000 — Direktlink
27.11.2007, 04:48 Uhr
bobm2004
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Hello to all-this is my first post to your wonderful forum. I have been active in the hobby for a little over five years and am a regular on a popular USA forum. This summer I had the extreme pleasure of spending the day with one of your moderators, Christian. He encouraged me to join and I did, lurking in the shadows. I wish I read German so I would not have to bother Christian with translation requests. I am also a Mammoet fan as it was my very first model. Christian says that English is a-okay to use so here goes, my first post:
Ironically it was two (2) years to the date since I had to take my crane collection down and stop my repainting activities due to the unexpected pleasure of moving. Since then as many of you know, I built a shop and have been working like a mad man converting models, for both myself and for friends alike. This last weekend, being the long one it was, seemed the perfect opportunity to get re-acquainted with my LR1750 crawler from Mammoet.
However it was not going to be a typical pull it out and assemble-that would be far to simple for me. So I embarked on a six point upgrade of the entire crane and I must say I am stunned and pleased with the results.
Upgrade 1: The base
With my large crawlers I have found putting them on a wooden base makes it easier to move them around, as the need arises. In the past that was a piece of plywood painted green. Not acceptable for the new house. So I constructed the following base, made from 64 crane planks. I had 30 from YCC and knocked a quick 38 more from scrapes of walnut I had laying around. I then framed them in a red oak base and added model dirt from the rail road department at the local hobby shop.
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p1e.jpg)
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p2e.jpg)
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p3e.jpg)
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p4e.jpg)
Upgrade 2: The Lattice Boom Tips
Mammoet lattice crane tips are painted black. As many of you know this is sometimes not done by the model manufacturers. As I have done this to all my previous crawlers, it needed to be done here:
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p5e.jpg)
Upgrade 3: The Placard
I took all six Liehberr placards off, sanded off the “Liehberr”, primed and painted them red. You guessed it I put Mammoet decals on instead. I did this on the LR1280 and I thought it would be a nice touch here as well.
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p6e.jpg)
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p7e.jpg)
Upgrade 4: Line Replacement
Can anyone stand that chincy looking, tiny little grey thread that comes with their cranes? I for one cannot and thanks to forum friend Steve (better known as Iowa Steve) posted many, many years ago the answer to all of our prayers-Cortland Musky Master fishing line. I bought the 1200 yard spool of 27 pound test and a 400 yard spool of the 18 lb test (for smaller cranes). For those of you who have used it, your nodding your heads in agreement with me right now-it is the best stuff in the world for cranes. It is truly braided and never twists and looks fantastic!
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p8e.jpg)
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p9e.jpg)
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p10e.jpg)
Upgrade 5: Pulley Replacement
Again those of you in the know are again nodding your heads and smiling with me. I purchased a pulley replacement kit for the LR1750 from forum friend Tim Clamp. What a difference these make to the look and feel of the crane-especially the mechanical aspects of the rigging and actual working of the crane. No pulley jump during revving, and smooth and easy wind up of the boom, blocks and jibs. I cannot say enough good things about this upgrade. The replacement of the plastic ones was a snap, with clear written instructions provided and all of the replacement pins as needed. At first glance you may think the cost a bit much, but with over 130 pulleys, the cost is relatively inexpensive. A well worth while investment.
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p11e.jpg)
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p12e.jpg)
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p13e.jpg)
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p14e.jpg)
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p15e.jpg)
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p16e.jpg)
Upgrade 6: Walkways and Hand Rails
I add the YCC walk ways and handrail kit to the crane. A simple and easy thing to do, but a spot on detail enhancement. Everything fit perfectly, again with clearly marked pieces, detailed instructions and diagrams. Another big time plus to the crane.
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p17e.jpg)
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p18e.jpg)
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p19e.jpg)
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p20e.jpg)
With all that said and done, Sunday was spent rigging the entire crane. A monster of a task with over 200 point to point reeves. It sure is a big ol machine when you set it up against the LR1280 and the SL5500! Makes them look like silly little cranes!!
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p21e.jpg)
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p22e.jpg)
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p23e.jpg)
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p24e.jpg)
![](http://teddiesbylauralynn.com/bobs-woodworking/cranes/lr1750upgrade/p25e.jpg)
I hope you enjoyed the post. Thanks for looking…………………… Bob www.bobscranes.com |