastic rod. As mentioned earlier, I want to try something more than just produce a flat outline so I have made up two similar pieces:




The idea being that one will be laid on top of the other, but slightly offset. Hopefully this will give a kind of 3D effect. This is a bit of a journey into the unknown, but this view gives an idea of what I am trying to achieve:




Next the jib will be constructed in a similar way.

Bob

I see what you're driving at Bob and it might just work - clever stuff. hmm

Will the crane be sited at the back or on one side of the layout ?  I ask because, if it's at the back, I wonder if the perspective could change as you move past and risk spoiling the illusion ………….:roll::roll::roll::roll:

[user=6]Petermac[/user] wrote:

I see what you're driving at Bob and it might just work - clever stuff. hmm

Will the crane be sited at the back or on one side of the layout ?  I ask because, if it's at the back, I wonder if the perspective could change as you move past and risk spoiling the illusion ………….:roll::roll::roll::roll:

It will be at the back when looked at square on, although there is no real back on my layout as there is a central operating well. It will however sit between two low relief buildings that are already there.

Today work will continue on the Jib section. Again two similar pieces will be constructed. Here is the first impressions;

OK, on a roll today. I have just about finished this project as it is raining and I can't get out into the garden. I took some pictures along the way.

The next part to complete was the cab and the lattice work above it:




I am using scrap plastic card and oddments, hence the colour variations.

I will use stretched sprue for the cables. This is made by heating plastic strip over a flame until it melts and then pulling it apart to create fibres. You can get about a yard out of a 4 inch section:




The next task was to detail the support tower by adding a couple of walkways:




To animate the model I want to add a couple of figures and decided to use a couple of HO Noch workmen, seen here against the structure:




And painted:




Having added some cables, the whole thing was then sprayed in a light grey:




And finally set in its eventual position on the layout. It is currently held in place with blu tac:




I think some rust and weathering is needed, but it certainly fills the gap in the backscene!

Bob

That's great, Bob.  Inspired, even.     

In to the Forum Index with it Bob. Must keep this one where we can find it any time we want.

That looks really good Bob - nobody would giess it was only a couple of millimetres deep.  Your "illusion" idea works very well. :thumbs

The "sprue" cables show you have far steadier hands than I have ……...  Whenever I tried that, everything either went up in horrible acrid black smoke or I ended up with ropes about a scale 3 inches long ……………..:roll::roll:  The people are, as ever, exquisite. :pathead

Turned out very well Bob. Well done i say.:thumbs

Another great addition to our project series. Thanks Bob.
Anyone for the June project then, simple or complex it doesn't matter.

:thumbs indeed .

[user=2]Robert[/user] wrote:

Another great addition to our project series. Thanks Bob.
Anyone for the June project then, simple or complex it doesn't matter.

Bob, I have a couple of the new Dapol coach kits which are in my suitcase. They may be a good subject for the June project (sent from Brussels airport!).

Bob

If you can fit it in Bob that would be perfect. I'll put the June project up a bit nearer the date.