This stunning model from Andy Park took approximately 50 hours to complete back in 2003-2004 and is based on a Kress ladle carrier as made in Brimfield, Illinois. It is used in large integrated steel plants all around the world to carry ladles full of molten steel up to 280tonnes at approximately 1700°C, usually from oxygen steel making shops to continuous casters or foundries nearby. From the pivot back, everything except the wheels and tyres (which are from a 1/50 Norscot Caterpillar 627G scraper) is scratchbuilt from Plastruct and aluminum tube. The ladle itself is, believe it or not, a plastic shot glass with added feet, strengthening rings, lifting points and white/orange/red hot charge of steel with a crust forming from the cooling process (the real ladles have lids for when they are being moved which Andy omitted on purpose).

Posted May 1, 2005