Mobile Crane
Built by Chris Warrell in January 2014 for the Birthday Models Secretary’s Challenge
Built for the January 2013 Secretary’s Challenge (Meccano Magazine model from month and year of your birth) I chose the mobile crane from the October 1954 Meccano Magazine.
It is in the style of a yard crane, whether based on any particular prototype I’m not sure (I’ve already looked at the Coles website), but has a nice half cab and a curved back.
The instructions say that it can be built from a 1950s set № 3. I have used an almost unused 1970s set № 5 to build this, but I’ve added a number of extra plates and strips to improve the appearance and a number of extra angle brackets for increased strength.
I’ve added bracing to the jib, used a pair of 3” pulleys for the turntable and changed the winding gear, substituting the crank handle and tin-plate road wheel for cranks made from Bush Wheels.