That's a really nice interpretation of the Seattle cranes. I really like how you manage to take "ordinary" materials and do this sort of thing. What's the thickness of the card you are using for your frames?
Thanks Philip. I am using cardboard of varied thickness - from 0.25 mm to 2.5 mm. I use artist cardboard that is intended for various artwork and architectural models - very sturdy, durable but easy to handle at the same time - a little softer than craft wood, so carving and all are very easy to handle. For this crane I used 2.5 mm and 1.5 mm thick cards - finer details are achieved with thinner cards. I have been using cardboard for my models ever since I started, and all my scratchbuilding projects are primarily based on cardboard. The only exception till now is the bascule bridge - that's made of wood.
The next was the electrical connections for the light. As always, for lights on the structure, I always try to be as flexible as possible and hence try to avoid soldering. The reason being, once the structure is built changing a burned bulb is hell of a task and possess much higher risk of damaging the structure itself. Often in N scale it's easier said that done, just because the size of the structures are too small and making removable 'plug' points for LEDs might make the arrangement look out of proportion - but given this one is a relatively big structure, I decided to go for it. The first challenge was the folding beam - the connections should hold throughout the up and down movement of the beam. I created a pivot by drilling a tiny hole in a copper strip and pushing a 22 gauge single strand wire into it - it should be a tight join to maintain constant electrical connection. The main connection to the power were soldered to the copper plate. There was another distribution to the fixed part of the beam. As for attaching the LEDs, I used 1mm X .355mm copper tubes - soldered the input power lines to them and put the LED lead wires into the other side of the tubes, as shown in the above pictures. I made arrangements for a total of 4 LEDs across the beam. Once the construction of the beam was over, I moved into completing the tower. Added styrene ladders and railings (Evergreen Models). Used Gold medal models ladders and created a ladder cage by making tiny rings made out of single strand electrical wires and thin cardboard strips. The next step was to complete the painting. I decided to go for Blue as so far there is no blue structure on the layout, and it is a very common color for container cranes. Below some photos: Coming up - the last of components - counter weight, operating pulleys to retract beam, and the trolley to move containers.
It will be operational, but not motorized. Initially I wanted to motorize it, but as of right now, I neither have the time or the patience to go through the task! So it will be a manually operated tiny pulley to retract the beam - main purpose is variation in display from time to time - mainly for photography.
Beautiful detail on the container crane Kaustav and Mouli. Brian http://www.trainboard.com/railimages/showgallery.php?cat=2421
Thanks Brian! Fantastic job on your container crane as well! Looks like I found another person who respects cardboard as a quality scratchbuilding material!
The next step was to complete the spreader. The Spreader, as shown in the second part of this build thread, will be movable to increase variety of positions during photography session. Also, I had to arrange for a mechanism so that I can keep changing the containers from time to time. So first, I created a cardboard frame that can simply hold my 'Fine N Scale' 20' containers from top and maintain a good grip throughout. The trick is that the inside dimension of this cardboard frame is just a tiny fraction larger than the outside dimension of the container - to the naked eye it is actually the same unless you use a caliper to measure it.You might ask how I did it without using the caliper though - simple when I drew the dimension on the cardboard with a sharp pencil, I'd cut the cardboard on the 'outside' of the line, not on it - takes a good degree of precision, true, but given I am working this stuff for so long, I think my motor skills can take those challenges! Once I tested the effectiveness of the frame by lifting and shaking it several times while it holds the container, I started building the support. I used some really old stock of Micro Engineering wooden ties. Then I started working on the pulleys. I went for the more simplistic design add just two pulleys on two sides - given we are talking about really first generation container cranes, I think that is still prototypical. I took a couple of Grandt Line small wagon wheels, curved groove along the edge, and voila - I have my pulleys! It was then just a matter of creating simple housing for them and attaching them the the spreader. Next step was to create the hoist mechanism on the trolley. I went for a covered approach this time, more for stability, and for the fact detailing of that part will be hardly visible. As you can notice, I had to use 'tying' it up with the trolley to ensure durability!
The next step was to create the cabin. I drew the complete dimensions on a cardboard first and then cut it precisely using my hobby knife. Once done, just folding it and gluing it in appropriate places is all that you need to do. Next step was to paint all the components red, cut OHP sheets of appropriate sizes and create the glass cover of the cabin, and then finally put everything together to finish the assembly. Notice that I still have interiors to complete inside the cabin (awaiting orders), and kept the provision of removing it. Finally, here is the complete mechanism to move containers to and from the ship: Coming up - final bits of detailing - counter weight, beam draw mechanism and the links. Then I'm done with this one!
Been following your thread and thoroughly enjoy your scratchbuilding and it's been awhile since I've checked in. You have certainly showed us how the use of paper and cardboard can be used for structures and even ships. The container ship and crane are superb. It closely resembles the small container ships which frequently sail out of Houston bound for the Caribbean. Good job and keep up the good work.
Container Crane Building Post - 5 Well, this is sort of a late update as the container crane is actually built over a week ago. Continuing from where we left, the next step for me was to make a counterweight. Mind it, it was not just for cosmetic reasons - given I made the trolley movable, and used metal tubes for the beam, the front part of the beam was actually heavier than the the other, and I did require a proper object for the counterweight. Fortunately, I had exactly the right piece - a burnt 12V DC motor! Never thought it would come to any use, I kept it so that one day I can use the gear attached to it! seems like it came to better use. Once the counterweight was done, I made the ladder for the operator cabin. used the same methods as before, so there is no new technique here: The next part was to create a simple pulley combination to lift the beam to simulate non-working period. Below are the steps: First, I used #40 mercerized cotton, some single strand electric wire and small pieces of styrene tubes to make the rotating joint for the pulley thread: Second, I used the Grandt Line large wagon wheels, used the same method I used to make the pulley for the spreader, I had cut a groove along the perimeter and made a solid cardboard housing for the same. Once done, fixed them on the top of the crane, took the threads over them and through the tiny holes right behind them to the underside of the top frame.notice that the pulleys are actually at an angle, just like the prototype. Third, under the base, I just tied the two strings to a styrene rod with the help of some copper wire to keep them parallel to each other. Now, when you pull down that styrene rod (Using a a pair forceps), and lock it under the fixed pins on the main frame, the beam is drawn, simulating an inactive state. The last part of the build were the wheels. I didn't any fancy with that - just took 4 plastic N scale wheels, cut them, and put them in a cardboard frame - that's it.
Finally, after all the pieces are put together, glued and painted, here is the final piece: Photo at night: Beam drawn:
Just wondering- Do you have a rough dollar figure for the cost of this project? I'm sure it beats any commercial possibility by a very significant number.
If you calculate the cost of the raw material, then yes - the price of the full pack of materials used (styrene stairs, railings, metal tubes, LEDs etc.) should come to less than $20, and I used only fraction of them in this project. However, it took me nearly 30 hours to build this, so if you consider that, it's not very cheap either!
Background scene - Port Entrance Now that the container crane is done, I started working on the backdrop. Used Scalescenes container paper kit to make some container stacks, and a poster painting of Black Mountain, NC as the port approach. Also used Miller Engineering chain fence with barbed wire to give that extra effect. And here is the crane again!
