Hi all, I thought I would set this up as a new thread rather than just add it to my weathering thread. Back in 2006 I stumbled across the web site for the Foxfield Railway - a former colliery line in North Staffordshire, converted to passenger running by way of earning revenue thus to help preserve it. On their stock page, I saw a most unusual beast - a crane tank. In fact, they had 2! I'd never heard of such a thing before, but the idea fascinated me; so much so, that I set about trying to create one for my own line. The solution was quite simple - a second hand Stainz locomotive, the crane arm from a Matra crane wagon body were the main parts. The thing to join the two was even simpler: the lid from a bottle of cooking oil spray! The ingredients: Obviously there was some cutting involved, to get the top off the lid and to cut a curve into the bottom of it to match the curvature of the loco boiler - but nothing too onerous. The result of it all was this: A lick of some suitable green paint to finish, plus some metal chain and a winding wheel from a large scale boat model shop, and it was all looking the part: I was lucky enough to get along to a G Scale Society open day near Southampton, where it was quite well received!
Keith, you're absolutely right! Unfortunately, one of the bridges I built on my line after making this, was actually too low! It's another thing on my to-do list to try and get the crane arm to sit lower so that it will eventually clear the bridge.
You cant beat an LGB Stainz for a model that just runs and runs! Built as tough as a brick, and most of the newer ones have a seven pole motor. Andrew Sandbar & Mudcrab Railway
Thanks, chaps, for your most kind comments. I love the older 'analogue' locos, they just seem to run so smoothly, even at low speeds.