Just for fun, some old photos of old models....

[Ken Hamilton]

I've haven't posted in the Gallery before, but with some extra time today
(slow day at work) I thought it might be fun to pull out an Oldie.

Here's my On3 tracklaying machine that took Best in Show at the NMRA National (Boston)  in '86.
That's, like, 23 years ago!!  Where the heck did the time go?
(Pardon the marginal photos..........)

[jacq01]

   fingerlicking........................beautifully showing the ingenuity and fragility of this type of equipment from the past.
   Nowadays it wouldn't pass inspection.

   Jacq

[Frederic Testard]

Ken, have you had this model run on a layout? It must need some really super clearances.
I suppose it is all metal work.

[marklayton]

Ken -

Would a locomotive have provided steam, or was the hoist operated by compressed air?

Mark

[RoughboyModelworks]

Wow... that's gorgeous Ken. Impressive piece of machinery and excellent work.

Paul

[Ken Hamilton]

Frederic:
The model is all styrene with scratchbuilt angles (using Evergreen flat stock).  It was built before
Evergreen started making shapes. It's strictly a shelf model - never been on a layout.

Mark:
The model is patterned after a "Clyde Iron Works" prototype, although to my knowledge
they were never made in narrow guage.  (After I built it, I discovered that Mackenzie Models
offered a complete set of plans for the Clyde machine).

The prototype was operated by a steam line connected to the locomotive that pushed it. The model
represents the "extended boom" version so two flat cars of ties can run behind it. The locomotive was
behind the flat cars, and a steam line ran to the tracklayer.

See the small diameter vertical pipe in photo #3 (above)?  That's the steam line.  On the model, that's
a piece of tubing containing wires to a motor hidden in the tool box on the deck (a tool box was
never on the real Clyde).  In this photo you can see the motor shaft coming out of the box to
the Grandt ring gear connected to a hidden spool....



When powered, the motor turns the spool and operates the thread "cable", which pulls the chain fall
back & forth beneath the length of the boom:



That feature took weeks to get running right! The boom pivots like the prototype, the brakes
work, the journal box lids open (with packing inside), threaded turnbuckles (..not reverse threaded,
though!), the chain wall works (...watch gears...), etc.

After finishing this model, I was burned out and went back to building model cars. 
It's only been in the last 3 or 4 years that I've gotten back into model railroading.

[MrBrownstone]

Hey Ken,

That Track Layer is really cool.... 

I can only imagine how one would feel after completing a project like that..

[Frederic Testard]

It's even more impressive with the explanations, Ken. But 20 years is a big convalescence period...

[TRAINS1941]

Ken

That is one beautiful machine.  Excellent workmanship and a nice tutorial.

Jerry

[Ken Hamilton]

20-years IS a long time, Frederic, but I really got into car modeling - hinged doors, working
lights & suspension roll-up windows, etc.  They were big enough to do some neat things with and I
incorporated a lot of model railroading techiques into the builds.

Off topic, but if you don't mind the non-railroad subjects, here are a couple of examples:





Here's a link if you'd like to see more....

http://public.fotki.com/khamilton/models/the_archives/street-rods/

[TRAINS1941]

Ken

Just some outstanding modeling!!  What scale are these cars in?

Jerry

[Frederic Testard]

Great cars. What's the relative part of kit- vs scratch- building in them?

[chester]

It doesn't matter what modeling venue you choose Ken, you always inspire with your creations. Beautiful work that I never tire of viewing.

[Ken Hamilton]

Thanks, guys:

Jerry - they're 1/25th scale (1/2"-scale for all intent & purposes)

Frederic -  These are probably about Half & Half, but the "kit" half ended up being pretty heavily modified, corrected or otherwise cut up.

[Ray Dunakin]

Wow, that track-layer is magnificent -- doubly so, considering the "working" parts! What a great model!