Kevin, appreciate the comments.

I've got a few more details I want to add, like extra radiators. I chopped up an old C420 Alco for grills. I'm hoping I can get that posted before the weekend ends.

Right now I've got to much outside work to do and it's going to be another nice day. But I will keep posting as the project proceeds.

Bernd

P.S. There are some Atherans on E-bay.  http://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_nkw=cranes&_sacat=19130&_odkw=&_osacat=19130

Got a bit more done on the crane in the last day or so.

Drilled holes for the addition of a radiator in the top two and bottom two panels.

The panels have been squared up and I'm going to use these louvers from an Alco C420.

I used 1/3 of the louvers to glue over the furthest door toward the end.

Same for the other side.

Next I have to make the radiators for the bottom two panels. Haven't decided whether to use brass or styrene.

That will be it for a while. Till the next installment.

Bernd

Lots of great ideas to apply to my own crane!  I have purchased my Athearn Crane but it has to come all the way from Florida so will be a couple of weeks anyway before I see it here in Canada...

In the meantime I hope to see more progress on your crane mod project bernd.

Thanks for sharing it!

Regards,

More progress to come, it's just going to take some time. I'm debating as to whether I should add an air tank to the roof. The prototype pictures that Geoff posted, IIRC, one had an air tank on the roof.

I also need to get some cash together to buy a couple of motors. In the meantime before I get to that point I need to work on contacts and the electrical ring for power pick up.

Bernd

I'm as far as I can go with some of the major details. I've ordered the motors. They should be hear next week. In the mean time here are some more pictures of the detailing I've done so far.

Looking for some grills to put into the holes I cut out I had these. The parts below are etched nickel silver headlight grills for large scale car detailing. I've had this for a long time and couldn't tell you the manufacturer. They were purchased in my LHS.

 Problem is they are to small. What to do?

 Well I had some of this nice diamond through etched brass from K & S Metal.

 I cut a square piece and glued it behind the openings.

 I wanted to represent louvers that open & close to control the temperature as I've seen on diesels. I used pieces of angle and 1" X 2" HO scale strips to represent the individual louvers. Each is cut to length and glued in individually.

 One side done.

Last louvers done.

 Next I'll work on the cab rotation motor when it comes in next week, but first a 3 day vacation to rest my eyes and steady my nerves.

Bernd

The grills and louvers are coming along nicely.

Are you going with the same moors that Geoff uses in his article?

Waiting for my stuff to arrive in the mail.

Mr. Postman, look and see, is there a box, a box for me...

Hey Bernd,

Once again excellent modeling. I am so enjoying this thread can't wait until you next installment.

John R

Thanks for the compliments, very much appreciated.

I ordered my motors from Pololu. http://www.pololu.com/catalog/category/60

The motor for the cab rotation is a 1000:1 rotation which will give a 14RPM at a max voltage of 4.8. The other motors were to big, they won't work. I ordered the ones Geoff suggested for the winches to move the boom and hook. Ordered them on e-bay, they won't be here till the 14 to 17 of Sept.

I guess I'll just have to work on the remote uncoupling passenger car. That's the third project.

Bernd

Thank you kindly for those words, really appreciate them.

I'm thinking my next installment might be putting the cab rotation motor in. Was contemplating today on a way to proceed. I'm looking at a different way of mounting it. But from the looks of it it might be the same way Geoff did it.

Will keep posting till I get her done.

Bernd

I saw this article, about one year after I had motorized my own Athearn Crane. I started with the older all diecast metal version, it is much heavier.  I used small three (model airplane) servo motors and a four channel receiver ( for tiny R/C airplanes) for my electronic control. I modified the servo motors for continuous rotating operation by removing the mechanical stops on the gears, and making the servo feedback potentiometer slip on the output drive shaft. One servo drives the hook, one drives the boom lift, and the third one drives the cab rotation. The cranes's control system is powered by a rechargeable 3.7v Lipo battery. Charging is applied to a small access plug on the chassis, next to a power on/off switch. When powered on, there is a flashing red LED located on the top of the cab.

I do like the idea of having sound, but my crane is not DCC. My crane can be operated on a DCC or Analog system, because it does not draw power or signals from the track.  It can even operate just sitting on a table. I use a airplane dual stick remote control to operate the crane, I can operate two servos at one time if I like. I have a forth channel available on the receiver, I hope to use it to control an electro magnet (powered via relay with track power). I will have a short video of my crane available on You Tube, under the name dadnyfur.