RC modified Manitowoc 4100 tower crane

[Anthony S]

I'm a newbie to the forum and thinking of getting the Manitowoc 4100 tower crane. Does anyone know how to modified it for remote control? I've got RC aircraft radios.

Anthony

[Claus]

If you are talking about the TWH 1/50 you'll be in for a challenge to get all the parts in there. Start here.

http://www.robotmarketplace.com/store.html

[Anthony S]

Claus can you recommend a tower crane 1:50 that can be easier to motorize?

Anthony

[Claus]

No it's the 1/50 thing I think that will be hard to work with. I do not own ant 1/50 cranes so I could be wrong but I do own several 1/50 trucks and equipment and that is what I basing my opinions from. TWH stuff is very high detail.

[Claus]

This is not my pic, I got it from DHS die-cast. This is a 1/50 Manitowoc 18000, it gives you some idea how big the carbody is on a 1/50 crane when you look at the chair in the background. Maybe it can be done but it would definately be a challenge.

[Claus]

These two pics will show the detail of TWH cranes.

[9W Monighan]

I see you found your way. Do you have any machining ability? This is what it will take to do some of the tiny modifications you need. The drums should be sort of easy and the way to do it is mount the motors inside of the drum so the whole motor case spins around the fixed output shaft of the motor. I'll post some pictures I have tomorrow that are on my work computer. It seems confusing but when you see how it's done it will be clear. The swing gear will take some doing because you'll need to mount a big gear on the carbody. I never looked at on of those cranes to see just how much room is there. Can you take some pictures looking down on the machinery works? I have some tiny gearmotors bookmarked on evilbay that may work. The control I'm sure your familiar with would use some small ESCs or hacked servos. The crawlers, I would have to see up close to figure out. Have you seen the TWH Bucyrus Shovel that's motorized? I saw the first proto type at the DHS show last year and I think those guys were checking out my way of control on my dragline. That model doesn't have a slip ring installed so it can't continuously rotate. $2500 I know with some patience this conversion can be done. Just time and some$$ and it will be an envy in the 1/50th world.

[Espeefan]

Wow. That is insane. I have never seen any die-cast models come close to the wow factor of that crane! I doubt most guys could even set it up in their house. Obviously it's taller then....well, it's tall!

[Cossett]

Hi Claus

Wow I'm speechless this this is a monster and a half, I wouldn't be the one who has to assemble it

Cheers Cossett

[Claus]

Originally Posted by Cossett

Hi Claus

Wow I'm speechless this this is a monster and a half, I wouldn't be the one who has to assemble it

Cheers Cossett

Not my crane, just posting pics to show scale/size to work with.

[9W Monighan]

I found this motor that may fit for something. Maybe too small..http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[9W Monighan]

Here are some detailed pictures of how the drums need to be......but it will be very hard to do but challenging.




Closeup showing the electrical contact rings

[Ace Trucker]

nice crane

[mog]

wow that really nice you got there love the way you are doing your whinch drums i might steal some idea if that ok

[Anthony S]

Hi 9W Monighan Outstanding and great photographs I think it's a bit out of my league "challenging"to say the least.That's watch making.

Anthony

[Anthony S]

Originally Posted by SANDCRAFT TRANSPORT

Anthony if you contact Kevin at http://www.csmi.com.au/ he maybe able to help, I was talking to him about you & he knows the person that RC’d that same crane.
When you walk into his lounge room he has all these cranes ready made most are taller than me, bloody fantastic to see.
Sandy

Sandy I'll contact Kevin. You gents are great. I see myself getting deeper and deeper into this.

Anthony

[Southgate]

I'm trying to catch up with this build. Do you have any pictures of the overall crane, with something to use as a size reference? Dan

[Finster]

Maybe it's just me, but what happened to all the pretty pictures in this thread? I checked in today and can't see a single one!

[Anthony S]

I found a video of a RC crane by " Kanentoton" would anyone know how to contact this guy?
Anthony

[Rvjimd]

Finster,

It is not just you, I don't see any of the pics. I would love to keep this thread going. I am kicking around the idea of motorizing a 1:50 dragline for my pond and barge layout in the back yard.

Still trying to find a TWH050 4100 with the clam, drag and mag combo.

Wonder about driving the drums and slew using a cable system to an external motor, not RC but maybe pretty hidden. Something like a bike brake cable or similar in size that could spin both ways in a shield.

Jim