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2nd Athearn Crane DCC Controled Locos and rolling stock
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MRH Author 5,564 posts Bernd MRH Author 5,564 posts
Bernd

Almost done with the second crane build. This one will have 3 NCE decoders to animate the turret, boom and big hook. I just need to add a second set of pick-ups to the second truck and add the small hook. Then it's off to a good friend of mine Jim Otto of http://Ottovation.net  to have three NCE decoders installed and tested.

Here's a pic of what it looks like up to this point.

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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DKRickman Prolific poster 3,069 posts
DKRickman

Looking sharp

It looks like this one has more room inside than the last one.  Better design on round 2?

Ken Rickman

Danville & Western HO modeler and web historian

http://southern-railway.railfan.net/dw/
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Bernd MRH Author 5,564 posts
Bernd

# 3 Will even be better

No, #2 isn't a better design. There is more room since the turret motor is mounted on the other side of the boom & big hook motor. I don't have a motor sticking up in the middle of the turret. I used a set of Athearn blue box gears to rotate the turret. Also the side plates are gone. I used some square tubing to hold the boom arm.

Hopefully in design #3 I'll be able to mount the motor underneath the chassis. I've been collecting gears from anything with a reduction drive in it. I did find a great set in a 1" dial indicator that didn't work anymore.

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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DANNY CAUSEY Active Member 64 posts
DANNY CAUSEY

R & D

That is why it is called R & D (research and do it again.

 

Danny
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Bernd MRH Author 5,564 posts
Bernd

R & D

Danny,

I've got 3 more to do R & D on. I figure I'm going to be like Edison. I'll be able to tell you 100 ways how not to animate and Athearn crane.

I'll get it right yet, NOT.

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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Jmensel New member 1 post
Jmensel

Looks great..I have been

Looks great..I have been watching the cranes with a lot of interest.  One thing that I have been trying to figure out is how to animate the stabilizer bars.  Carrying some blocking on the support cars and being able to stabilize the crane could add a lot of interest...
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Bernd MRH Author 5,564 posts
Bernd

Crane Stabilizer Bars

J,

Thanks.

I have given that some thought too. It would be interesting to be able to do that. I've had some ideas. One is using a model airplane servo. They have real miniature ones. I just don't think there is enough room. But it bears looking into.

Perhaps this fall when the outside nice weather work gets done. Right now I need to finish this one up before the end of this month.

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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Bernd MRH Author 5,564 posts
Bernd

Mechanics Completed

All the mechanical stuff has been finished. Now it's off to my friend Jim to have the 3 NCE decoders installed.

A couple of pictures of the electrical pick-ups I made for the plastic truck.

Two pieces of #24 wire through the truck frame and a piece of perf-board.

One piece of #24 and a small piece of phosphor bronze soldered to the perf-board. Wires soldered to perf-board.

Color coded wires attached to the two brass rings that form part of the turret under the frame.

Crane weight added. Keeps wires tucked away nice and neat.

And there it is all done. Can't even see the track wipers.

Until the nice project, Adios.

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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