Link-Belt HC-218 Truck Crane

[cifenet]

I am speechless…  Not only the build itself is awesome, but the hinge assembly is top notch, the fit is as good as it can get.  

[redneckrigger]

Thank you.  The fit and finish will get much better as it approaches the finish line.  At the moment, actually, a lot of it needs filling, sanding and much attention.  But it’s getting there!

[bobthehobbyguy]

Glad to see you are back on this stunning project.

[redneckrigger]

10 hours ago, bobthehobbyguy said:

Glad to see you are back on this stunning project.

Thank you.  I’m glad too! Spent most of the last year totally on liquidating my business so we could retire.  And finally able to spend time traveling and building stuff! Hope to have more photos tomorrow.  

[redneckrigger]

Installed the carrier and operators cab doors, both rear side doors on the upper house, the rear sliding access doors on the house and all of the top covers. Added the outrigger control cabinets on both sides along with the outrigger hydraulic tank, and the hydraulic power pack for the counterweight removal system.  Added upper and carrier battery boxes. Added the upper exhaust and air cleaner.  Changed the bifold carrier engine cover to a one piece side hinge. It is all mocked together in these photos to check fit. And in the process of fitting it together I discovered that I misplaced the carrier radiator and presently have zero idea where it is! Oh well! Now have to fabricate the counterweight removal mechanism.  It’s coming along! Maybe the radiator will show up…….maybe not! EDIT....And ten minutes after I wrote the post……I found the radiator!

Edited April 30 by redneckrigger

[BK9300]

So much going here, and all scratch built - just amazing progress!

[Straightliner59]

The beauty is a beast! I just love this kind of fabrication.

[ShakyCraftsman]

 This is absolutely astounding! When you are done with this it should be in a museum for everyone to look at. Fantastic work on this, and thanks for the hinge information, it came in very handy on my Autocar build.

Ron G 

[Biggu]

There are not enough superlatives for this build. World class scratch building skills. Epic ! A massive tutorial in scratch skills. 

[titino]

Excellent scratch!!

[redneckrigger]

On 4/20/2025 at 7:44 AM, ShakyCraftsman said:

Hey Scott 

 I have the MicroMark hinge, I used it on my 1/16 Peterbilt, but its to big for 1/25 scale. I also have the Model Garage PE hinge, just didn't want to screw around with PE. Thanks for answering my question.

Ron G 

Yeah, the piano hinge on this build is a bit oversized, but it was all I could find at the time.  IF I find the time (doubtful) I will replace it with a home made one, but until then it will suffice.  

[ShakyCraftsman]

 Yeah, I tought it was a little big, but it looks okay on your build, doesn't stand out. If you look at my Autocar build I used the little hinges (forgot what #) to make a long piano hinge for my hoods center hinge. I then used two on each side for the side hinges, worked out perfectly. All this was inspired by you and your build.

Thanks Ron G 

[redneckrigger]

3 hours ago, ShakyCraftsman said:

 Yeah, I tought it was a little big, but it looks okay on your build, doesn't stand out. If you look at my Autocar build I used the little hinges (forgot what #) to make a long piano hinge for my hoods center hinge. I then used two on each side for the side hinges, worked out perfectly. All this was inspired by you and your build.

Thanks Ron G 

The big problem I always have doing a build like this from scratch is that I am never happy with some aspects of my work, whether it be from design or fit or finish. It's just a curse that adds a bunch of time to my builds as I so often go back and rework something to make it satisfy me. I am trying mightily to fight this "2 steps forward, 3 in reverse" issue, but it's hard to teach a really OLD dog new tricks! That hinge as well as about 15 other items are on my "do-over" list, that may or may not get done. I have SO much to do on this, (I hope I get it done in my lifetime), and every step I take, I find a tangent to go off on to add "just a few more details", so it's kind of a never ending spiral! But it's the most fun I've ever had when I get to building these things, as I can't remember that last out-of-the-box build I did!

Edited May 1 by redneckrigger

[ShakyCraftsman]

Hey Tom

 I know exactly what you mean. No matter how good I do something it just doesn't meet my vision, to much of a perfectionist I guess.😆

 It can be a curse, but also a good thing, because it makes us better modelers. Keep up the outstanding work you are doing I definitely want to see this done.

Ron G 

[redneckrigger]

On 1/3/2025 at 10:47 PM, gotnitro? said:

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

 

Yup, going out there Sunday, bringing the crane for the In Progress table. Looking forward to the show…… hope to see you there!

[redneckrigger]

Got a few more things done.  Fabricated the swing control lever. Added the rest of the controls to the upper cab. Made up the counterweight support structure and installed it to the rear of the upper house. Will make up the counterweight removal linkage next. Made the counterweight removal hydraulic power unit. Added dunnage to the carrier trays. I put a leash on the radiator so it doesn’t wander away again! Added the step to the carrier for the driver and the hexagonal hub extensions on the drivers side front axles that are used as a step to get into the cab. Still have to do some fine tuning to the drive guard covers and make the counterweight removal linkages. Have all of the recently added pieces held to the build with museum wax so the final assembly after paint will allow final alignment. Then unless my OCD finds something else to do before I get the boom under construction. 

Edited May 3 by redneckrigger

[Biggu]

My brain doesn’t believe what my eyes are seeing. This is just incredible. So much detail and such accuracy. Another world class build on this site. What a pleasure to watch come together.  This is just too cool for words. 

[redneckrigger]

2 hours ago, Biggu said:

My brain doesn’t believe what my eyes are seeing. This is just incredible. So much detail and such accuracy. Another world class build on this site. What a pleasure to watch come together.  This is just too cool for words. 

Appreciate the good words sir! It’s only cutting and gluing pieces of plastic that is assisted by having all the manuals and being intimately familiar with the real machine. And it helps to have a background of being a fabricator as one of my former jobs.  Got the drive covers fine turned today so at this point this part of the build needs some final gizmos and then all of the wiring and air and hydraulic lines and the counterweights, but those will be done later. Now the next step is perhaps the most straightforward but also most likely the most difficult to get right.  The boom assembly is next. I asked for guidance from the best modeler I know, Charlie Rowley, on how to work with brass. He gave some superb pointers.  So I figured what the boom would weigh and decided to go with styrene instead.  I plan on making a scale 100’ of boom, which will be 4 feet long.  In brass it would be way too heavy, so on to cutting and fitting a LOT of Evergreen tubing!

Edited May 3 by redneckrigger

[ShakyCraftsman]

Hey Tom

 It sounds like your going to need a miniature power hack saw.😁tthats alot of tube to cut and keep square. But with your skills you'll pull it off. Great work so far.

Ron G 

[redneckrigger]

1 hour ago, ShakyCraftsman said:

Hey Tom

 It sounds like your going to need a miniature power hack saw.😁tthats alot of tube to cut and keep square. But with your skills you'll pull it off. Great work so far.

Ron G 

I tried a proof-of-concept with the styrene boom a little while ago and it worked pretty well.  I built a jig to build it in and use a chopper with a cutting length guide to make repeatable cuts.  Gonna find out real soon how it works with ten to twelve inch long sections that have to pin together! The good thing is that this boom will be a lot easier to handle than the one on the real crane.  That one was 210 feet long with a 30 foot jib.  THAT was a beast!

[David G.]

Anything I can say, I've probably already said.

Thank you for taking the time to document this build. I'm continually amazed by the level of detail and accuracy you've created here.

David G.