Anyone make their own lift for scale cars?

Starting my first garage diorama (1:18) and I need 5 lifts. Don't think I'm ready to fork over $200 for the GMP versions just yet, so I was wondering if anyone had made one of their own. Pics, thoughts and ideas are appreciated!

 

I recommend you buy the lifts, they are not so easy to make (I think) and you'll get the best result if they look as real as possible, search the bay for lifts, conact seller and ask if you could make a good deal or something if you buy 4+ lifts...thats what I did, I bought 3 2-posts and 1 4-post lift (the 4-post lift suck IMO)
If you cant afford all the lifts at the same time, then buy them one by one and finally you'll be SO happy with your diorama...

If you havent seen MY Garage/diorama, please check it out in this link
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/showthread.php?t=36695&page=38&pp=20
the link starts at page 38, due to a hard drive crash in December all the pics disappeared, but I've re-uploaded them!
Hope you like the pics - 1500 +

Paul

 

They've gone up to 200 bucks? Wow! When I bought mine it was only 60

 

Most on e-bay are in the $30-40 range, it's just that I need five to do a project similar to Gimme Fuel's. The idea started small scale, but has sort of evolved into a 1:18 scale "if money were no object" garage.

Gimme Fuel...The pics are great and I've actually studied them for ideas over the last month or so. You mention the 4-post lifts suck. Is the quality bad or do you just not like them? My display is more of a personal dream car garage (as opposed to exotic car mechanic's bay) so I was leaning towards buying four 4-posts and one 2 post service lift. Do the 4-posts work well for display? One more question...how do the 2-post lifts attach to the ground? Is the a screw of something you run up from the bottom? Thanks, Nick

 

Well i have been thinking about making my own lifts since i build most of my models and it would be much cheap to go out there and get the matrials to build it. It depends on how bad you want it because either way you try in the end your going to spend the same amount of money building it as you are buying it. Me personaly id rather build it because at the end of the day i know i built it my self and its not going to break anytime soon.

 

Hi Nick.

I'll try to answer you as good as I can here.
If we take the 2-post lift first, Yes it comes with this HUGE base plate (see pics) and there are 8 annoying small screws which you "have" to install from under the plate.
I dont use those plates, they take up too much space, besides I dont play with my lifts, I only place the cars there and take photos, that way you skip the plate(s) cause the lift have NO problem of standing straight on the floor with a lifted car. (pic nr.2), so if you're just gonna make a DISPLAY then you DONT need the base plate, but if you're gonna play with it, then I belive it might com in handy so the lift dosent fall over all the time and maybe damaging your cars.
The lifting mechanism on the 2-post lift are great, it comes with a little crank, just turn the crank and you'll lift the car (and it will not come down until YOU turn the crank again)

The 4-post lift:
These lifts are no good IMO due to their weakness: the legs/pilars which are described in the picture below.
To raise this lift you have to do it manualy - which can be a pain in the @$$.
If you take a look at the pic you'll see what I mean.
But again, if you are gonna use it as a display only, then I belive you can live with it, but its no good to play with, everytime you raise/lower this lift you'll worn the pilars and they soon will become useless.
Besides, the ramp is too (steep?) when the lift is on the lowest position, and there is NO Ferrari in the world which can drive on to it without getting damaged - the only car I have which can do this without any problems are the Hummer

I hope this post might help you a bit on your way, good luck with your project and PLEASE post pix of your work!!
Greetings from Norway
Paul
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