spikey faz
Western Thunderer
Progress on the crane mechanism continues at great pace! 
Mike
Mike
Crane Locomotives
- Thread starter spikey faz
- Start date
spikey faz
Western Thunderer
I've been adding a few pipes and operating rods/levers. 
The box of parts is looking significantly less full now, which I take as a sign of progress! Still need to do a bit more to the crane, but I reckon not far off from getting the loco body and boiler ready for some paint.
Mike
The box of parts is looking significantly less full now, which I take as a sign of progress! Still need to do a bit more to the crane, but I reckon not far off from getting the loco body and boiler ready for some paint.
Mike
spikey faz
Western Thunderer
The smokebox front is epoxied (Araldite 5 minute) onto the resin casting. I drilled a few holes into the resin (where it couldn't be seen) to allow the epoxy glue a bit more 'bite' to hold the smokebox front in place. The kit instructions do not recommend using superglue for this.
Any components not epoxied onto the resin will be bolted into place.
Mike
spikey faz
Western Thunderer
I'm trying to figure out what the large cylinder thing is that I've circled below. 
It looks like some sort of counterweight, but why add weight where its not needed.
Mike
It looks like some sort of counterweight, but why add weight where its not needed.
Mike
Osgood
Western Thunderer
Thanks for glue info, I've recently been having issues with superglue and some materials (not helped by using glue that is 2 or 3 years old) and have resorted to good old Alraldite (and it is old - really old - like 20 years old, but it hasn't gone off).
Surely not a counterweight - the only thing you might find in this position is a second rope pulley to allow heavier lifts at a shorter reach. Strange.
Is this photo taken at Crewe Works by any chance?
Surely not a counterweight - the only thing you might find in this position is a second rope pulley to allow heavier lifts at a shorter reach. Strange.
Is this photo taken at Crewe Works by any chance?
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Osgood
Western Thunderer
The only thing I can find in this position on similar cranes is this magnet cable reel - picture from Crane Locomotives by R.A.S. Abbott.
It would need a steam generator (e.g. Stones) on the crane to provide the power.
Have you looked through any published info on Crewe Works?
It would need a steam generator (e.g. Stones) on the crane to provide the power.
Have you looked through any published info on Crewe Works?
Osgood
Western Thunderer
It might possibly be a chain block, for precision lifts, with the operating chain wrapped around the side nearest the building?
The only other view I can find of it (3249 - no evidence of other engines having the same attachment) is here:
www.facebook.com
So with the attachment not present in an early LMS view, it must have been fitted in later LMS days.
The only other view I can find of it (3249 - no evidence of other engines having the same attachment) is here:
19th century railway enthusiasts | L.N.W.R. 0-4-2 Crane Tank No.3249 , to traffic 1894. | Facebook
L.N.W.R. 0-4-2 Crane Tank No.3249 , to traffic 1894.. photographed post grouping at Crewe Works .. no date. Image source via Reddit
www.facebook.com
So with the attachment not present in an early LMS view, it must have been fitted in later LMS days.