Big Yellow Has Arrived:

[Pete Coleman]

I've been invaded by a MONSTER:

Believe me, these photos do NOT do it justice.
This model is quite a bit bigger and quite a lot better than I had hoped it might be, very, very impressive to behold indeed, it certainly gets your attention!
It's taken me about 4 hours to build it up, including reeving the 150 ton lifting hook (a very fiddly job)!
Also bare in mind that only one boom extension section has been utilised, there are seven more sections telescoped inside the boom to go yet!
I cannot extend the boom by another section whilst it's sitting on the worktop as it hits the ceiling...
I will set it up on the floor at some point and take some pictures of it at the maximum height I can get here in my flat.
The heavy lift head and 250 ton lifting hook are on the ground near the rear of the vehicle.
Can you spot the ubiquitous tin of Humbrol paint?

Cheers,
Pete.

[Rob]

Thunderbirds are go.
How giddy where you when turned up Pete

[Maurice Wilcox]

Blimey, big beasts are us, wot a whopper, how long before you are forced to move out of the flat do you reckon Pete.

[Pete Coleman]

Thunderbirds are go.
How giddy where you when turned up Pete

Yep, I just can't stop looking at it sitting there, with a great big grin all over my face!
Now I'm just waiting for the heavy transport lorry and crew van to turn up and wondering whether or not to buy a smaller support crane...

[Pete Coleman]

Blimey, big beasts are us, wot a whopper, how long before you are forced to move out of the flat do you reckon Pete.

Not too sure about that Maurice.
I'm more concerned at the weight of it, I'm worried it might go through the floor and into the flat below (it weighs in at 7.5 Kilos all up).
It is almost 99% made from die-cast metal with very little plastic used anywhere, even the handrails are metal!
I am going to have a go at lifting "Surprise" for a laugh but I need to concoct a lifting rig and some straps first...
This beast is about 25%-30% bigger than I was expecting and actually builds up pretty much like the real thing.
It can travel on site with the boom and luffing jib attached but the counterweights at the rear would have to be lifted off first.
For road travel the boom assembly has to be removed. The crane can travel on the road at speeds of up to 50mph!
Cheers,
Pete.

[Pete Coleman]

A few more pictures, sorry for poor quality of some of them.

The first are of the crane at almost full height, all sections except for one have been extended.
Please note that I have not re-connected the "Y" guide rope tackles for these quick shots.
Bear in mind that one can also purchase several types of lattice boom and luffing jib extensions...
Then there are a few more general shots.
Later on there are some pictures of her in on-site-travel mode.
Finally, there is a picture of her in on-site travel mode along with all her bits and pieces.
I need the heavy duty ballast truck and trailer to arrive now to take the 10 tonne ballast weights.
The crew are waiting for their site office/equipment container to show up and also the van so that
they can drive into town at the end of the day to get some kebabs!



















Thanks for looking.
Cheers,
Pete.

[Pete Coleman]

No, no, I must resist...
117' (36 metre) luffing jib extension set and upgraded brass main cylinders with set-screw-locking from Japan...
Hmm, How long until pay-day!

[Maurice Wilcox]

Looks high enough to lift Surprise off the shelf Pete

[Pete Coleman]

Looks high enough to lift Surprise off the shelf Pete

Ha, ha, I need to fabricate or buy some chains, spreader bars and strops, before I could attempt that lift...
Cheers,
Pete.

[Rob]

Hi Pete,
Does the model have the facility to actually lift? I.e. can the cable drums be rotated?

I know a German guy who might be able to help you turn it into a working model.

Rob.

[dafi]

Big boys, big toys

All the best, do you want it rc?

All the best, Daniel

[Pete Coleman]

Hi Pete,
Does the model have the facility to actually lift? I.e. can the cable drums be rotated?

Oh yes the cable drums are fully working, they are on spring loaded ratchet systems that require the use of the supplied special key to operate.
Also, let me tell you reeving the heavy lift hook with 14 line runs with some in reverse, is a right laugh, one slip or letting tension off the hook
ever so slightly results in all the lines jumping out of the sheaves and crossing over. After eight attempts I think I have sussed out the method!
Setting this model crane up is not unlike setting the real crane up, everything on the model is made to operate as on the real thing.
There is another winding drum fitted as standard which can be used for a double hook system.
A third winding drum which sits atop the one I have rigged is supplied with the 56 metre luffing jib extension set.
This is because the extra length of the luffing jib is more finely controlled via cable rather than hydraulics. (See below).
Cheers,
Pete.

[Pete Coleman]

do you want it rc?

I believe that someone has achieved the conversion.
However, when you consider that you could buy a reasonable second hand car for the price of this model, I don't think that I fancy carving it up!
Cheers,
Pete.