My latest project is to add some detail to an LGB Matra crane. The basic model isn't bad, but one or two aspects are a little toy like. Plus those lovely big opening lockers were just crying to be kitted out.

 

So starting with the lockers. The insides were painted light grey and various shelves and  fittings were made from stripwood, coffee stirrers and pieces of garden wire.

On this side we have various rope slings (garden string), chains, a box full of shackles (made for me by my friend Fred), a tool box and spare fuel churn (both from the Perfect World Scenics range)

 

On the other side we have various hand tools (Perfect World), cans of engine oil and hydraulic fluid (Back2Bay6), another wooden crate (Fred) and wooden chocks & blocks fashioned from stripwood.

 

One of the most toy like aspects was the way that the hook was simply tied to a single rope from the head of the jib. Luckily plenty of "rope" was provided and I was able to rig a double pulley to the hook to give a 4 to 1 rove to advantage set up. I made a small loop from garden wire which was stuck into a hole on top of the buffer shank. The crane hook is attached to this loop via a shackle when stowed. Both the shackle and the pulley came from Cornwall Model Boats (see "Suppliers" page).

 

The chequer plate on the upper surfaces was painted silver - which not only looks better, but breaks up all that yellow.

 

 

Finally a couple of pics of the crane in company with my weathered LGB track cleaner.

 

 

The permanent way brake van that I recently converted from a Bachmann caboose brings up the rear.

 

 

The crane project isn't finished yet. The hook needs some "mousing" over it's open end and I want to do some more detailing on the operator's control panel. Maybe a little light weathering too?

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........ while the tool van is decidedly "manky", the idea being that it is an elderly general purpose van which has been put into departmental use and spends most of it's time parked up in a siding in all weathers.

 

 

 

Doesn't show particularly well in this photo, but the tool van's roof is showing the signs of this abuse and is gaining a mossy coat. The deliberate mistake is that I should have added the van's markings before weathering.

 

 

 

Detail of the crane's control panel with operating levers made from dress makers' pins.

 

 

 

The finished breakdown train awaits departure from Wetton.

 

 

 

For anyone interested in modern track maintenance vehicles (or if you just like yellow things), this site is an inspiration;