OMG!! That thing is huge … yeah, I know, that’s what she … nevermind. How many axles does it have? Well, done, Todd. It looks great.
5 feet is not short. What part of this is only 9"s. Are you taking any one particular length within all the articulating thingamabobs. I am assume the 9" inches in reference to the length of the load.
Thanks Dan. I’m real happy with how this is coming together. It has 16 trucks so 32 axles. The Schnabel this is loosely based on has 2 extra trucks so 4 more axles but they were cut out in the selective compression practice. He said “don’t worry baby it will be okay”…
The 9" refers to the height Devon. I put an end together last night and it’s at 8.5" now which is good.
The cabs are coming together and I will post a photo later.
Here we have the bosses checking out the progress on one side of the build and they think the cabs are looking great.
I built them using plastic sheeting, wood and plexi for the walls. The plan is to mask for the windows and paint everything red. I didn’t like the idea of sealing these up when the side panels are glued on so I cut a square in the roof of each and made the roof removable.
I’m still working on the placement of the cabs. The prototype has them to the far rear of the “table”, the white part, with a platform and stairs up to it. I might move the cabs forward to create the platform on the table and to expose the screw that holds the pivoting rear trucks. If it gets pushed back I will need a longer screw to go through the cab floor and into the rear truck carrier. This is part of the reason the cab roof was made removable. Decisions Decisions. 
Next up is the carrier arms.
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duh, that makes sense
A bit more done on the build over the last several days. Saturday was a non build day because I was at and enjoying the Amherst show and I picked up a USAT Calf unit.
I’m at the point where I’m working on the non working lifting arms and they are giving me fits. I’m using a cardboard template that looks good on paper, well cardboard, but translating it to work with the base that will pivot is another story.
At the show I saw 3 HO scale Schnabels and one was operating. It had a long load and the overhang on the curve was absolutely ridiculous. The HO version has a very simple pivot point. I might have to do something similar.
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There has been more test fitting, cutting, testing, figuring and it goes on and on. What a challenge!
The arms are built and attention has turned to the base that will hold them onto the frame.
I have been thinking about where the pivot point will be and have decided to move it closer to the center of the rig. On the prototype the arms pivot from the rear of the base closer to the cab. I have decided to attach the base to the arms and have the whole thing pivot. I know it is confusing but trust me it makes sense. I think…
The plan is to run a 4" bolt through the bridge to create the pivot. The arm and attached base will sit on this bolt. The ultimate idea is to make this schnabel be 5 pieces. The trucks, the arms and the load will be separate for easy transport from wherever this monstrosity will be stored to the track. 
Maybe if the size with a load gets overwhelming and too long you can add 2 couplers and model it as the separate ends being moved to the next project. Or connect it together to move as an empty being returned
I like the idea of an empty Schnabel but I’m leaning towards making a 2" long load for it. We shall see. More progress was made but it is slow and then I have to break it all down for paint.
I just might have to tie the ends together without a load due to the Challenge time restraint. It’s getting to be Crunch time Gents!
The progress is slow and only 9 days left!! but I think I can do it.
I went to the hardware store today to buy 12 small washers and WHEN did the price go up? They wanted .25 cents per washer! I briefly thought of drilling a hole in 12 dimes and using those but I would also have to sand down the face and that was going to be too much work so I went to another store the next town over and what a difference. They had a box of the washers for $3 but I didn’t need 100 of them. They also had washers in the drawers but they too were .25 cents each and I’m not talking stainless, those were more! They did have a bin with loose washers close to the size I needed for .9 cents each so that was a much better deal.
.25 cents per washer. That is CRAZY!
Yes pricing is crazy on small hardware items especially in the “BIG BOX” stores.
I probably would have bought the box, I would use more at some point. When the hardware store is closed and my son in law needs something he calls me, most times I will have something that will work. 
It’s funny Mark. I do have wooden boxes filled with washers/nuts, screws, nuts/bolts, etc… but digging through and finding12 of the same washer isn’t going to happen. I could probably find 9 but 12 no way.
I think we all have boxes of miscellaneous bits and bobs and at the current prices we could call them treasure chests!
It gives me great satisfaction as a hoarder to embark on a project and complete it without purchasing anything. I’ve managed to do that a lot recently including this year’s Mik which I only needed to buy one tool.
As we contemplate moving in the near future I’m struggling with how much to discard and how much to keep. I’ll probably ending up keeping way more than is logical.
This has been a fun build to watch. Patiently waiting to see it come together!
Or do what I did, move it all then throw 90% of it away after you get there 
Yikes! That’s bigger than my whole layout! Something that just occurred to me… just how much does that thing WEIGH??? 
There is an as yet unnamed rule here that goes:
“If you need 4, you will find 3. If you need 2, you will find 1.”
You get the idea.
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^^^^^^^^FACT!^^^^^^^
I think it would make it around your pizza layout.
It’s always terrific when you are working on something and you go to the “treasure chests” of nuts and bolts and find just what is needed to finish the job.
The problem does arise when you need 2 or more of the same thing just as Lou said 
I dread the idea of moving because I have so many bits and pieces of all kinds of junk. I think I inherited the hoarding thing from my grandfather who was of the generation that had their forever lives influenced by the Great Depression.
I have been trying to keep it light by using plexi and plastic as opposed to wood in the build. The trucks are wood but above that is lighter. I have metal wheels for half of this build so that adds weight. I will have to put it on a scale when it is all done. 
A bit hard to see are these plastic shelf mounts. I drilled a hole in them and placed them as lifting points on the truck carriers.
Here we have the giant hydraulic pistons made from dowels, cotter pin and plastic pipe. I have to make 2 more really fat ones for the lifting arm.
I added some strength point detail with styrene.
Here is one side of the Schnabel out on the RR. There is still so much to do. I have to figure out how a load will be carried, then make a platform for the rear and a walkway up to the cab then paint paint paint and put it all back together.
It might be a photo finish this year.
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