Garden Railway Forum

After over ten years of operation, I decided it was time locos on the PLR were given the opportunity to quench their thirsts and so a water tower and water crane have been added to Beeston Market station. The tower was constructed from an old Model Town kit but I felt the crane was something I could tackle myself.

Ingredients:

• main column = 5mm wooden dowel
• collars on the column = plastic tubing and barrel from a cheap biro
• base of column = tap washer
• valve housing = 10mm wooden bead
• valve = casting from Cambrian Models
• cap on column = end of plastic test tube
• joints on column = metal washers
• counterweight = end of plastic party 'blower'
• arm = 4mm wooden dowel covered in 5mm plastic tube
• support for arm = brass rod
• hose - heatshrink tubing

It's not a perfect representation of the real thing, but seems to look the part. It still needs to be weathered and positioned at the end of the platform (weather permitting).

More info and other developments on my blog - https://riksrailway.blogspot.co.uk/2017 ... rt-68.html

Rik

Very convincing Rik, nicely made and a most useful accessory.

Great job Rik, and it sounds like it used up plenty of odd bits around the house. As modellers we need to see what things can be, as apposed to what they are.
Grant.

Looks good Rik.
An excellent example of using odd bits to make a representation of something, as we discussed some while ago.

Thanks chaps. I do enjoy the challenge of solving constructional problems by re-purposing bits and pieces - and of course saving money at the same time. The valve on the water tower was constructed in a similar way.
Rik

Heatshrink as the hose, brilliant!

Hello Rik,

What a lovely job you've made of this. It looks well proportioned and well engineered, most of all it looks functional. Well done.

Andrew

Gee! that last pic. could be 1:1 scale.
Grant.

LNR wrote: Mon Jun 12, 2017 12:36 am Gee! that last pic. could be 1:1 scale.
Grant.

Thanks Grant - that's praise indeed from someone with your eye for detail

Rik

that's rather brilliant

Brilliant - as usual - I love the way you have taken lots of 'bits' and created something so right! - and as Tom said, the heat shrink - genius!

I have a desire to build a working water tower and water crane that I can actually fill the locos from. I think it's going to be fun to make.

Boustrophedon wrote: Sat Jun 24, 2017 12:41 pm I have a desire to build a working water tower and water crane that I can actually fill the locos from. I think it's going to be fun to make.

Sounds interesting. Will the water have to be pressurised in some way?

Rik

ge_rik wrote: Sat Jun 24, 2017 12:46 pm

Boustrophedon wrote: Sat Jun 24, 2017 12:41 pm I have a desire to build a working water tower and water crane that I can actually fill the locos from. I think it's going to be fun to make.

Sounds interesting. Will the water have to be pressurised in some way?

Rik

I was kinda hoping gravity would work. Wont fill through a Goodall valve obviously.

Boustrophedon wrote: Sat Jun 24, 2017 12:41 pm I have a desire to build a working water tower and water crane that I can actually fill the locos from. I think it's going to be fun to make.

I like it - this will be a good one to watch!

A great model Rik, brilliant.