Animating an Athearn steam railroad crane in HO scale
Вставка
- Опубліковано 11 вер 2024
- mrhmag.com - Dr. Geoff Bunza demonstrates the HO scale Athearn steam railroad crane model he brought to life using a DCC sound decoder, micro motors and relays. Geoff loves model railroad animations and this one is a stand-out - it even includes custom sound files that play while the crane is operating! This is the companion video to the cover article in the August 2012 issue of Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine.
The original version of this video is available for view at:
• Video
That is an absolutely AMAZING build !!! I also have an old Athearn Bluebox Crane like this that I've long imagined making functional. On my layout, I have a rule that any derailment of three or more axles requires a Wrecker Crane response, but only to 'touch pilots' before any God Hands can intervene. How fun would a Real Crane be for Real Rerailing and Wreck Recovery ?!?!? That would add a whole new level.
I'd love to see inside of that crane on how you mounted all the mechanisms (future video, perhaps ?).
thats incredible! i did notice the stopped video in a couple places for the smaller things. but other than that.. wow. just blown away
Watching again I have never been so jealous of Anything in my my life till now. I have six Athern cranes and none do what that crane does Congratulations My Hero 👍
I really liked that. The lights were really a cool . very realistic.
Walt in Marietta,GA.
that crane is amazing.....like the way it moves and re-rails the train
Amazing action, and sound affects, from HO scale models. Much thought and time was obviously put into this replication, and video. It also jars my imagination.
Absolutely amazing. Dr. Bunza very nice job. Thanks for the article. One day I hope to do this project on a crane. Animation and sound really make a difference in model railroading!
This is one of the most intricate HO scale machines I've ever seen!
Welp, if something derails, you don't need to get up now, just send that crane out!
Unbelieveable - can't believe it's HO Scale. I really NEED one of these.
Dr Bunza , what a great job ! I stand beside myself in awe of this fantastic HO operating model. I have long wondered when someone with more technical skills would pull off such a thing. Excellent job.
Your terrific 1/50 scale models deserve the same treatment, and you might have a bit more room to do it too! Cranes make great, interesting models!
Best Regards, Geoff
Thank you. Currently, I'm getting back into HO Model Railroading. Stumbled across your video & it made my day.
Wow a dream come true. Excellent masterpiece of HO engineering.
Have you given thought about a kit conversion or contacting Athearn about possible production of a DCC Crane ?
I'd be interested in one depending on how affordable .
Patrick
Hi Patrick,
Thanks for the kind words. You can get construction details and parts info in the August 2012 free online issue of Model Railroad Hobbyist-- MRH.com. I haven't talked with anyone about commercializing it as I have my ouwn business to worry about. If you have detailed questions beyond the article info, send a private message offline and I'd be happy to help.
Best Regards,
Geoff Bunza
Thank you, I'll be sure to do. Picking up a Southern Crane soon.
What a great job you´ve made! Spetacular work! Keep doing great stuff like this.
Fernando Loffredo - Brasil
That was the most amazing thing i have ever seen Thank You for that so much
Thank you for posting...would love to own one!
Awesome work, indeed! I am downloading the MRH issue right now. I've got a similar crane that I would like to make functional. Thanks a lot for sharing this.
Its a Athearn blue box static model that has been very heavily modified with most of the modification's being built from scratch and is very time consuming. The crane itself is only about $30 if you can find one. Most likely you will have to hit a train show or Ebay to find one.
Great video !!! New York Central Railroad rocks !!!
thoroughly enjoyed, thanks
I had no idea you liked trains !! lol
Y33t
You gotta love the Tinkerer a lost art Well Done !
Very cool! Lovely bit of work that
amazing features. is there any place that provides a service of automating these types of models for a fee?
WOW!!! That was fantastic.
Great job
Impressive model. I wish I wanted a crane on my train set. It would be more fun than ever, but I don't know how to control it. I wonder if this crane was controlled by a remote, which was included in the package.
I might want to get a UK 45 ton steam breakdown crane and make it operate like this. I can't do it myself because it is too difficult and I'm afraid I will break something or hurt myself. Is there a model train retailer that will do this for you?
I will sell my kidneys for this!
IT LIVES!!!!!!!!!!
Very good, love the sounds. I suppose one could put small eye-hooks on top of the locos and rolling stock (the rivet counters would have a fit) and then there would be no need for human intervention.
awesome
Just like a Breakdown Train in Thomas and Friends!
Thanks, I know that my function mapping may have to be reset if I download your SPJ file, but I can do that, as I have so many times. I have considered adding lights later on, but I just wanted to get my crane up and running. You can view it now under "Athearn Rail Crane Conversion to DCC & Sound" on you tube. Yours was my inspiration! My first motorized crane uses a 4ch receiver, modified servos, and internal 3.7v battery, no sound and a Dual Stick radio controller.
That is Awesome!
perfect have one jut like it bought it 35 years ago been thinking that long how i could do the same, worked on the wrecking aux. for years. thanks
A crane much like this got me hooked on trains it was a kit and all functions were hand cranked.
A crane got you "hooked". Ahahahahaha! I get it.
Very cool
Very nice. Awesome.
I am building one of these right now, almost done. I am using a Digitrax SDH164D decoder, and three micro gear motors. I happen to be using the older Athearn Die Cast Metal Crane. The hardest part so far has been building the cab rotation section with electrical wipers to supply power to the decoder inside the cab from the wheels. My crane will have an electromagnet that can be plugged onto the boom, No lights yet, I may add some later. He did a great job on this, and that was the inspiration for my project. It would be nice if his sound files could be programmed into my decoder! At this time, I use a generic diesel sound from the Digitrax sound library.
Actually you can load the spj file into your decoder, but it would require that you use the same setup that I did in the crane article. All the downloads that go with the crane are available off the MRH website.You can also extract the crane sounds and use those in any way you might want for your own setup.
Contact me through my MRH blog if you have more quastions.
Have Fun! Best regards,
Geoff
I want this. That is cool!
nice
Thanks for all your kind comments. Try building one yourself, all the details are presented, and it demos well on a personal or club layout. Have fun! -- Geoff
Hello Mr. Wondering if there's and instructions or guides to follow to possibly build one?
@@GTlct04 You can find the complete build instructions article in the August 2012 issue of Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine (free) issuu.com/mr-hobbyist/docs/mrh12-08-aug2012-ol-h1?viewMode=presentation&mode=embed Create a free login ID to access all the additional files. Have fun! Best regards, Geoff Bunza
@@DrGeoffB Are the supporting files still there? - registered but don't see them.
Not sure. This is a kit-bash ? Wow ! Maybe your idea can be sold to Athearn then we all could buy one ! I'd pay $150.00 or more for one, easily. Whistle is nifty too (t)....
Bash?
Bash .To Kit-bash is to build a kit from scratch or to add custom made parts of your own creation.
This is a pretty incredible job there. Too bad functional outriggers couldn't have been made. Also, since when did the NYC use bobbers in the diesel era, or at all?
Yup!, bobbers were long gone before dieselization. By the way, outriggers were deployed manually!
They shoukd all be made like this by default.
cool real cool
I didn't think that you could use other machines on track besides the Loco
nice job on making the crane operate but one thing in real life the capacity is set by the radius measured from the hook to the center of the pivot point of the crane. there for once the weight of the item to be lifted is determined the boom is raised to the proper angle and the hook does the lifting not the boom. otherwise you did a great job.
Andy, You're are correct, and I didn't learn this until years after I built the crane! Thanks for your comments. --Geoff
Where can I find specs and detail's to do this to mine? Fantastic!
About how much does it cost to get one of these? I REALLY want one, even if it didn't have sound.
Did the New York Central actually own a crane like this one? I'm not trying to be an annoying rivet counter; I'm just a little curious because I model the Central and I'm looking for a crane to go with the Funaro boom car.
The NYC did indeed have 250Ton cranes with buckeye 6 wheel trucks including the X-15, X-16, and I think the X-13. The details are slightly different for each, and my model here is not exact for any of them. (I am not a rivet counter, but I have friends who are!) Google images for X-16 "new york central" crane and that should get you started.
Good luck with your project. Have Fun!
Best Regards,
Geoff Bunza
Geoff Bunza Thanks for the help. I'll be looking for photos of the X-16. I'm not a rivet counter either, but I just want to capture the general feel of how the Central operated during the early 50s. Amazing model. I never thought that I'd see something like this in HO scale.
I would really like to have one custom made for my layout. Contact me via Email. This is fantastic!
That is cool - me likey
how did you make the crane car operate like that i didn't think anything like this was avilble in ho scale thanks.
You can get all the construction details here:
issuu.com/mr-hobbyist/docs/mrh12-08-aug2012-ol-h1?viewMode=presentation&mode=embed
All decoder programming is available for your downloading too! Have at it and have fun!
Best regards,
Geoff Bunza
+Geoff Bunza Thank you!
That makes me want to build a Transnet Kirow. Does anyone have a dimension schematic?
is this a dcc set you can buy or did you make it
Full details to build this animated crane including sound files are described in the August 2012 issue of Model Railroad Hobbyist (free and online) here : issuu.com/mr-hobbyist/docs/mrh12-08-aug2012-ol-h1
Have fun! :-)
Best regards,
Geoff
I didnt see any signal men out there directing the crane operator. I'm calling osha.
Ware can I buy this 0-0 I neeeed it
hi im from Marteltrains i like what you did its cool can you gmail me back to let me know how can i get one and how much it cost
how wide are the rails I'd like to know because if they are 2 .in I will buy this crane from you for $20.00
"20.00"
lmao
This is ho, its not for sale, and even just the trucks are worth more than 20
How much weight was added?
Weight was added to the front inside of both sides of the cab to counter balance the motors etc added-- likely just a couple of ounces (lead sheet was used).
add operating outriggers and jaw dropper!
UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUU,,,SHOWWWW,,,,LINDOOOO...
HERE!!! TAKE MY MONEY!!!
Заеюет это гудок!?
Це єдиний звуковий сигнал (одиночна музична нота з прототипу крана)
Свисток, який ви чуєте, це одна нота