American 7260 crawler crane

[eef7260]

Hi everybody

My name is Eef i am new here , but maybe some of you already know me.
I made an american 7260 crawler crane in 1:15 scale.
This has been an longterm project and it's still going ( slowly )
I am working on a 1:50 model also of the same crane.
There are some more things i like to add to the crane , so enough to post in the future here.
And i have a lot of other hobbies so sometimes there is lot progression and sometimes i do nothing at all for months on the crane.

Also like to play with computers so i made website about it.
http://homepages.ipact.nl/~eef7260/

So here are some pictures.

Hope you enjoy.

Eef



http://homepages.ipact.nl/~eef7260/images/img001.jpg

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http://homepages.ipact.nl/~eef7260/images/img040.jpg

http://homepages.ipact.nl/~eef7260/images/img052.jpg

This is an orange peel grab i am working on at the moment

http://homepages.ipact.nl/~eef7260/images3/orange%20peel%203.jpg

And the 1:50 carbody i am working on

http://homepages.ipact.nl/~eef7260/images3/7260-007.jpg

[9W Monighan]

Ah ha . You finally got clearance to enter. Glad to see your work on this forum!;)

[SmallHaul]

Wow! Incredible work. Beautiful crane, thanks for posting pics.

Do you have any videos?

[Jared]

I can't help but stop and admire it every time I see it. Beautiful!

[rc_farmer]

That is an amazing piece of work! Gonna keep following this.

[scalecranes]

Wow! This thing is incredible. How did you make the boom?

[kerst]

Nice to see you on this forum, Eef!

Kerst

[RCLogger]

WOW Great build, can you post some photo's of the building process.
Welcome to the site, great to have you.

greg

[9W Monighan]

WOW Great build, can you post some photo's of the building process.
Welcome to the site, great to have you.

greg

Greg, Check his site out he has some pictures. One shows the jig he used for the boom. I looked it over again yesterday laying in bed sick but I didn't find all the pictures. I think there's more showing build closeups. I hope Eef posts them. I would like to see the other cranes on the table at the model show too. The kid operating his crane looks just like my nephew. But he's never been to Holland.:D

[eef7260]

Thanks for the warm welcome and nice words.
I will post some more pics in the next few days but unfortunately i do have not much from the building stage but i do my best to find some.
And like Steve i came home today with a flu as well ( is it on the forum ?? ) :).
I feel like **** at the moment so it might take a day or 2 before i feel like searching for pics and posting.
The little kid is my nephew and he is real good in operating the crane and he loves it , he going to shows with me most of the time.
The nice thing is that i have time to speak to people while he operates the crane and he is having the day of his life.
Ok the next post is about building the boom with some pics and about the other cranes from the show

Eef

[9W Monighan]

Is that what they mean by a VIRUS on the computer?
My words are exactly about having a partner you can trust with the machine. My son has been with the build since the beginning and he knows what to do and is a really big help while walking. But we're still learning.:D

[Stuff]

wow thats huge!!!

[tracksntreadslou]

Hello EEf and welcome ...Wow pretty amazing talent and very good attention to detail..
How much will it lift?

[W900snowman]

Hi EEF and welcome, amazing work I can't wait to see more of this one. It looks just as detailed as the 1:50 models I have. Keep up the good work and get well soon. Are the crawler pads steel? I would love to see more on those they look just like the real ones.

[tc1cat]

What a way to make an entrance to the forum!! GREAT looking crane and the 1/50th looks like it could pass for the big one! Can't wait to see it completed also.

Lynn

[D8R]

That´s one fantastic model you have made. Realy liked to see the other pics on your home page. Hard to belive it´s a model! 5 stars!
Dan

[eef7260]

Hello everybody
Thanks again for your reply's and nice comments.

tracksntreadslou asked : How much will it lift?
Well here is the answer.

100 US tons = 90 metric tons = 90000 kg divided by 15 to the third power = 26,5 kg maximum lifting capacity.
With the shortest boom configuration at 83°.
Thats been tested and it passed the maximum load test successfully.

SmallHaul : there are a few small videos on my website.

W900snowman : yes the pads are from steel i will post some about it in one of the next posts.

OK now about the boom.
Boom is made from 6mm steel hydraulic tube and 2.5mm welding steel.
It's cheap and strong , 90% of the connections are done with copper welding.
The rest of the connections are done with silver solder.
Reason for this is that sometimes there are to many connections close to each other.
If you heat up one place the other one is falling apart again.
Silver solder is a bit lower in temperature so i used this on the difficult spots.
Result of this it's extremely strong , but it's not that simple.
It's extremely difficult because of all the tension you will bring in with these temperature.
So be warned it can drive you nuts if you will give it a try.
Afterwards file of the spots with to much solder ( or some rough sandpaper).
And then sand or glass blasting the whole thing and that's it.
The photos will tell the rest of the story.


next post : about the other cranes from the show , and about the tracks.

Eef


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/eef7260/1-1.jpg

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[W900snowman]

WOW very nice work. Can I ask why you chose to use steel for the boom instead of brass or ???. Just curious I've been planning on building a manitowoc 4100 in probaly 1:16 and I am always looking for ideas or advice. Again amazing craftsmanship it is top notch.

[mog]

WOW VERY NICE i love you jig for making your boom. i was so pumped when you said that you did a scale max lift. that tell's me that it work's as well as it looks good wich is way hard. i can't get the work you have done.

[lorenzo]

That's just breath taking. Wow! I wish I had just 1/10th of your skills. That would boost the making of my dragline.
I've seen your sockets installed at your clam shell bucket. How did you made the sockets. This parts I could need too :).

[9W Monighan]

That formula is interesting. 15 to the third power, can you explain?

[kerst]

That formula is interesting. 15 to the third power, can you explain?

Weight is related to volume.
Dimensions are in a certain scale, then areas are in this scale to the 2nd power and volume to the 3rd power.
Does this make sense?

Kerst

[9W Monighan]

Weight is related to volume.
Dimensions are in a certain scale, then areas are in this scale to the 2nd power and volume to the 3rd power.
Does this make sense?

Kerst

Now I see. I never could visualize it that way. I did that formula with my machine and given the approximate weight it come close to the 1:1 machine.

Model: / 1:1 Machine:
aprox wt 250# 1,030,000#
bucket full 12# max load = 50,500#

[eef7260]

Thanks for explaining that one for me Kerst.
I was already thinking how am gone do that with my basic school English.

[eef7260]

Hello everybody

W900snowman : Why did i used steel for the boom ?
It's cheap and was available at my workshop also it was as close to reality as possible.
Also it can be copper welded and silver soldered and that is stronggggg.
OK it might be over-constructed looking at it afterwards but i am happy with it.
But using brass and using soft solder might be a good choice.
( i used brass with my jib because those sizes where easily available in brass , but i used silver solder )
There is is one major problem with copper welding or silver solder and that is the temperature.
This generates so much tension in the boom , but it can be done.
You have to give it a try and learn by trial and error.

Here are the pic's that Steve asked for these are the best i have got.
The pictures are from an P&H 5300 from a friend of mine Cees.
He also made an American 5299 both in 1:16 scale.
We spent a lot time together on shows.
Most amazing about these models is that are controlled by one single motor.
Everything is controlled with small levers on the crane and works with with clutches and brakes.
He build these models long time ago and these models where my inspiration to build my model.
After all those years he is done with hobby and moved on to other things in life so he selling them.
Don't now if it's allowed in this section ( if not moderator please remove the link )
but here is a link to his selling page with some more pic's.
http://members.home.nl/cjrotering/

Another good friend of mine is building a 5299 American in 1:10 scale can post some pics of that as well ??

next post : about the tracks.

Eef

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/eef7260/ph-5300-0001.jpg

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http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/eef7260/ph-5300-0008.jpg

[kerst]

I know that guy!
He was a good friend of mine when he built these two crawlers. I helped him get started on the 5299. I had just finished my 4100W then. We used to go to exhibitions together a lot, when I still lived in Holland.

kerst

[eef7260]

I figured you would responded Kerst
I now you had good contact , my contact with Cees started when his models where almost finished.
This was about the same time that you left holland.
I think i have seen only one time both of your manitowoc's and then you where gone.
Not sure but have you been back some years later and went to one of the shows again with a manitowoc and a tele crane ??

Eef

[kerst]

I figured you would responded Kerst
I now you had good contact , my contact with Cees started when his models where almost finished.
This was about the same time that you left holland.
I think i have seen only one time both of your manitowoc's and then you where gone.
Not sure but have you been back some years later and went to one of the shows again with a manitowoc and a tele crane ??

Eef

In 1989 i left Holland and moved first to Britain and then in 1998 to the USA.
I came to the show in 1998 with my 2 Manitowocs and the carrier of the Krupp 180GMT. About 4 years later i came from the USA with my then finished Krupp. Was quite an operation to fly it over!

Kerst

[W900snowman]

Thanks EEF7260, That makes sense with the boom materials. Thanks for all the pictures too. These cranes are amazing.

[eef7260]

Some pictures as promised about the tracks.
Do not have much pictures from the building stage but here are some.
Tracks are made of steel each track plate is made out of 12 separate parts.
These were soldered together in a mold to a single track plate.
Sandblasted afterwards and thats it.
Each side frame has 37 track plates so thats 74 plus a few spare ones.
Took me more then a year to make them , this was the start of the model.
Reason for doing this first was that i figured that if i quit on this project it would be here.

Eef


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/eef7260/up0001.jpg

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[Tamiya Cowboy]

Truly impressive guys these cranes are very very impressive. what will something like this lift in pounds?

[9W Monighan]

Now you got my wheels spinning in my head! Those tiny hinge pieces would make me go nuts. Those had to be a pain to locate,braze then have the pin align.:eek:
If I ever build one of my next machines track links are used by the hundreds-like 304 of them.

[eef7260]

Almost forgot
Also 76 connection pins ( had to be turned on size )
And 152 small locking pins ( these where bought )
I am still surprised that i did not go nuts there.
Would never do it like that again.

Eef

[lorenzo]

You're crazy, really crazy ;). That makes me feel like I should hide my models in the basement. That's just fantastic (all thumbs up).
I think you missed it because it was the last post on the prev page but could you answer my question please?
That's just breath taking. Wow! I wish I had just 1/10th of your skills. That would boost the making of my dragline.
I've seen your sockets installed at your clam shell bucket. How did you made the sockets. This parts I could need too :).

[W900snowman]

Thank you for the info and the pictures. This build is more amazing every time I look at it. You had to be very patient to get all those tiny parts to line up right. Very nice work.

[D8R]

Very nice tracks, was parts laser cut? How did you manage to have all parts lined up while brazing? I had to spotweld my parts together before they where brazed in owen.
Do you have any pic from this assembly work?
Very nice model!
Dan

[eef7260]

Hi lorenzo

Yep sorry missed that one.
My English is not perfect so excuse me for that but is this the socket you are talking about.
Just to make sure i am not telling you a whole story about the wrong piece.
So let me know are we talking about this piece ??

Dan , no everything was was made by milling.
I try to find to soldering mold and take a picture in the next few days.
Spot welding sounds like a good id too.
PS that is one big serious bulldozer you are building there.
Looks real good and impressive so far.


Tamiya Cowboy : have a look halfway the first page hope that answers your question.
100 US tons = 90 metric tons = 90000 kg divided by 15 to the third power = 26,5 kg maximum lifting capacity.
With the shortest boom configuration at 83°.
Thats been tested and it passed the maximum load test successfully.

Eef


http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/eef7260/Dscf1757.jpg

[lorenzo]

Hello Eef,

Yes, that's the part I meant. If German is easier for you than try this way.

[eef7260]

Hi Lorenzo

I made the basic shape by milling ( see figure 1 & 2 )
It's not an real socket with an key , sorry it's a bit fake.
I made 2 holes ( see figure 3 )
I put the rope trough one hole then make a not and then stick it up again trough the other hole.
After the milling i made all the round edges with a file and sand paper.
It's not the most easy part to made but it can also be done with a saw and a drill and a lot patience and some skills with a file and sandpaper.
Hope this made some sense.

Eef

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/eef7260/Image1.jpg

[lorenzo]

Thank you Eef. That makes sense. Interesting way you did it.

[eef7260]

Hi Guys

A few people asked for some more pics off the building stage.
Well thanks to this nice forum i found some inspiration again.
So i decided to work on the orange peel grab and make some parts for it.
The most difficult parts are done but a lot of small parts have to be made.
Like shave house and shaves from the top and bottom flange and the top hoist eye.
This is the current state at this moment.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/eef7260/orangepeel001.jpg

And this is the shave house and shaves from the top and bottom flange and the top hoist eye that need to be made.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/eef7260/orangepeel002.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/eef7260/orangepeel003.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/eef7260/orangepeel004.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/eef7260/orangepeel005.jpg

Programming some parts in the cad program to upload them to an wire edm machine.
A wire edm machine is a beautiful machine for model building.
It's an expensive machine so it's not accessible for most of us but my boss got a few that i can use after work time.
Al these parts can be made with other methods as well but this makes it much easier and faster.
I made a lot of parts in the past the conventional way but now i am lucky enough to have access to these machines.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/eef7260/orangepeel006.jpg

Program uploaded to the machine.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/eef7260/orangepeel007.jpg

Machine while cutting the parts.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/eef7260/orangepeel008.jpg

Left over material.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/eef7260/orangepeel009.jpg

And the result.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/eef7260/orangepeel010.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/eef7260/orangepeel011.jpg

And these are all the parts needed for the shave house and shaves from the top and botom flange and the top hoist eye.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/eef7260/orangepeel012.jpg

The bottom flange with shave house soldered together with silver solder and the shaves assembled.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/eef7260/orangepeel013.jpg

The next step is the soldering of the top flange with the shave house and the hoist eye.
Hope you enjoyed it so far.

Eef

[9W Monighan]

I never thought about a wire EDM for plates. That would be soooo much more accurate than a lazer. Boy would I like to have one of those. I've been toying with the idea of getting a old ram type EDM but I have never used one. I almost bought a couple last year cheap from a shop down the road but there was some electronic problems with them and I was afraid of not finding parts. Alot of the guys that make small engine parts use these to erode away metal to simulate castings. Usually they grind or machine the electrode to the form.

[eef7260]

Hi Steve

Wire edm are great machines and i am lucky enough to have access to them.
Once you start using them you see more and more applications for it.
In fact the profile of the bottom and top flange , the 6 bars and the tooth profile is also done with it.
it could also be done with laser cutting ( less accurate but accurate enough ).
The fact that i used it is simply because i have access to it.
If there was a laser cutting machine available for me i would have use that.
In fact wire edm is a bit over specified for the job.
Don't know how things are in your area but over here there a lot of company's that do laser cutting for real fair prices.
You only need to deliver a decent cad file and wait for 2 weeks or so.
The thing is now i don't have to wait , i do it myself and it cost me nothing ( only time )
But if i had not access to edm i would seriously consider laser cutting for some parts.

Eef

[D8R]

I have used laser as much as possible (unless I couldn´t make drawings) on my D8r and I think it´s very accurate. i do a lot of tabs and holes to fix parts together and normaly I only have to use moderat forces to get pieces bond together (before welding or brazing). My latest used supplier has a special gas when cutting with laser so faces will not be burnt.
With an edm machine it should be possible to make differences in hight of the material, not only cut through it I think.
Dan

[eef7260]

Hi Dan

Don't get me wrong laser cutting is indeed very accurate
In fact it's probably more accurate then needed for most of our work.
I think i would prefer a laser cutting for my parts.
like i said i am lucky enough to have access to wire edm so i use it.
But you i can tell you we reach accuracies of 0.003 mm in holes with wire edm.
Thats not with one simple cut but but wit 5 or 6 cuts.
The last few cuts are done with a very low amp just to polish and take off the last few microns.
OK thats far over specified for our parts but it can be done with wire edm.

Eef

[Heavy Metal]

Thanks for sharing Eef. Now THAT is how you make a nice part!! Joe

[rc_farmer]

Very good work.

[Stuff]

oh my that is amazing!

[pugs]

Very cool build.

[tc1cat]

Most of us can only dream about having access to either a lazer or wire edm. Your workmanship is outstanding. Your build looks like it should be in a museum.

[D8R]

I think that most of us using those types of machinery have either access at work or contact a local company. I have had a couple different companies heling me ($$) depending on what type (thickness) the part will be done from. I have used the laser cut parts because it give me an acurance that I have problem to achive. I don´t have any education on metal working so every step is big for me. But , yes it´s a dream to have a small laser, but hard to see that coming. Maybee a CNC mill is closer (i hope).
Eef, a question about that EDM, it looks like a wire between the heads, how do you get that wire into a hole? And isn´t there another machine that can partly cut through a plate to get difference in height??
Dan

[eef7260]

Hi Dan

The wire is shot in with a small but powerful water jet ( you need a small start hole )
The water jet acts as a guide for the wire and it keeps it perfectly centered.
The wire goes done with jet while the machine slowly feeds the wire.
On this machine i used 0.25 wire but 0.1 or 0.05 mm wire can also be used.
Don't know exactly what you mean with the second question , make me a simple drawing so i can answer that one.
here is a nice youtube that explains a lot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDLZBz2uOL0

Eef

[pugs]

I believe he is asking about a sinker edm, that would give the ability to do blind holes and shapes that are not through like a wire edm does. There is also hole popper edms, which are used to put small holes into hard metal for the wire edm to start in or just to have holes put in.

[doodlebug]

Hey Dan, look at this link, maybe that's what you where asking about?
http://www.lindsaybks.com/bks9/edm/index.html
Later, Neil#2 aka doodlebug.

[eef7260]

Hi Guys

Some time ago i got a pm with the question how i did the window rubbers.
I will post it here also so it might be useful to others as well.
The trick is very simple but it took me a while to figure it out.
Buy yourself a thick black Permanent marker.
Stick a needle in the center of the tip and let it stick out 5 mm or so.
Take a windowframe and let the needle be the guide , and follow the contour of the window on both sides.
Practice a bit with a dummy windowframe and play a little with thickness of the of marker for desired effect.
Or change the shape of the tip a little with a knife.
New markers gives a better and nicer layer ink.
Hope this info is useful for someone.
And here is the result.

Eef

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/eef7260/american7260-334.jpg

[dirtpusher9]

Wow, that is some serious craftmanship. I've seen this model on the net before and it is awsome.

[JensR]

A beautiful machine and beautifully machined!

[TheMachinist]

Wow this machine is simply amazing! The Grapple is a work of art!
Jordy

[sparkycuda]

Marvelous craftsmanship!

Ken

[Azorean]

WOW Amazing job...

[xilence]

One of the most beautiful self made crane model I have ever seen.
Very high detailed.

Eef also helped me with the tagline winder which I didn't knew how to make it really work..:cool:

[BigPoppa]

Eef you are very talented and skillful! A truly beautiful crane!

[Doug]

Hi eef,
Did you buy or make the headache ball and sheaved hook block? I am looking for a 2-3 sheave hookblock and a headache ball for my "off the shelf" 1:12 scale RC crawler crane. Any information would be appreciated. Thanks!

[eef7260]

Hi Doug

Sorry for the bad news but everything is 100% self made from steel.

Eef

[dsm4g63punk]

This is such a masterpiece! amazing skill and talent!

[Espeefan]

Wow! Incredible craftsmanship at it's best. What a piece of art, that is actually functional and accurate. Amazing models. Worthy of 5 stars!

[eef7260]

Hi Guys

It's been a while but here is a small update.
Finished the grapple a few months ago but forgot to post the pic's here.
So here it is the finished grapple.

Eef

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/eef7260/10_zps25694ef8.jpg

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a234/eef7260/11_zps31a3c0cc.jpg

[9W Monighan]

WOW that turned out very nice. Interesting to see the hollow pins on all the pivot points. How did you make the cable sockets?

[kerst]

Very nice!

Kerst

[Finster]

WOW, really nice!

[eef7260]

Hi Guys

Thanks for the nice replys.
How did you make the cable sockets?
Steve have a look at the bottom of page 2 , i think that will answer it.
Must say i am surprised no one said something about the color , i find it pretty extreme and not very old school and i still haven't figured out myself if i like or hate it.
Still have no clue what i was thinking when i spray painted it , must be solvents that does those kind of things to the brain :) .

Eef

[9W Monighan]

Hi Guys

Thanks for the nice replys.

Steve have a look at the bottom of page 2 , i think that will answer it.


Eef

Oh, Now I remember:o I knew I should have looked back.

[dabears]

WOW!!!! That is a work of art!!! I think the color is ok like you said has that old school look to it! Awesome job!

[Rvjimd]

HOLY COW, that is nice! I just went thru the four pages, and wow.

Eef,

I am thinking about building a crane or converting a second Menck, or just rigging my current dragline for clamshell operation. Can you help me understand how the two ropes work together with a clamshell bucket?

At first I thought it was simple but is there something else beside just one rope to hoist Nd the second to open and close the clam?

What I don't understand is how to keep the clam rope from going slack when the bucket is hoisted? Is it simply running both drums even and together or is there something else?

Anyone else also, please feel free to respond if you have some info.

Thanks

Jim

[patbou]

really nice job!!!

[chikn truckn thumper]

very very nice job and im not into cranes... and very nice work station clean..