At the National Farm Toy Show, visitors saw many impressive creations. Perhaps one of the most amazing at this year’s was Paul Ackerman’s 1/16-scale crane, displayed at the Commercial Club Park Pavilion in Dyersville, Iowa.

Paul is a retired industrial engineer from Rock Falls, Ill. “Once an engineer, always an engineer,” he said of the detailed work he put into his model crane. “I have been around cranes a lot.”

To construct this model he used steel, wood, aluminum, cables and braided sash cord. The miniature crane weighs around 200 pounds. The 1/16th-scale model came close to the ceiling at Commercial Park. While this seems skyscraper-high, Paul said the full-size version is over 400 feet tall.

“The inspiration for this crane was one used by the CD Smith Construction Company of Fond du Lac, Wisconsin, on a hospital addition in Sterling, Illinois. I had a doctor appointment,” Paul explained. “I saw it and watched it work for over an hour (while waiting); I was impressed.”

Over time, he thought about trying to recreate the model: “I took about 100 pictures. I talked to the superintendent on the job; he thought I was goofy. I took the information home and I went on the website and got the general dimensions.”

Paul found this crane is a Kobelco Model 2500 made in Texas. The website for it at http://kobelcocranesnorthamerica.com shares: “The Kobelco CK2500-II Crawler Crane is designed from the ground up for reliable operation, convenient maintenance and easy transport. The CK2500-II features an all-welded, high-tensile strength steel carbody, manufactured in a single piece using the latest CAD technologies for unmatched rigidity.

“The full hydraulic system that is the heart of the CK2500-II Crawler Crane handles any task with smooth-as-silk ease and efficiency, from hoisting loads to swing and propel – not to mention rapid installation and removal of the counterweights and crawler frames.”

The real crane can lift 250 tons with its 300-foot boom. Paul began work on the model knowing that he wanted the miniature to be almost as detailed as the real thing. The amount of time spent on it varied. “I modeled the crane some days 15 hours a day and some, 16 minutes,” he said.

“After two years I had it so I could show it, but not completed. Today it will do everything a real crane can do. It is not remote-controlled yet, but it will be one day.”

Paul considers this a work in progress and makes adjustments over time as he sees fit. One side benefit to this project was the friends he has made: “I got to know Brad, the crane operator, because I was there. I’d ask lots of questions.”

The CD Smith Co. sent three gentlemen over to look at the crane, to see if they could exhibit it in their atrium. They wanted to buy it, but Paul told them, “It is not for sale – but I rented it to them and it was in the atrium for over a year.”

The local paper in Fond du Lac ran an article about Paul and his amazing crane. Using electric motors, the model is able to run winches and rotate the crane. 

Bringing this machine to display at shows, because of its height, requires a bit of planning. Paul wanted to exhibit at the National Farm Toy Show, so he called ahead to check it out.

“When I called about setup I was told they would place me in the Commercial Building. I told them I could do it if I could stand it up.”

Setup for the beautiful crane took Paul about half a day. “It takes about an hour-and-a-half to set up, if there is no one in sight,” he said – when others see him setting up, the questions begin.

His efforts were appreciated by all who saw the detailed model. There was nothing else like it at the National Farm Toy Show; visitors to Commercial Park saw construction come to life.

Readers with questions or comments for Cindy Ladage may write to her in care of this publication.