For the last few months I’ve been busy scratch building a 1/25th scale replica of a gravel (rock) crusher. Using pictures and measurements from some surviving machines as well as some drawings from the patent office. Here is a bit of history behind the model.
From the mid 30’s to the mid 50’s Tom Sandy built approximately 25 of these gravel crushers at his shops in Goderich Ontario. The unique design was patented by Mr. Sandy. These units were very popular with the local contractors in Western Ontario. Several of these old crushers still survive today and a few are still in operation. Since my uncle and later his sons owned and operated one of these locally made machines I decided I should build one. Construction models are one of my favourite subjects, but to get them in 1/25th scale you usually have to scratch build.
I hope you enjoy the finished product as much as I did building it.
Most of the parts were made from Evergreen structural plastic and Plastrut checker plate. The conveyor uses Plastrut trusses as well. The engine is a resin model that came in the back of a SpeCast 37 ford pickup. All the pulleys are scratch built as well. For belts I used 6 an 10 mm elastic. The conveyor belt is 13 mm satin ribbon. Most of the round stock has been turned from plastic knitting needles. The screen is made from window screen. The belly pan is an aluminum press plate
The paint is mostly Badger and Tamiya weathering colours
Carl, You Have done an Outstanding Job on your Crusher. Morbid Curiosity made me look at this as I Despise Rock Crushers. (two many years of working around them, dont even get me started on Lime Silos) But this is a Fantastic Build on a Vintage piece of equipment. The thing I like most was your “old school” usage of everyday materials. That is what modeling is about. Even if I am not a fan of Construction Equipment I look forward to your next build. Ps You should submit this to FSM. The only improvement on this would be fine dust and small rock build up where it spills out and builds up. [tup][tup][tup]
Carl: I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. You scratcbuild the most cool construction equipment. Well done on this and the trophies that its won.
Thanks Sean and N. Ididn’t realise until yesterday that there was a seperate scratch build topic on this forum. I must visit frequently from now on. I hope to develop the crusher and some other construction models into a diorama of a gravel pit in operation in the late 1950’s. When that happens I’ll get the dust and other spillage included into the models.
One of the great things about building this machine is the fact that no two of the originals were alike. Therefore no one can say that what I have tried to reproduce is wrong.[8D]
I stumbled upon this post. Wow. Awesome craftsmanship. I had to look closely at the first pic to make sure it wasn’t real. I’m in the aircraft forums but I’ve dabbled in other interesting subjects but this one is one of the most unique I’ve seen. Ditto on submitting it to FSM. I admire scratch builders. You’ve done a fine job.
