This will be the last post on the crane thread for motorizing the swivel base. A few more pictures of the final drive.

I'm getting the plate ready to be mounted on the bottom of the crane. That's a #61 drill for a 00-90 tap. The pencil is for size comparison. Four holes were drilled at the four corners.

The part, drill, and 00-90 tap.

The part was used as a template to drill the tap holes. The holes in the plastic frame bottom were then tapped. I know the drill is at an angle. I just stuck it in the hole to take the picture. Hard to hold the camera, push the botton and hold the drill with only two arms and hands.

The holes in the part were then drill for a clearance hole for the 00-90 screw and countersunk. The part was then attached to the bottom with four 00-90 countersink screws.

 And that's it for now. Next up will be mounting the motors that will move the boom, big hook and hopefully the small hook. The motors are somewhere between hear and China. So as soon as they land in California and Hop Sing gets on his bike and delivers them I'll start writing up the next thread.

Bernd

Yeah, that's another title for the porn seekers ;)

I'm curious, why did you chose to thread the plastic instead of the brass?  It would seem to me that a screw (especially an 00-90) in plastic would be pretty weak and easy to pull out, but in brass it would be much stronger.  I assume that you have access to both sides of the piece at this point?

Ken,

Refer to my other thread on the D shaft. You'll see why I did that. The top is cover by the swing base and motor. Also, there is only sideways pressure from the motor. In other words shear pressure. I could add a bit of CA glue also. I may still change it to threading the brass. The other reason is, with a 00-90 tap, plastic is easier to tap than brass. If the threads pull out I can always redo it with a bit of plastic in the hole and then re-tap. Also if I break it, buying this small tap is expensive. Look up how much one of these cost, if you can find one with ordering it.

Again several ways that it can be done and the builder has a choice of which way to go.

Bernd

Since you guys did such a nice job on my other thread, how about waving your magic wand over this one and correcting it?  Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeese

Bernd

Received the motors today. They were flown in from China, wow.    Anyway, these suckers are small. I took 3 pictures just to show their size.

So now I have to figure out how to mount these. Need to refer back to Geoff's article to see how he did it. I got three because I want to try and power the small hook also. I think it's going to get crowded in the crane cab.

Bernd

A friend sent me some brass parts for an HOn3 project, he decided HOn3 was not his forte, so he sent the parts to me. I found amongst the parts what appeared as an air tank. A closer look assured me it is. I had contemplated putting one on the roof of the crane. So here are three pictures.

I made a wooden block so I could hold the crane body in the vise. I then milled out a portion of the roof. I didn't do any measurements. I just eye balled it.

Then just like the muffler side, I glued three pieces of styrene to mount the air tank on.

I'm waiting for the glue to dry before I trim the edges back. In the mean time I placed the tank on the cutout to see what it will look like. Pretty good I made add.

Kevin, have you got your crane yet?

 Bernd

Kevin, have you got your crane yet?

Bernd

Yes, my crane arrived this week, although with a  bit of damage from shipping, but nothing that is not repairable.

It's funny you should ask, since I spent some time this morning putting together a parts order from Mouser Electronics that includes items I need for the crane.  Also gearing up to order motors from eBay and Pololu, will need to get a decoder, and some insulated wheel sets too.  Fall is here so soon I will have less to do outside and that means more hobby time to work on projects like this one, and get back on track with my layout!

Nice mod, the air tank.  When you say you milled out a portion of the roof, do you mean you used your mill to do it?  You've got me salivating over those micro mills that are available...a guy can never have too many cool tools.  Always thought it would be fun to have a metal lathe too... ahh, so many tools, so little money! [wink]

Yes I milled it out with an 1/8" end mill. Much easier than trying to use a knife and files. I just eye balled it and then glued in the styrene panels.

If you ever decide to buy such equipment look at the Sherline Lathe with a milling attachment. It's a great machine for HO scale.

I'm looking at using Precision Scale Company brass Buckeye trucks. I believe they'll come with metal wheels. It'll give the crane a bit more weight below the center line to help balance out the motors in the shell.

Link: http://www.precisionscaleco.com/ Clink on trucks, pick "HO steam trucks" and then click till you get to the Buckeye trucks.

Next step will be to add the winch motors. Not sure yet if I'll add the small hook motor. I'll be using a NCE decoder since that's the system I bought. Not going to going to give it sound. Too much money.

Bernd

I'll be using a NCE decoder since that's the system I bought.

Real quick comment, since I need to head out the door for work..

For you, or anyone else who may not know or might misunderstand, note that there is NO reason to use an NCE decoder decoder with an NCE system, or indeed to pair up any decoder and system manufacturer.  The decoder may or may not be the best choice for a given application, but any brand of decoder is required to work with any brand of system.  I am partial to Digitrax systems and TCS, Soundtraxx, or Digitrax decoders.

More importantly, good job so far!

I'm looking at using Precision Scale Company brass Buckeye trucks. I believe they'll come with metal wheels. It'll give the crane a bit more weight below the center line to help balance out the motors in the shell.

Bernd

I guess those wheels must be insulated from one another.  How else would they work...right?

The trucks look pretty good and the added weight is a good idea.  Thanks for the link to them.

Regarding the mill. I've been sniffing around a clone of the micro-mark mini mill, that I can get here in Canada.  I'll have to look at the Sherline product line.  I figure from all I have heard that it's a better quality tool than the China brand mills (Craftex in Canada) aka Microlux line.  I wonder how they compare dollar wise and if there is a dealer  for Sherline here in the great frozen North?

I took my crane apart today and started working on freeing up the cab rotation, cleaning out years of dust and crud, trimming some casting flash and using a fine emery board to smooth out some rough spots.  I need to get some plastic friendly lube I think.  Any recommendations?  Graphite or a type of Labelle grease or oil perhaps?  Maybe a silicone spray?  Must be styrene safe...hmm?