81F Posted October 1, 2023 Share Posted October 1, 2023 I am trying to research alternative liveries for the Airfix 15T Booth diesel hydraulic railway crane now made by Dapol. Although I can find several photographs of the ridged underframe version that was supplied to BR(W) in the 1950s, the only pictures I can find of the bogie version are from the Airfix and Dapol box artwork. This shows two different versions in red, black, and yellow. The other is a black and white photograph holding a magnet, which I suspect is in works grey. Aside from the livery, does anyone know how many of the bogie underframe versions were built and for whom? Lastly did the BR versions ever appear in red or black as I can only find pictures of these variants in grey or yellow? Thanks for any help Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted October 1, 2023 Share Posted October 1, 2023 They have a couple of cranes at Whitwell and Reepham station. Next time I am over there I will check which make they are and if Booth-Rodley take some pictures, but from memory the are both rusty grey. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81F Posted October 1, 2023 Author Share Posted October 1, 2023 Cheers RAF Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Going Spare Posted October 1, 2023 Share Posted October 1, 2023 There was a thread on the Model Rail forum back in 2010 that strongly suggests the Airfix crane was a 'mis-match' because all cranes supplied in the UK had rigid 8-wheel chassis. Kit-bashers were substituting the Hornby crane chassis. No doubt you have viewed them but Paul Bartlett's photographs show only faded grey or yellow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted October 1, 2023 Share Posted October 1, 2023 I have the grey plastic Dapol crane on my layout so I can compare shape, undercarriage, etc with the Whitwell ones if not labelled. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
threelink Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 So far as I am aware the bogie Booth Rodley kit was of an industrial crane never supplied to BR. Those supplied to BR were, as stated by GS, mounted on rigid 8 wheel chassis. Like many others I mounted the Airfix/Dapol kit on a Hornby chassis but used the bogies under a freelance match wagon cobbled together from scrap bits and pieces Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rana Temporia Posted October 2, 2023 Share Posted October 2, 2023 In the original review (a long time ago) in either Railway Modeller or Model Railway Constructor the reviewer commented on the bogie version being an industrial design and the fact that the BR versions had a fixed wheelbase. I think there was an article on making a correct chassis and running wagon for it. If anyone has a subscription for Railway Modeller they should be able to search for the article, unfortunately MRC is long gone and it’d be a long paper copy search. I am sure I have seen a picture of an industrial version in red with BOOTH on the sides of the roof. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted October 5, 2023 Share Posted October 5, 2023 I couldn’t get close to one of Whitwell cranes and there was no railway staff around as escort, so the last photo is very vague but it appeared to be steam powered by a vertical boiler. The other crane cab is not labelled but it was outside the fence so I got a couple of pictures. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81F Posted October 5, 2023 Author Share Posted October 5, 2023 Thanks RAF, however that is not the same type as the old Airfix Dapol model but might give an idea about "House colours" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
96RAF Posted October 6, 2023 Share Posted October 6, 2023 A picture I tripped over on FB. Two very different cranes, the left hand one similar jib to my previous photo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81F Posted November 5, 2023 Author Share Posted November 5, 2023 Thanks RAF for the above photo, as it brings back memories. I remember being woken up by the report on BBC Radio Oxford concerning the event.I am not sure if it was a school-day but I was very disappointed that I was unable to get there as I remember the reporter saying that one (if not both) of the cranes were steam powered!I do not know the exact date but it was very late 1970s and I was very interested that the photo shows the crane on the right to be yellow while the other looks to be black. I had always imagined that they were red (thanks to the Hornby Triang model!)BTW the location is Botley Road, looking east next to Oxford Railway Station. Ironically Botley Road is currently closed while they are taking out the replacement railway bridge as part of the Station redevelopment. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
81F Posted November 5, 2023 Author Share Posted November 5, 2023 Regarding my Booth Crane project, it is now a two crane project!One will probably be my original intention to make the bogie version, if I can ever find out what colour to paint it.The other is of the BR rigid chassis version which is almost finished (see below) Although painted the cab is on;y lodged on so I can access the cable drums to enable me to rig it once the button thread arrives. I am also awaiting another Macaw H to form the basis of the match truck rather than carve up one of my more decent GWR versions.The chassis and match truck superstructure are 3d prints.I may also replace the brake wheel as the one shown (from the kit) only has four spokes as opposed to six - but am I being a little too fussy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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