There is something wrong here, I just cant figure it out. Can anyone help me here?

I don’t need a gantry crane for my layout, but I needed a break from working on my layout. I wanted to do some modeling, so I decided to build a gantry crane, the obvious choice, isn’t it? . A while ago I saw this pic of an old gantry crane http://www.gingerb.com/CNJ%20Wilkes-Barr...201968.jpg and ever since I wanted to build something like that. For first attempt I wanted to use styrene to build the crane. I started with doing a drawing for the legs of the crane.



Next I glued a printout to a .020" sheet of styrene, cut the sides of the leg out and assembled the leg. It looked like that.



To tell the truth, I did not really enjoy doing this leg and it did not look good enough. And besides, after working a lot with styrene for the structures of my layout, this was not the new challenge I was after. So I decided to try to build the crane from brass. I have only done some detail parts from brass so far, not a whole structure. So this would be a completely new experience.

I just had to go to the local hardware store for a couple of bolts, and while there my wife requested I pick up some 100 watt light bulbs.
I found the prominent display for the 8 bulb value pack for only $6.99. Being I'm cheap Chuck, I think, this is a rather expensive pack of bulbs, perhaps the store prices are just too high. Well, I turn around and at the same level on a shelf are the exact bulbs in the expensive 4 pack for $1.99.
You gotta watch these merchandisers.
Charlie

Is there a way to straighten the "mesh" they provide with there fencing materials? The pieces i have are all wrinkled and it makes it dang near impossible to cut straight and fasten to the fence

Anyone have any suggestions? I would like to continue using this stuff if i can since i have a bunch of it and money is tight right now.... I just cannot for the life of me cut a straight piece, and when i do get a semi-straight piece, when i go to glue it, it does not lay flat and then i have to use a ton of white glue to hold it in place, and then when i paint it, it looks like crap cuz you can see where the excess glue was used, it covers the mesh in some areas and looks terrible Its really frustrating

Any help or suggestions are appreciated, thanks in advance

I am far enough along that I thought I would start posting progress pictures.
This is in my garage that I have to share with my wife's car and yard equipment. The layout is 24x2 ft along the back and 20x2 ft down the wall on the left and the island, and the end of the island is 4x4 ft. I didn't realize how big it would be until now. Also, I had a choice of finishing the walls this year or building the layout, bet you can't tell what won
I don't know why the first pic is so blurry :oops:
As you can tell, construction is ongoing, so don't mind the mess.

Loren

Attached Files

Thumbnail(s)
       

Pics soon to follow in N thru G.

Just as a teaser I have a B&O Mike in S, a B&O Pacific presidential loco in S both with matching passenger cars

Quick question.

On my small collection of Polly Scale paints it says to use Distilled Water when thinning paints for airbrushing at a ratio of 4 parts paint, 1 part water? Is it necessary to use distilled water or will just plain ol' tap water be fine?

Thanks.

Eight miles of track in this German miniature world/model museum.

<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29897277/">http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29897277/</a><!-- m -->

Quote:HAMBURG - It's billed as the world's largest model train set — a miniature world that snakes along eight miles (12 kilometers) of track, amid fields, cities, even the snowcapped Swiss Alps.

And it's quickly becoming one of Germany's biggest tourist attractions.

Twin brothers Frederick and Gerrit Braun, 41, have turned their boyhood passion for model railroads into a lucrative private museum called Miniatur Wunderland that has kept adding track since its 2001 opening and drew 1 million visitors last year.

Since these aren't trains:










And this, which would make a fine depot but was, in fact, the old hospital:

Attached Files

Thumbnail(s)