E-paw,

Now that is really really nice looking and sturdy too.
It is really going to look great on the layout just keep all the Blue power off of it, I hear they are prone to derailing....sorry Tom

Either way keep up the great work !!

That reminds me of the time where i used a GG1 as a weight to hold a model together while the glue dried.

That is amazing though! on the other hand, it IS a bridge after all, I'm willing to bet its inherently sturdy.

e-paw Wrote:Just to prove my point.....

2 1/2 pounds = 0 deflection.

Lutz

e-paw Wrote:Well Bob C I survive the last batch of storms and did actually get some more work finished on the bridge .. Here's a quick mock up of how it's coming along.[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]
[ATTACHMENT NOT FOUND]
The two sides of the lift section of the bridge are complete, I'll get to joining them together soon. It's a pretty massive structure, considering that it's very much "compressed" from the prototype that I've modeled it after.

The following text never, NEVER show to your wife:

If this table comes out of use, paint it "aged concrete" and you have wide span concrete arch bridge

Lutz

This weekend I got to work on some more of the splice plates ( about 160 of them ). half of the plates have rivet detail like this.
the others face the inside of the towers or the bottom of the center section. Any way they are very difficult to impossible to see so, I left them out, as I would like a train or two to cross the bridge in my lifetime..

Here's a few pics of the current state of construction.
First the east tower front and back.



Now the movable section from the underside , then the top.

This has certainly turned into an engineering marvel! Terrific work, and I am enjoying following along.

Is there any way you could spend the next two weeks 24/7 working on this? I'm ready to see it in place with trains!

Well Gary , the way that work has bin going that may be possible. I hope the work picture is better for you in Texas, over here The shop is down to part time hours . But, on a more pleasant note I am happy to finally show off some real progress. I added The tower/bridge tenders control room to the center of the move-able section. It's made from some styrene with windows and other plastic bits from my parts box. On a real bridge this would control the signals and derails on both approaches as well as the vertical motion of the lift section.[attachment=7158] The platform underneath it is for a set of transformers and possibly an oil switch or other controls.
[attachment=7157]
It's just a utilitarian shack meant to look like it's built from sheet metal. I did not attach the roof, so that I could add the window glazing when the paint and weathering are finished. I still need to install safety railings , ladders, and the wire support tower. The tower will be located dead center of the bridge, straddling the control room.Here is a shot of the roof.[attachment=7156]
It is actually a left over section of decking from a Walthers car float. I glued some " I " beams to the rail supports to represent were the old the transformers were mounted but relocated to a safer location.

OOPS !!! I forgot to tell you that I also gave the whole structure a coat of primer. It's just some rattle can automotive stuff. When the construction is finished enough to install it I'll add some washes of black, rust, grimy black, and roof brown to give it that dark weathered steal look that is so common to bridges in this aria. Here It Is drying in the layout room With some paint it's starting to take on that classic railroad appearance that I'm after.

"With some paint it's starting to take on that classic railroad appearance that I'm after."

Wow! I'd say so!!!!!! Fantastic!!!

E-Paw

That is looking outstanding!!!

I can't wait to see the parade of trains when you get it in place!!

On a side note I see that you have the riveter in few of your pictures, is it worth the investment of do you think Archer rivets are better?

E-paw, work has tailed off a bit, we have about 10% unemployment of both JWs and Apprentices.

The bridge is definitely taking shape and I can't get over how massive it is. I sure would like to take a look at it in person. So how many rivets did you end up punching?

Quote: I see that you have the riveter in few of your pictures, is it worth the investment of do you think Archer rivets are better?

Well Mountaingoatgreg I do like the Riveter it does an outstanding job, It can be really tedious.
I can't compare it to the Archer rivets because I have never used them.

Quote:I sure would like to take a look at it in person. So how many rivets did you end up punching?

Don't know how many Gary,,,I'm afraid to count. And If your ever in the aria gust give me a yell.

Stevie E-Paw ...

That is shaping up to be just as huge and looming a structure as that giant one up in Northern Jersey, that I think goes to across the river to Hoboken ...

This will become a "signature" structure on your layout, I have no doubt!!

E-paw,

your bridge turned out very well.

mountaingoatgreg Wrote:On a side note I see that you have the riveter in few of your pictures, is it worth the investment of do you think Archer rivets are better?

I think that depends on the job. It may be more economical to use the riveter.

On the other hand, small projects, and ones on "wimpy" surfaces that cannot handle the force of the riveter, are probably better off with the archer rivets.