knotian

Tommy - That is one approach. Shows one of the advantages to that over a clam-shell in that it could be placed next to a wall and used to scrape material into the center. Ludo - You are right. When I first started I thought the lifting mechanism was complex, but it turned out to be a flexible parallelogram.

1963maniac, Sorry, I meant to indicate a very tight, forced fit bordering on an illegal connection

Also found that a tread link is a SNUG fit in a pin hole. Put several between a pair of 40 tooth gears and made spools.

Thanks skppo!

I have been looking for a way to fasten one end of a chain to an object. Even if the end was fastened to itself in a tight loop would work. Has any one run into this situation and solution. Rope will not work in this mechanism. I really don't want to use string to tie it. Thanx, Ed

Pagicence, Thanks for the comments. There will be complete movement right to left, up and down, open and close, bucket rotate and frame moves along tracks as well as Larry car movement and maybe dumping for it. I believe that gets it. The prototype did it all except the Larry car and track movement. In the original post I mentioned I was doing it at 1:40 and it would be 6 base plates long. I'm not sure any larger would be practical . It also fits with the rest of my blast furnace / steel mill theme. Seems that what minifigs I need look ok at 1:40. Ed

Doug72, Thanks. I found another one yesterday that may be from the same animation. I found the artist and am trying to get in contact. Wonder of wonders I also found a cache (8 cu ft) of drawings that had been donated to a university library and I am in the process of trying to get access. It's only a day away and would be worth the trip to look at them and do some note taking, even if I can't get copies.

The later ones went to 17 tons. The scoop/bucket and it's unique action will be my first major task. Doing two tasks (open close and spread) with only one cable needs a lot of research. The earlier steam powered one had two cylinders in the leg, but the newer ones had only one motor in the walking beam. I've seen one 'sorta' operating but can't contact the builder. There are times the research is more interesting than the building. Google Rules!!

Google it - they are for sale.

Here goes nothing. I've been leery of posting unfinished projects but ........ Bulk carriers ply the Great Lakes carrying Iron Ore, Coal, Wheat and other bulk cargoes. They are now, for the most part, self unloading. Around 1900 a device was invented to unload these boats called a Hulett Ore Unloader. None are in use now, but there is hope to rebuild one from saved parts in Cleveland. I first built an operating ( most functions) prototype to see if it worked. https://www.dropbox.com/s/shstk9lflo52zko/100_0718.JPG?dl=0 It was based on the earliest steam powered ones. I obtained a copy of the design. https://www.dropbox.com/s/rgjfetnny3xmprv/lq.jpg?dl=0 I was able to enlarge it to about 1:40 Scale and have started on the build. The base is 6 x 2 Base-plates. https://www.dropbox.com/s/a66fqldo0wcthph/100_0717.JPG?dl=0 As I progress I will post updates. I am using Stud.io for drawing and building instructions and will put it all together ---I hopa hopa hopa! Ed

I finally got around to taking a couple of shots. Pristine it ain't. I clean up for real about twice a year. Second shot shows the final assembly table with the base of my latest design. Ed https://www.dropbox.com/s/72aqszrd7l6bdv2/100_0714.JPG?dl=0 https://www.dropbox.com/s/pl912njm1vwaine/100_0715.JPG?dl=0

I am starting a WIP (Large 1:40 scale Hulett Ore Unloader circa 1920) that I want to document well while I am building. I do not want to clutter Eurobricks with a gazillion posts in one topic that is probably limited interest. I will have step by stem instructions, but not till it is finished. Where is the best / easiest place to store stuff that could be linked to by readers? Thanx, Ed

I used the 'automatic' dumping car from that book. Cool

Do any of the drawing tools allow an image to be loaded as a background?

Heck no. With net profits in the double digits in K, save all the money you can. It is privately owned so you cannot even think of stockholder dividends.

Take a look at 4DBrix for some other switch configurations. I have several and they are great. Ed

Thank you for your comments and ideas. Ed

I believe so, but you may have to think about bending moments. I would suggest a strong beam be built at the bottom of the model and the hanging fixtures be secured to it rather than the skin. Ed

Now I don't want any "It should never be done" comments I have completed most of a complex technic model and am considering doing an instruction set. When I am working I sometimes have to 'stress' a part or maybe 'bend it a little' to fit into the model. The resultant connections are not stressed, it's just I can't figure a way to do it another way. In a couple of cases I actually tried to build another copy, after the first one was done, and still could not figure a way to do it. Another thing I have run into is having to build a part of an assembly that has absolutely nothing to do with the current assembly, but will be used later. Has anyone run into this situation and figured a way to document this type of 'kludge construction'? Thanx, Ed

Yes. I am 35 miles away and won't be driving there unless I know what I want is available. We had a local person who kept our store relatively up to date.

Is this site Kaput? I keep getting "Contact Support" message.

I have not been back from the dark ages ( only 3 years back) but one significant 'style' change was one of trying to fit my concepts within a club environment ,and it's included 'customs ', to one of building what and how I like to and aiming more for independent MOC's. Believe it or not that gives me a greater appreciation of the club's collaborative and integrated builds. They have a greater imagination and skill level than I'll ever get, since I like to build using pictures and plans of equipment and buildings rather than imagination.

https://hackaday.com/2018/06/26/ole-kirk-kristiansen-and-the-lego-frontier/

I have no trouble finding parts since I usually have a part number. HOWEVER I need to organize my parts and I would like to do it by item number rather than part number which includes color. The reason is that when I build a prototype I could care less if I have a certain color, I just need the element. Is there any downloadable list by design element ID? Thanx

Cheers, I've a situation that I would like some feed back on. I am about 2/3 way through a display of several models concerning an industrial iron blast furnace, and associated air heaters, blowing engine, filters, coke plant, bessimer furnace, etc. They are all about 1:40 so that minifigs don't look too bad. I have one new structure I would like to add (A Hulett ore unloader) that won't fit in my space requirements ( 72 Base plates) at 1:40. How would you handle this? Rebuilding all at 1:50 would be a lot of work, and due to motors and operational features, the models may not look good. I am thinking that my only options are:- 1- Do the unloader at 1:50 and only use minifigs that are absolutely needed or keep minifigs away. 2-I have old patent drawings and could use an earlier version at 1:40. (Not age appropriate nor completely operationally similar) 3-Take some 'poetic justice' and remove a secondary feature that is not 100% necessary to model the basic operations. Which might allow me to do it at 1:40. Opinions? alternates? Thanx, Ed Update-Found earlier patent drawings that will do exactly what I need. Last version serviced mega ore carriers, had room for 6 lanes of trains, as well as an overflow surge pit. Earlier one had two lanes of rails and no overflow with smaller (1900 era) bulk carriers. In process of scaling now and may fit at 1:40.