An adventure in brass

[Schraddel]

Hello!
Some weeks ago someone asked me to built a crane for his layout, especially to to the soldering work.
I was warned by a couple of friends, that this kit is nearly unbuiltable never will fit right. I saw the word "nearly" and decided to make a try.

Prototype information:
These are pictures to show the actual prototype whist still exists today:
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In earlier times this crane was used for coaling steam locomotives.

The 1:87 crane was a kit of KHK Modellbau and is notorious for it's difficulties to built. The whole kit came in an flat envelope containing mostly etched brass parts out of 0.3mm brass sheet. And in some etched areas the thickness was only 0.1mm. A very thin and fragile construction and the main challenge was creating out of a pile of flimsy "flat wires" a stable 3-dimensional structure.
Engine house and driver's cabin were made out of thin lasercut ply wood and paper. That was not my task to built, only the soldering work.


The first start was building the base platform, visible right above. The kit instructions were not very helpful because it contained a lot of misttakes and vagues. And to make things worse bout noting fitted here. Nearly all of the parts had to be reworked, e.g. the crossmembers onto the underside of the platform were all a little bit too long, so that they did'nt fit as etched. All of them had to be shortened a little bit to fit in the right place and in the right angle.
Right of the main platform ist the platform für the driver's cab.
Below a tool chest.
And in this little clear plastic box the rope dics and the wheels on which the main platform should rotate.
In the middle the door an steps leading from the main platform to the cab platform. All was in pieces and was solderd together.
Left bottom the right side trusswork of the jib.
Middle the left side trussword of the jib with some crossmembers mounted.
Above the railings for the ladder (see prototype photos)


A nearer look to the right side of the jib. The trusswork of the bottom side is mounted and some of the crossmember trussworks.
The structure is still flimsy and has to be handled extreme carfully.


The structure was turned 180° to show the outer side.
Here onto the side of the ladder the railing have to be soldered.

All the soldering waas done with my 25W electric iron.

To be continued

Lutz