Many thanks for the comments everyone, and the suggestions. I'm afraid I may have goofed, and should have put the stairs at a 90 degree angle to what they are now, so they sort of fit inside one of the legs. The trouble is, the legs are very narrow at the base, and angle inwards. I'm not inclined to rip it out and try though, so I think maybe running some smaller beams from above is my best option now.

Ralph, that's exaclty why I don't use super glue if I can avoid it. Believe me, I got fingerprints all over them as it is!!! I try to sand them off if possible, but if not I just leave them as bits of corrosion, hehehe.

WGrider, fortunately the stringers and risers were molded in one piece. I don't think I would have the patience otherwise. I had to add the railings and the platforms. The tricky part when you don't have a supporting wall to square things up is attaching the stairs to the platforms, and keeping the platforms level. There's not a lot of surface area there for glue. Fortunately I have a wide repertoir of curse words just for situations like this!

cheers
Val

Spitfire Wrote:Fortunately I have a wide repertoir of curse words just for situations like this!

An essential for every modeller's tool box...!

Andrew

Val, I think your decision to use small angle iron from is a good one. When I worked in a container terminal in the Port of Los Angeles, our "hammer head" cranes had ladders going straight up one leg with a safety cage surrounding it. At the top was a catwalk leading to the machinery house and stair going down to another catwalk that would line up with the door to the operator's cab when the cab was in the "park" position.

Yet another shining example of real talent!

Can't wait to see more.

Matt

Spitfire Wrote:Thanks a lot Nick and Josh! So glad you guys like what I'm doing.

I'm waiting on some parts for the benzol plant tanks, so I decided to add a set of stairs to the ore bridge crane. I couldn't really find clear pictures showing how it was attached, so I guessed. I used Walthers modern fire escapes for the stairs -- they fit pretty well, and I only had to remove 2 steps to get the right height.



I'm not sure about that platform hanging in mid-air. Any suggestions would be appreciated.

cheers
Val

Suggestion

If you hang it on the outside and sideways, you should have to extend the platforms for the small angle

Thanks for the photo Tom. I was afraid of that....

Now I have to decide if it's worth it to move the stairs. They're pretty fragile and I'm afraid I'll wreck them, but if I do I will move them to the front legs which are only angled in one direction.

cheers
Val

Spitfire Wrote:Thanks for the photo Tom. I was afraid of that....

Now I have to decide if it's worth it to move the stairs. They're pretty fragile and I'm afraid I'll wreck them, but if I do I will move them to the front legs which are only angled in one direction.

cheers
Val

If you do wreck then upon removal remember they are plastic with a coating of paint, so the fix wouldn't be too hard

When I did the walthers pan bakeries, the stairs were a pain in the butt and I ended up ripping them off so many times but I just kept gluing them back together

Maybe something like this(the red lines) is all you really need.
Since its only going to hold(theoretically) at most 250lbs -300 lbs(a large ....beer drinking, Big Mac eating, Doritos munching Canadaian Football watching) Crane operator its probably the most you'll need.

Works for me Ed - thanks!

cheers
Val

Wow, Val, looking real good.
A true artist at work...
Well done.

Hello Val---WOW !!!! ---- coming from a city where the steel industry has been a major part of it's character and personality,your scene really "hits home"---- outstanding work,thanks for bringing the scene to life --- Nutbar

Hey Will, thanks for the kind words.

Nutbar, that's great to hear. I've only been to Hamilton once, to check out what there is to see of Stelco with our mutual friend Dr. Wayne, and I'm working entirely from photo's.

cheers
Val

Good luck with the modification Val. Tom...please feel free to post more prototype steel industry pics! Those background buildings are terrific.

Ralph

Sumpter250 wrote "Face it kid, you're one of us...."

I think that should be "....we're one of you..."

That's as good modeling as I've seen anywhere on this forum. Most of us would :
1. Not even attempt doing something this complex, and..
2. Not be able to pull it off as excellently as she's done....

Congrats, and keep the pictures coming....

Most excellent work Val !