1933 Ransomes & Rapier mobile crane

Now primed.

 

Cheers Pete. Video was a lucky find.

Another project, long forgotten about, made its way onto the table today. A Dinky Coles crane unit. I had intended to get this converted to RC about 6 years ago!!
No reason why I shouldn’t get this one stripped and painted up in between waiting for paint to dry on the R&R.

a quick dip in some caustic soda……then a good wash.

I’m going to fill in a couple of holes and file off the operating instructions

first coat of pale blue applied to the R&R.

 

Yep, that’s the kind of things you need in your spares box, plus a fair few years of plastic spares from all sorts of kit building. There’s a fair few sellers on evil bay that sell plastic gears, arms, cogs etc few a few dollars / pounds, which can get you out of trouble every now and again.

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/281769423215?epid=1840641396&hash=item419ac4316f:g:f-oAAOSwDNdVx4Wd

 

Yes Brian it does hang down as the supplied white metal shaft is tapered slightly and this gives a loose fit in the chassis. I’ve already addressed this issue by fitting a brass bolt into the platform with a washer between the chassis and the platform and a second washer with a nut underneath the chassis to secure it all in nice and tight. It’s all loose at the moment whilst I continue to add some detailing in the cab and to finish the paintwork off. Kim

 

Right hand control panel with levers scratch built and fitted inside the cab.

Left hand control panel / switches dials etc fitted, again scratch built

fuel tank fitted…..from my white metal spares box, and the battery has been “wired” up…

no “bumper / wheel guards” in the kit, so I fabricated some off cuts of etch, bent and soldered to the cab end.

All the three main parts can now be separated for some more painting. Whilst the paint drys I will start to make a cab seat / pedals and lever assembly…..

 

Cheers lads for the comments.

Finishing touches included etched plates for the jib….painted white then once dry a quick wash with black followed by wiping my finger over the etch to reveal the white lettering. The top etch was the first attempt at trying to paint the black around the letters……didn’t work for me

then the bit I enjoy the most, weathering and adding the small details……

And the Dinky Coles crane unit was glazed, rigged and weathered.

I’m pleased that I’ve been able to get this model completed from an incomplete kit. It would have been nice to have been able to make the jib and hook length adjustable, which with the correct parts would have been possible according to the instructions, the 2 winding shafts been adjustable using a small screw driver. At least I can move the jib around for different poses on the layout and I should be able to make up a few different loads and chain arrangements to vary the scene. I’m calling this project done….back to the horse box kits.