buffalo Posted October 29, 2012 Share Posted October 29, 2012 I need a GWR hand operated 2 ton yard crane for the goods yard at Camerton. I have a drawing and a couple of photos of the original type and am trying to find a suitable kit. The Ratio 531 crane looks close, but is actually about 50% bigger than the 2 ton type. It might be fine if I was working in 7mm, but... Another possibility might be the Mike's Models MM26 "GWR Light Yard Crane". According to Holt Model Railways, it is not available but is going to be re-manufactured, though they don't say when. I've not seen one close up for a long time, so I wonder if someone could post or direct me to a photo. If you have one could tell me how big it is? What I need are the height from the base to the top of the wheel at the end of the jib, and the swing from the pivot post to the hook. These dimensions are 12' 10" and 12' 0" on the prototype. If it's a suitable size, I'll have to wait until new ones are made or keep my eyes on ebay. If not, I'll have to scratchbuild -- bending channel section brass sideways could be fun... All information, measurements, other suggestions welcome. Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hughes Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 I need a GWR hand operated 2 ton yard crane for the goods yard at Camerton. I have a drawing and a couple of photos of the original type and am trying to find a suitable kit. The Ratio 531 crane looks close, but is actually about 50% bigger than the 2 ton type. It might be fine if I was working in 7mm, but... Another possibility might be the Mike's Models MM26 "GWR Light Yard Crane". According to Holt Model Railways, it is not available but is going to be re-manufactured, though they don't say when. I've not seen one close up for a long time, so I wonder if someone could post or direct me to a photo. If you have one could tell me how big it is? What I need are the height from the base to the top of the wheel at the end of the jib, and the swing from the pivot post to the hook. These dimensions are 12' 10" and 12' 0" on the prototype. If it's a suitable size, I'll have to wait until new ones are made or keep my eyes on ebay. If not, I'll have to scratchbuild -- bending channel section brass sideways could be fun... All information, measurements, other suggestions welcome. Nick I've got one (from eBay, where they turn up from time to time) in my 'make it some day' box; if no-one else can give the info I'll post a picture later today with a ruler included to give an idea of the size. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 I'm afraid the Mike's kit does not resemble the Camerton crane in any way, other than it has a jib and a hook. The Ratio crane is a closer match, but as you point out is nearer S scale or 7mm than 4mm. Someone did an etched brass kit for a similar crane, it was in an old MRJ, other than that I heard nothing more, nor have I seen one on a model. The only route for an accurate crane is to build it yourself. Or you could think of commissioning/designing a kit - there is a large gap in the market..... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John_Hughes Posted October 30, 2012 Share Posted October 30, 2012 And I've now realised that what I have is the Medium crane, which I presume is different. Either way here's a rotten photo 'cos my camera battery is flat so I had to use the mobile - the ruler scale doesn't show very well, but if built it would actually be a scale 15' or so from base to pulley-pivot. Hope this helps someone anyway! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted October 30, 2012 Author Share Posted October 30, 2012 Thanks John & Tim. Yes the MM 'medium' is a quite different type and, from what Tim says, my memory of the small one must be wrong. Unless anyone can come up with a suitable alternative, it's beginning to look like a scratchbuild... Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold gwrrob Posted October 30, 2012 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 30, 2012 Heres a link to built up versions. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Sidelines Posted October 31, 2012 Share Posted October 31, 2012 Heres a link to built up versions. http://www.flickr.co...eds/7249308572/ In fact there is even an item here on RMweb. Regards Ray Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted November 1, 2012 Author Share Posted November 1, 2012 Thanks Robin and Ray, but those are both the Mike's medium crane and a small GEM thingy. I still don't know what the Mikes 'light yard crane' looks like, though Tim says it's nothing like what I need. Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold nickwood Posted January 9, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 9, 2013 Hi Nick I've just built one of the Mikes Models light yard crane for Much Murkle that I fortunately picked up on Ebay a couple of months back (for £8 incl postage ). They do seem to be like hen's teeth to find though as I'd been looking for ages. Here's some photos, hope they help. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted January 9, 2013 Author Share Posted January 9, 2013 Thanks, Nick. That's a rather nice little crane. At least I know what it looks like now and, as Tim said, it's nothing like the one at Camerton. I really should get on with mine as I've some suitable brass channel for the jib sitting on the bench awaiting bending... Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Sidelines Posted January 9, 2013 Share Posted January 9, 2013 Nick - your little crane is very similar to another Mike's Model that I have 'in waiting' - mine is supposed to be a Midland Crane. It has the same arrangment of gear boxes. I guess they would all have been 'bought' from the same crane manufacturer. I should get on with some building then I can let you see the completed pictures. Ray Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 If you happen to be down that way (it's on my to-do list), have a search on Cotehele Quay Crane, it's a very similar one to Camerton down in Devon, though what it's doing there.... (Edited to include the Camerton connection) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted January 10, 2013 Author Share Posted January 10, 2013 Thanks, Tim. I haven't been down that way for years but a quick search found plenty of photos. Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 57xx Posted January 10, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 10, 2013 Hi Nick I've just built one of the Mikes Models light yard crane for Much Murkle that I fortunately picked up on Ebay a couple of months back (for £8 incl postage ). They do seem to be like hen's teeth to find though as I'd been looking for ages. Here's some photos, hope they help. Yard Crane 001 small.jpg I had this crane on my first layout 30 odd years ago. I wonder if I still have it, or if it even survived! I'd completely forgotten about it until I saw the pic and remembered making one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chubber Posted January 10, 2013 Share Posted January 10, 2013 Does it have to follow a prototype? This is from 2 coffee stirrers and some scrap-box pieces......details if it appeals, see http://yourmodelrailway.net/view_topic.php?id=4586&forum_id=11 Doug Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted January 11, 2013 Share Posted January 11, 2013 Looks fun to make, but as he said, it's freelance. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted March 30, 2013 Author Share Posted March 30, 2013 Thanks to Mikkel and his search for goods shed crane colours I now have a definitive answer to my search for the 2 Ton crane. There is a surviving example at Toddington on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway as seen in these images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/clivestanley/5549934070/in/photostream/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/8861756@N08/4352702244/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/mattbuck007/3845306592/in/faves-24807053@N03/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/35414756@N07/5115605578/in/faves-24807053@N03/ This one is, as far as I can tell, identical to the one seen in photos of Camerton. Now there's no excuse, other than the mountain of other projects on my bench, for getting on and building one for Camerton. Nick ps. if anyone has any more photos, I'd be delighted to see them. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 A good find. Wonder where it came from? It certainly wasn't there when I was last at Toddington - I would have noticed it. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Silver Sidelines Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 Hello Nick Looking at the items that Mikkel has sorted I wonder if this picture from Knightwick is of interest? I have made one of these Yard Cranes from a white metal Mike's Models kit. However in close up I see some of the paint is dropping off - may be it knows is should be light grey? I believe the same crane is available from Ratio - kit no. 531. Regards Ray Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted March 30, 2013 Share Posted March 30, 2013 I think Ratio might do what youare looking for Yard Crane 531 http://www.peco-uk.com/product.asp?strParents=3340,3344&CAT_ID=3345&P_ID=17845 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
buffalo Posted March 30, 2013 Author Share Posted March 30, 2013 Hi Ray, Thanks for the reminder about the Knightwick picture. Until Mikkel came up with the Toddington photos, that was the only other that I was aware of, and it does show a few more details than the Camerton photos. Interestingly, the jib appears to be a light colour with everything else dark. Thanks also for the photo of the Mike's Models kit. It does look to based on something very similar though the arrangement of the wheels is different. Hi Alan, Yes, the Ratio kit is a good representation of this type of crane, but see the OP. It is actually about 50% too big! Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Passed Driver Posted December 25, 2017 Share Posted December 25, 2017 Hi All. Merry Christmas to one and all HoHoHo. When Mikes Models made the crane kit, did they do one foe the Southern ?? Kevin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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