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       The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum Forum Index -> Meccano
Wallace

Construction Crane

Firstly, yes it does need steam, which I'm working on a appropriate setup. It was easier to build it as it is first, then add gearing for lifting, and moving the trolley.

Built from no plans, just pics of a real one. The red block at the back is a custom made concrete counterweight and a 2nd one can be added for lifting stuff. The whole crane balances on 2 meccano plates.

The trolley currently moves between 2 cranks, at each end. Lifiting is supplied by the green "rope" running over a pulley on the trolley
It's the only way it could be setup for a Engine to be fitted, but unfortunately this way, as the trolley moves away from the cab, it causes the hook to be lifted, and vice versa.

Anyways, enjoy the pics. MEC1 is the choice of motor.
I have experimented with a dog clutch, but it takes too much power from the engine. So it'll be a "crash" type gearbox.

Oh, and I took the pics at my parents place. No room for it here now. Just over 4ft tall, and even longer in length.









James

Wow mate! That's awsome!
IndianaRog

Holy Cow Wallace, that thing is incredible. I like to watch a Discovery Channel program on huge machines etc...they did one on such cranes awhile back and yours definitely looks the part.

Congrats, you have to be pleased with that effort. It will be fun to see it "steamified".

cheers,
Rog
Chris

Wow!

Good effort, major meccano!
Wallace

Cheers guys.

It's Dad's repainted Meccano though So the washers were used as not to scratch it

The counterweight will have to be moved under the jib to make way for the MEC1. At the moment, it's just sitting there.

Dad made the base with the cars. He wants to display it.

Oh, and the Crane will be rotated by hand. It's on the correct roller bearing parts for rotating, but unless I add my SE2a to the base, that part can stay manual.
Just a pity in testing the dogclutch takes too much power from the engine
MTA

I love it Wallace, and I like it even more because it isn't as big and bulky as the other Meccano cranes. See here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S_uv5NpYJ0U

Taken by me at the Midhurst model show
Wallace

Thanks MTA.

Thanks for that quick clip. That's the big block setting crane I think.
tmuir

Wow Wallace thats impressive.
I thought the paintwork looked too good to be original.
Look forward to a vid under steam
Cedge

By Golly Smedley... I think you've done it...LOL. I never cease at being impressed with what a good hand and an Erector set can accomplish. Man, that is one impressive construct.

Steve
IndianaRog

Wallace wrote:

Just a pity in testing the dogclutch takes too much power from the engine


Wallace, not sure what a "dogclutch" is...but how about an idler pulley where you push a lever with a pulley on it to take up slack in a loose drive belt??? Again, might be same thing as a dogclutch, but I can't quite understand how an idler pulley would cause much drag.

cheers,
Rog
Sandman

Wallace. I am impressed.

How long did that take you mate.?????
Mamodman123

Looks great Wallace! 4ft tall she's a beast
Wallace

Cheers for all the comments guys.

Tony: My old man paints a lot of his meccano, to make more sets e.g. The 24 1/2" girders in that model were silver
Galmet Bright Red and Green are the colours. You can see the "ladder" is a different shade. Holts paint They have to be repainted but they were used as they were the only spares that could be found

Cedge: My Dad's after a original Erector set. Unfortunately the postage cost is the killer, and they aren't common here in OZ

Rog: Thanks for the tip, and something worth trying. A dog clutch is sorta similar. On this Meccano board, there is a thread for a Dog clutch. Basically 2 gears mesh, and the friction is from the lever to engage them. I have gone back to the dog clutch today, for more experimenting. Otherwise it'll be similar to the meccano Excavator in the STIA vid, and the other crane on these boards that my Dad built. Just a matter of gears fixed to a axle, which slides to mesh with other gears that'll be already spinning.

SM, she took about 24hrs all up. The slow part is the gearing now, so probably another 24hrs Easier than reading meccano plans though
oldstuff

Jeez Wallace, that's nice! What a great looking model. So, eventually it will
go on the larger base shown with the cars? Did your dad do any assembling?

I was thinking it'd be cool to have some member's dads who are into steam
pop in and chat with us. There's James and his dad, Wallace and dad...and
probably many more.
Wallace

oldstuff wrote:
Jeez Wallace, that's nice! What a great looking model. So, eventually it will
go on the larger base shown with the cars? Did your dad do any assembling?

I was thinking it'd be cool to have some member's dads who are into steam
pop in and chat with us. There's James and his dad, Wallace and dad...and
probably many more.


Thanks Chuck

Dad built the base, with cars. Yeah, it will eventually be attached to it. Dad also designed the strengthening of the mast, with the cross bracing. I tried,but with the parts I had it looked pretty, but did nothing. He delved into his parts for the right pieces

His hands are pretty shaky, so hard for him to do nut and bolts. Oh, he also did the current pulleys for operating the raising and lowering, and movement on a Trolley

I'd love for people's Dad's to get on here. Even though my Dad was an accountant, he isn't up with computers, doesn't have one.
I'm sure if he were let loose on the net, his bank account would drop.
1) Buying meccano off ebay
2) Through the fake emails you get, he somehow get caught up in getting his account drained as he enters details to "confirm net banking"

It's a step ahead for me. Considering he let me use the meccano. As a kid if a part didn't fit, I'd make it fit. Hammer and tin snips made good tools for custom meccano bits
James



He might have an Erection (set) aswell soon to bugger about with

Yeah it looks amazing mate Wish I could build it
Wallace

LMAO. I won't be touching that set you mention

Seriously though, if you have acces to the meccano, it's easier than following some of the older meccano booklets to build a model.

The traction Engine took a backseat for while. We were both building it, and got stuck a little. Then Dad had a few ops for skin cancer. But all good now
James

Very pleased to hear he is all good with the big "C" now.

Very good news.
Wallace

James wrote:
Very pleased to hear he is all good with the big "C" now.

Very good news.



Thanks mate
steamyjim

good news wallace

that crains amazing cant wait to see it steam powered

i have a origional meccano dog clutch (not gears) very rare that i talked my tech teacher into giving me (scabbed!!) to use in my steam excavator
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