Link-Belt HC-218 Truck Crane

[redneckrigger]

On 6/11/2022 at 4:58 PM, rekcirb13 said:

Hi Tom,

Glad to have met you at the model show/ contest in Taunton, Mass., a couple of weeks ago. This engineering and the detail on this crane is absolutely incredible! Looking forward to seeing it completed.

Bob

Was great meeting you as well Bob. Link Belt did the engineering.....................I have only just reduced it into pieces of plastic! Cheers!

[rekcirb13]

Love the over simplification, Tom! (LOL!)

[bobthehobbyguy]

Any more progress on this cool project?

[redneckrigger]

9 hours ago, bobthehobbyguy said:

Any more progress on this cool project?

Painfully little, unfortunately. Life interferes, work is stupid crazy, and add in the dreaded builder's block and you have a perfect storm resulting in very little getting done. But soon, I HOPE!

[bobthehobbyguy]

I understand.  Hoping you findnd more time and motivation for this really cool project.

[redneckrigger]

On 2/20/2023 at 10:17 PM, bobthehobbyguy said:

I understand.  Hoping you findnd more time and motivation for this really cool project.

Finally, I AM finding more time to be at the bench. I just sold my business and retired. So, now there is time........................FINALLY!

[redneckrigger]

Working on the upper house, feels good to be going forward again!!! 

[bobthehobbyguy]

Glad to see you have this back on the bench.

[David G.]

It's nice to have you back on the boards Tom!

I'm really glad to see build back on the deck.

David G.

[Mopar - D]

Tom, I’m also glad to see back on this awesome crane build.  

[redneckrigger]

May not ever finish this monster, but am sure gonna give it a good effort.  Haven’t had lots of time to work on it with the last 2 1/2 months spent deer hunting. But the freezer is full.  Have gotten a few more things done on the upper house. Built the operators cab and the control pedestal.  Found that my wife’s junk hair curler has bristles that make perfect control handles with knobs.  This thing is such an involved build, it is extremely daunting.  But I started it to be super detailed, and I simply cannot deviate from that path. The way I figure it I’ve only got about 1500 - 2000 individual pieces to fabricate and assemble, and endless rough edges to clean up still to go! I am leaving to head south for three months after New Years but will be back at the bench right after that.  I had thought that I would be getting lots of build time after I retired. I am getting lots of traveling with my wife, lots more hunting than ever and just getting back to this build in between everything else.  Still wouldn’t trade it back for working!!!

Edited December 24, 2024 by redneckrigger

[BK9300]

Very cool to see an update on this build!  Lots going on - great to see the progress.

[The Brush]

That is impressive, fantastic job, well done.

[DerekV]

the results are sure to be amazing, great job

[David G.]

I too would like to see you carry this one through to completion Tom.

Everything you've accomplished so far has been beyond spectacular!

David G.

[redneckrigger]

The one thing in this whole project, now going on 5 years, that was daunting, is the boom.  I don’t know how to work with brass, nor do I have the knowledge to make it in 3D, so it is old school for me, lots of Evergreen shapes.  So, it is about the time to start at least the butt end of the boom and its associated parts. So……I just jumped in with both feet and made a trial piece to see how it would go together.  The actual lattice boom is 60” wide and 50” deep, made of 3” tube for the chords, and 1” tube for the lattice.  I made a jig to hold the parts as they get assembled. And what you see in the photo is the result. It actually is quite rigid, and light. I hope to build 90 to 100 feet of boom. So far so good!

 

Edited December 27, 2024 by redneckrigger

[David G.]

That's one thing I've learned; engineering principles work, no matter the scale.

The only trouble one runs up against is suitability of materials.

Great work on the truss frame!

David G.

[redneckrigger]

2 hours ago, David G. said:

That's one thing I've learned; engineering principles work, no matter the scale.

The only trouble one runs up against is suitability of materials.

Great work on the truss frame!

David G.

Yes sir, the engineering always works. I have no concerns with using styrene either, as this is not being built to handle a load. But as a proof of concept to try out the assembly method, I’m quite pleased. 

[Straightliner59]

It's been a while since I wandered over here. I was impressed, way back in the beginning. Even more so, now. The controls in the cab look fantastic! Nice start on the boom.

[gotnitro?]

Glad to see ya back at the bench Tom! 

Boy you really jumped back in chest deep w the test truss, and it looks great. You'll be thinking about that boom your entire trip lol

[redneckrigger]

1 hour ago, gotnitro? said:

Glad to see ya back at the bench Tom! 

Boy you really jumped back in chest deep w the test truss, and it looks great. You'll be thinking about that boom your entire trip lol

Yeah you’re probably right! Not like it hasn’t been keeping my mind occupied already! Most likely this will be still on my bench when my ticket is punched, but it is getting closer!

[redneckrigger]

More work on the upper house.  

Edited January 4 by redneckrigger

[BK9300]

Fabulous progress, overall - going to be a very detailed build when your finished!

[gotnitro?]

You've gotta bring this beast to Spring Thaw again, always enjoy chatting builds w ya 

 

[Gary Chastain]

Glad to see this getting attention again, that’s a big project.