Scratch Build an HO Scale OTM Tracker

[@TimsBitsnPieces]

A fantastic job well done Paul. It looks awesome and the details in the video will definitely help anyone who wants to build something like this.

[@HartfordWhaler]

Thank you! Appreciate the comments and thank you for watching!

[@Cowboy_Steve]

Howdy! Really awesome build! Very creative. I would love to see it when you get it all painted and weathered up! Well done and thanks for sharing 🤠

[@HartfordWhaler]

I’ll post an update. Thanks for watching!

[@sparky107107]

just goes to show. if ya want something bad enough, you will just make it yourself.. Nice work for sure

[@HartfordWhaler]

For sure. And making it yourself is always more satisfying. Thanks for the comment and for watching!

[@mikehotrains]

Hi Paul, excellent how to video build the OTM tracker that I scratch built. Thank you for the mention and again fantastic work my friend 😊

[@HartfordWhaler]

Thanks! Couldn’t have done it without your video. It was much more satisfying building my own vs buying (also I couldn’t find any off the shelf).

[@vettebecker1]

This is awesome!! I would love to have one that rides on rails on the tops of the gondolas and runs the length of the train!!

[@HartfordWhaler]

Thanks! It was a fun project. More to come on it.

[@lucgagnon5241]

Very interesting. The same kind of tracker can be seen on some wood chip hoppers. At least, I saw a picture of it online. You did a perfect job. Keep on your good work.

[@HartfordWhaler]

They are very cool to see in real life. Walks along the gondola almost like a crab. Thanks for watching!

[@PatrickPatterson-q6v]

That looks great Paul, thanks for the step by step details. I need to make my own maintenance of way unit. 😮 9 :54 am

[@HartfordWhaler]

Thank you! I’m making a few minor mods to get it a bit more like the prototype. I’ll post a short with the final product before painting.

[@DYLINGTONMODELRAILWAY]

That looks great, Paul you've done a great job of it...Cheers James 🙂👍

[@HartfordWhaler]

Thanks 👍

[@MyFingerLakesRailwayLayout]

Nice work! Mike has built a lot of amazing MOW equipment. The Alkem idea was brilliant, looks like diamond plate. Gonna really come to life when painted and weathered. But the flipping between inch and metric made me dizzy 😵 😁

[@HartfordWhaler]

Yeah, I prefer US customary units of measure, but I know some guys like talking in metrics. I still need to make a few tuning changes to the model, but getting close. I post an update…half in metric and half in standard. Mike does great work. Love his channel.

[@Christiane069]

Very nice job. it looks easy enough to thy to make one, I got one of the same model with wheels that runs on tracks with small wheel guides. An other possibility is to use one of those hydraulic crane used on trucks.

[@HartfordWhaler]

Thank you. It’ll look nice when it’s painted and weathered.

[@mikehotrains]

Hi Paul, yes the excavator you bought is the exact one I bought, but I modified it and scratch built the grab claws.

[@HartfordWhaler]

I noticed that in your video. I really like how you’ve modified your excavator. I may do that at some point, but that was a tough build, so I need a break ;) Thanks again for the idea Mike!

[@mikehotrains]

@@HartfordWhaler well u did a great job

[@rickyhammond36]

great project Paul. looks great.

[@HartfordWhaler]

Thank you!

[@keithdenner9441]

Great work!

[@HartfordWhaler]

Thank you!

[@MarkVikander]

I'm interested in building one. Were these used in the 1980s?

[@HartfordWhaler]

Not sure actually. The company is Brandt and I believe they are in Canada. You could probably just ring them and ask. I am modeling late ‘90s-early 2000s but not sure when they were first introduced.

[@MarkVikander]

@@HartfordWhaler Thanks! They make interesting models. I'll keep researching.

[@paulwhite6543]

That’s awesome

[@HartfordWhaler]

Appreciate that!

[@Santafefrank]

How about mth gondola they are a better car😊

[@HartfordWhaler]

I’ll look. ;)

[@pauljohansson288]

Wow 2:15

[@HartfordWhaler]

Thanks!

[@HumancityJunction]

I guess you didn't want to wait 2 years

[@HartfordWhaler]

Nope! Got motivated by seeing John’s creations - and learning about the 2yr delay. Also, I wanted to push myself a bit. It’ll come together once it’s refined, painted, decaled, and weathered. Great meeting you at Don’s.. Will make your channel even more enjoyable to watch.