NZ120 Steam Crane arrives

The NZ120 Steam crane test print arrives rather quickly from shapeways, After cleaning up the body the process of carefully removing the pieces began. Then painting & assembly resumes. I had intended on a working bucket, but seeing how tiny it is in nz120 scale I realize i'm lucky to have a bucket at all. So I ended up simply super gluing it in a position i'm happy with.

I used 2 wheels, the center wheel is missing, the space used up by a rather big screw, securing the deck to the chassis.

Thin wire is used for connecting the pulley/jib/chassis. I had intended to use wire to enable the bucket to function, but the connecting parts need to be enlarged which means compromising on the look. I might work on the bucket a bit more.

The design is now available from the shop https://www.shapeways.com/shops/kiwitrains

2 Screws enable the boom and bucket to work, a screw driver is required to operate the crane.

Coaling a loco on the mainline is probably not advisable.

Painted & weathered. Note the screws are accessible via the open back door.

Showing the underside, no brass bearings, just burr one end of the wheel and pop them in. The center wheel is quite un-necessary... The couplers attached with tiny screws picked up from the local watch repair man. 50 screws for $8!
The rather big screw adds weight, and a rubber washer to give the right amount of friction.

A snapshot of events during second crane build

Showing 2 cranes ready to work.

A rather good shot of the prototype.

Also, more info on nz cranes here http://www.nzrcranes.org/