Sorta changed the plans for this module, and they are kinda a BIG change so I figured I would update with the new plans lol. I have a couple questions for anyone who knows where i can find these things. So any help would be appreciated if you have some answers
On the right side of the module is a Caterpillar Rental Yard with a large Concrete Repair Structure. The yard is fairly small, but will have the basic construction equipment. Its somewhat based on the one near my house that I drive by every day. It will have Front End Loaders, Graders, Scrapers, Bulldozers, Excavators, Drum Compactors, Sheeps Foot Dozers, Backhoes, Off Road Dump Trucks and a Off Road Water Tank Truck, as well as 3-4 Lowboys. This is where my first question is...
I know Norscot makes those Lowboys, and I will have a couple of them in the yard. And I know GHQ Makes those 50-Ton Lowboys kits as well as Herpa & Promotex make some others. But I dont really like the Herpa/Promotex ones (they look too toyish to me, but may be able to be improved with some detailing) and the GHQ ones look a little too out of date to me for my modern era modeling. The Norscot ones also look a little toyish, but to me they look better then the Herpa/Promotex ones. I think its the "Wood" paint on the decks that throws me off, but with some weathering it should make them look better.
I am really looking for a heavy duty lowboy however. Does anyone make one? I want one with a jeep dolly in front and in the rear. Ive seen some pretty awesome model ones before, but they have all been scratch built as far as I know. Something like this is really what im looking for:
http://www.1-87vehicles.org/photo302/pete_379_eex.php
http://www.1-87vehicles.org/photo33/kw_t600_lowboy.php
http://www.1-87vehicles.org/photo129/kw_t600_heavyhaul.php
http://www.1-87vehicles.org/photo181/pete_379_murray_lowboy.php
Im also looking for a small lowboy like this one with 16 tires in the rear. I dont know why but I always see these and I want a model of one too:
http://www.1-87vehicles.org/photo61/cozad_lowboy_cat_dozer.php
While searching the Walthers site, i found a nice looking Lowboy Trailer that i would also like to get, but they are sold out and it seems the manufacture, Resin Unlimited, is no longer in business. Does anyone know where I could pick one or possibly even 2 of these things up?
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/627-303
Also, Does anyone have any pictures of the Alloy Forms 45' Lowboy Trailer? I just read that it has 16 tires on the rear of the trailer, which would be one of those trailers that I am looking for. If anyone has any pictures of this model, please post them ;D
http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/119-3017
Directly to the left of the CAT Rental Yard will be a Highrise Construction Site with 2 High Rise Buildings under construction. One Tower will be 11 Stories high with the top floor being poured and the Elevator Shaft being hoisted into position by a massive LTM 1400 Mobile Crane with its Jib Extension attached. It is truly a beast standing 31" tall and this is only with minimal jib extension installed, there are still 3 more lengths of jib super structure that could be added in. The other high rise will be somewhere around 8 stories with the top floor being poured. Its my idea to make them both look as if they will be much taller then they are now, so the site will be packed with steel and other materials. In between the 2 high rise towers will be a Tower Crane. This is where my second & third questions are...
I know Kibri makes Tower Cranes, but I would prefer not to use them because they ate plastic and very fragile much like my mobile crane. I've also seen a Conrad Tower Crane that I believe is Diecast Metal. But my problem is, I dont know how tall it is... They make Tower Extensions for the crane, but I dont know how tall they are either and I dont know how many I would need to buy if any to make sure that my Tower Crane is tall enough to tower over the tallest high rise structure to be realistic. The 11 story high rise is 14" tall, and I want the Tower Crane to be at least 4-5" taller then that. I know these things also are built taller as they are needed and grow with the structures they build, so a few Tower Extensions will be placed somewhere in the yard to show that these High Rises will be much taller then they are currently. Any info on this Conrad Tower Crane would be much appreciated, or if you guys know any other nice looking Diecast Tower Cranes, please share with me...
Here is the link to the Tower Crane on DHS's Website:
http://www.dhsdiecast.com/shop/product_detail.cfm?product_id=4045
And the link to the Tower Extentions:
http://www.dhsdiecast.com/shop/product_detail.cfm?product_id=4456
I also need a concrete pumper. I know Kibri made these things, but I cannot seem to find them anymore. I had kitbashed one a few years ago with a Mack CH Daycab from Promotex (i dont like the looks of the European stuff) but it has gotten thrashed over the years and its time to make a new one. I would like to be able to purchase 3 of these Kibri Concrete Pump Kits. 2 of them to kitbash into one BIG pump trailer to be pulled by a Heavy Duty Mack and another to build stock and modify with a Mack CH Cab again. Ive seen both of these around here where I live with Mack cabs and I absolutely love them! I am a MACK guy, but also like Peterbilt and Freightliner, and a little bit of Kenworths stuff too.
To the left of the High Rise Construction Site is a small winding creek/river that starts on the far back left corner and snakes to the front about 21" into the module. This opens a chance for a bridge construction scene. I will be using BLMA's single track bridges to create a nice looking concrete construction scene. Im planning on having 2 lanes of traffic open (one in each direction) and the rest of the bridge will be under construction as if they are expanding the bridge to make it more suitable for the area around it that is quickly developing. It would be wide enough for 4 lanes when complete with a sidewalk on each side. The expansion of the bridge will be in the beginning stages, with both abutments being poured. One of the abutments will be in the near completion stage, the other side being just stared with a Pile Driver on site. Wood Forms for the concrete pour, plenty of re-bar and steel will be in place. On the far left front corner is a spot for the very small construction yard where materials and equipment will be staged. Now this is where my fourth question comes in...
Im wanting to also model a sewer line hole where they are replacing the pipes just to the left of the bridge. I need some Trench Boxes, does anyone make these in HO Scale?
Finally directly to the left of the High Rise Site and just behind the winding river/creek is a small open space that I did not know what to do with. So I had a small pink 2-story house with a small pink garage and a few trees I had used for my ex-girlfriends diorama that I made her. I figured it would be nice to re-use them and bring back some memories, so these will be used in this space. It makes a nice little scene within a scene. The original house had a "birthday party" theme in the front yard, so ill carry it over onto this module, complete with the men of the family playing a little b-ball in front of the garage.
), construction projects usually need all kinds of permits and stuff to get in a river. They might have some of that orange webbing going on to keep stuff separate. If there's a concern about the fish (salmon), you might even have an inflatable dam diverting water around the backhoe. It's a hassle for the 1:1 construction workers, but it might make for an interesting model.
