I found this neat HO scale steam shovel at a train show this weekend and bought it at a reasonable price…
Now I have to find a spot for a quarry or, at least, a hole for it to dig on my layout… [:D]
Jarrell
That’s neat, if I modeled in the era it would be a nice model to have.
Hi!
Gotta ask… who makes it, and what was the cost?
It looks great, wish I had one!
Mobilman44
Jarrell,
Boy! That is very nice! And someone did a nice job on the weathering, too.
A couple of questions for you, if I may:
- Did someone manufacture this, or was it scratch-built? Sorta looks like Tichy but I’ve never seen this one before.
- What was used for the cabling? I’ve been trying to find something that’s thin and flexible but doesn’t have that “fuzzy-look” like some thread does. The way it’s twisted on top of the cab, it sorta looks like it’s brass wire.
Nice acquisition, Jarrell. [^][tup] Thanks for post this!
Tom
Tom look around for spider wire. Some sporting goods stores may still carry it.
Johnny, I picked this up at the train show at the Centreplex in Macon this past Saturaday.
Jarrell
Fellas, I didn’t get to talk to the man very much… he was kinda busy, but he did say it was a kit, but I forget who made it. It is super light weight so I’m assuming it’s wood except for some parts. But I’m not absolutely certain of that. The cables are a type of thread. He did mention Jordan was coming out with a similar kit like it soon. He had a beauty of a drag line but my buddy snapped it up. Sorry I don’t have any more information than that.
Jarrell
It looks like a Jordan kit to me. Who ever built it did a great job on it. The kits I believe are around 20-25 bucks. How much did it cost you Jarrell if you don’t mind me asking?
It’s a Highway Miniatures kit. I assume they are a part of or otherwise connected to Jordan Products, as the instructions are done in the same way. The shovel was released some years ago, along with a similar model with a longer boom to make a crane. They were out of production for quite a while and have recently returned to the market. I have one like it and a crane version still in the box, bought them years ago.
I paid $30 for it.
Jarrell
Thanks Bob. The drag line he had was a real beauty also, wish I’d been a step or two faster! 
Jarrell
Is it just me, or does that shovel remind you of Mike Mulligan and His Steam Shovel (Mary Ann)
“We can dig as much in a day as a hundered men can dig in a week!!”
good times. I’ll have to keep an eye out for that shovel model.
Nice find!! (and pre-weathered!)
just found one on ebay, and the jordan kit is listed on the walthers website…
p.s. the one on ebay is MINE!!!
What would the prototype dates be for something like that? 1910-1940 ish? It looks like an actual “steam” powered shovel.
Great find. I never seem to find anything like that.