Container Cranes?

[201bhoy]

Was just wondering about which container crane I should get? I would love the Heljan one, but at the minute at least, it's too expensive and kind of impractical at it's so big and they're really hard to get... If any of yous have past experience or know which ones are good and which aren't, that'd be great!

[Glenderg]

Would this fella painted yellow suit your needs? It appears kind of reasonable pricewise too?

 

http://www.newmodellersshop.co.uk/lima/hl8000_container_crane.htm

[Garfield]

Kibri also have a gantry crane kit available that resembles a slightly larger version of the latticed types that were used in Sligo, Adeleide Yard, etc.

[201bhoy]

Lads, I was looking at both of those. I saw the Lima one used to good effect in the Fingal county layout, which is one of my favourite Irish layouts, but I still think it looks a bit like a toy... I was thinking that the Kibri one looked really like Adelaide's one Garfieldsghost! By the way, I think you might be thinking of Limerick's one, Sligo's one is more like that the Heljan one I think that I might go for the Kibri one.

[Flying Scotsman 4472]

Would this fella painted yellow suit your needs? It appears kind of reasonable pricewise too?

 

http://www.newmodellersshop.co.uk/lima/hl8000_container_crane.htm

 

 

 

Richie that one is very toy like you would be better going for the likes of a kit

[Glenderg]

I know its fairly toy like, but to achieve a decent looking gantry crane you'd have to spend mega wonga, and poor ol' vinny is short on cash. That was my thinking based on his post. Personally, I think they all look fairly non-irish and would suggest that he pony up the £40 for the styrene, and scratchbuild this beasty.....

 

 

 

Bosko could work out the electronics!

[Broithe]

The spiral stairs will send him mad(der)..

[Glenderg]

The spiral stairs will send him mad(der)..

 

Cheers Broithe, I forgot to mention the brass wire for that one. That's another tenner. But cutting out the 42 stair treads would defo send him round the bend.

Richie.

[BosKonay]

Looks sweet

 

Some SMD LEDs and a wee motor for the gantry and ye'd be sorted (and in the nuthouse!)

[201bhoy]

Yeah I could that, but I just can't seem to find any time these days to do anything! I think the Kibri gantry one looks quite good, but it might be too big for my layout

[BosKonay]

I've one of these from Ratio - works well for a small yard:

 

[BosKonay]

Here's a shot of one in all over yellow

 

[201bhoy]

Yeah that's nice... which one are you using for the main freight yard?

[BosKonay]

I'm using that one above, and a couple of container lifter vehicles. Much like the real thing!

 

My headroom is very tight, so nothing larger / taller would fit in that section for me, I love the look of the Heljian, but not the price

[wiggy]

I saw the Lima one used to good effect in the Fingal county layout, which is one of my favourite Irish layouts, but I still think it looks a bit like a toy...

 

 

The Lima one is not all that bad.

I think it's quite good for the price.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Robert Davies]

The Lima one is not all that bad.

I think it's quite good for the price.

 

Wiggy, apart from the coat of paint, the 'BELL' and limited clearance transfers, what have you done to that Lima crane? It looks w-a-y better than I ever remember them looking!

 

-Rob

[Shinkansen]

Looks sweet

 

Some SMD LEDs and a wee motor for the gantry and ye'd be sorted (and in the nuthouse!)

 

Hi Boskonay,

can ya tell me more about the SMD LEDs, have had an idea about scratch building a container crane for a while. I'm not gonna go down the road of motorising it tough. I'd like to keep my hair/sanity thanks. But some LED lighting on a crane would make a freight yard come to life:cool:

Tom

[Warbonnet]

I'm using that one above, and a couple of container lifter vehicles. Much like the real thing!

 

My headroom is very tight, so nothing larger / taller would fit in that section for me, I love the look of the Heljian, but not the price

 

Must be the 1st time you ever complained about a lack of head room!

[Flying Scotsman 4472]

Hi Boskonay,

can ya tell me more about the SMD LEDs, have had an idea about scratch building a container crane for a while. I'm not gonna go down the road of motorising it tough. I'd like to keep my hair/sanity thanks. But some LED lighting on a crane would make a freight yard come to life:cool:

Tom

 

 

 

They are a very very small surface mounted LEDs about 1mm in size. I use them but they are very tricky to work with

 

http://m.youtube.com/#/watch?v=srWyzhz1tRs&desktop_uri=%2Fwatch%3Fv%3DsrWyzhz1tRs

[BosKonay]

You can also buy them in small self-adhesive strips with resistors, etc prefitted.

 

Ebay search for SMD LED Strips.

 

They can have droppes soldered to them, and then stuck to the underside of building roofs, fuel points, you name it. They are very flush , so work well!

[djkonore]

While on the subject of container lifting, anyone know where you can get a decent OO gauge reach stacker? Either forklift or teleporter type?

[BosKonay]

http://www.gaugemaster.com/item_details.asp?code=KI11752 is one option

[BosKonay]

Also Lima version

http://www.ontracks.co.uk/index.php?page=product&prodID=82512&catID=654

[BosKonay]

And Walthers

http://www.kato-unitrack.co.uk/walthers-cornerstone-933-3109-kalmar-container-crane-kit-22606-0.html

[djkonore]

That might be the way for me to go. Saves a lot of space too. The Walthers one looks the best from the pics I think. I know they used these in Dublin port in the last few years as well as RTG's (rubber tire gantry) cranes, but did they use reach stackers in Ireland in the late 80's early 90's? That's the era for my layout. Usually the vertical lift type are older and reach/telescopic type are newer. I think the Walthers one would be more realistic for that time period?

[Glenderg]

http://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/5739804618/in/set-72157626638886303

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/irishswissernie/5739809040/in/set-72157626638886303

 

Prior to reach stackers, you'd have to find the mast type, which are like large forklifts with two prongs to go into openings on the containers and lift vertically, falling back against the mast. Those openings are gone from most containers now, only found on 10ft & 20ft containers. I think a walthers one dirtied up and a bit rusty would look dead on.

 

Richie.

[Flying Scotsman 4472]

http://www.gaugemaster.com/item_details.asp?code=KI11752 is one option

 

I've been looking of one of those for a long time can never seem to find one shop that has them in stock:(

[djkonore]

The Walthers one is in HO scale, some modification might be required...

[BosKonay]

http://www.scalescenes.com/products/T032-Gantry-Crane

[heirflick]

Also Lima version

http://www.ontracks.co.uk/index.php?page=product&prodID=82512&catID=654

 

pick any one except the lina one..no great detail and looks like it was thrown together! the only way to make it look any way decent is to weather the feck out of it!

[Mayner]

That might be the way for me to go. Saves a lot of space too. The Walthers one looks the best from the pics I think. I know they used these in Dublin port in the last few years as well as RTG's (rubber tire gantry) cranes, but did they use reach stackers in Ireland in the late 80's early 90's? That's the era for my layout. Usually the vertical lift type are older and reach/telescopic type are newer. I think the Walthers one would be more realistic for that time period?

 

CIE used large and medium sized container handling forklifts at many depots from the late 1970s, places like Tralee and Galway that handled quite heavy container traffic never had gantries. The medium sized machines were mainly used to handle sundries containers and at smaller depots like Boyle and Mullingar.

 

The main difference between the older and current machines seems to be the location of the cab http://www.taylormachineworks.com/THDC-TXC-TETCP%20series%20Table.htm

[djkonore]

Thanks mayner, I think as long as its the mast type and not the telescopic jib type it should look alright. I wonder if the Wathers one will fit a OO container?

[Flying Scotsman 4472]

I wonder if the Wathers one will fit a OO container?

 

Yes it will fit a 20/ 40' container and also the 40' locking pins on a 45' container

[djkonore]

Even though its the wrong scale? Won't the 00 containers be too deep?

[Flying Scotsman 4472]

Even though its the wrong scale? Won't the 00 containers be too deep?

 

 

I have one and they look fine

[djkonore]

Cool, can you pick up containers with it?