Old Build: P&H Crane Truck by Lionel (1:50 scale or so)

[Brian Austin]

This truck crane was completed around 2005.  The kit was a simplified snap kit intended as a model railroad accessory.  Lionel also offered a P&H excavator.  Both were initially offered in 1960 and reissued from time to time over the years.  Mine dated from 1995.

 

I found reference material online and modified the kit to suit.  Were I to find another kit I'd build it as a three-axle early version.

 

I made the mistake of posing the front wheels turned, compounding that with not making metal stub axles.  I ended up breaking one wheel off.  It will be a tricky repair if I attempt it.  It just added to the general frustration of this project.  Some time after completion at a model show while removing it from its box the hook caught on something and yanked the cable (black heavy thread) off the pulleys, causing a major tangle.  Threading the cable in the first place had been a headache itself, and so I was rather disgusted by the turn of events.

 

I also should have glued the sliding door in, as it was always loose and I often forgot to pop it in place at shows.  So you may happen to have pictures of it from, say, NNL East with the door missing.

 

On the other hand, I am pleased with the weathering, particularly the counterweight.

 

This first series of pictures is from 2005 or so...

[Brian Austin]

How it looks today.  Interestingly, the seamless backdrop is the same sheet of grey mat board seen in the previous set, though perhaps the color has shifted some.  Light stand is the same, a hot old incandescent photo lamp.  The older pictures were shot on film, so that much is different.  :-)

 

The letters that make the P&H logo on the counterweight, standing in relief, were cut from styrene sheet.  Thankfully the logos on the boom were already molded in relief and so I only had to pick them out with paint. They do make a nice contrast to the sea of black.  Hook and all sheaves (pulleys) were cut and shaped from styrene.

 

Edited March 21, 2021 by Brian Austin

[Brian Austin]

Note the boom is designed to fold, but my model is permanently set up in the raised position.

 

Edited March 21, 2021 by Brian Austin

[Brian Austin]

Some good info regarding the kit's origin here.  Note the scale of the crane is stated at 1:60.

 

https://www.tandem-associates.com/lionel/lionel_trains_6828_flat_car.htm

 

Also included two pictures from a past auction showing a typical example to compare against my modifications.

[PappyD340]

Still looks great, excellent work!

[Brian Austin]

Thanks!

[GLMFAA1]

Always liked the P&H crane, The original had wires to hold up the boom instead of thread. I have two and the second one I got the builder made it a tri axle but I found the wheels and put it back to 4 axle.

greg

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