05-25-2010, 01:01 PM
Thanks Gary & Wayne. I am away from the layout at the moment so pictures to clarify will have to wait, but here's, I hope, a better description/clarification. The bridge section that crosses the room is only a little more than 5 feet long. I think the way I'd like to mount it would be to make it completely removable rather than hinged. I am hoping to be able to drop it in place without having to worry with wires & plugs. That is, I'd like to use some sort of built-in integrated contact plates so all I have to do is lift it off.
I'm thinking I may build the bridge section so that the end plate is recessed 3/4" and the top will rest on a 3/4" board mounted on the layout. If I cut the piece wide enough it would keep the bridge section from shifting from side to side as well. The bridge section will be built structurally similar to a prototype girder bridge. There would be side plates with ribs connecting the two sides between them and a top plate screwed to the sides and ribs. It would not resemble a girder bridge in any way, but would have a fascia like the layout and even some scenery.
The one across the middle of the room will actually have a river scene on one end. I will cut down a contour into the side plates and make the ribs from 1x2's rather than 1x4's. Until the actual HO scale bridge is built, I'll either cut the ply subroadbed narrow OR drop the ply down to the 'river' level and use a block of foam to support the track in order to get trains running sooner.
Speaking of running trains, I'm getting closer. Got the ply subroadbed/table top on the 7' section yesterday!
Galen
I'm thinking I may build the bridge section so that the end plate is recessed 3/4" and the top will rest on a 3/4" board mounted on the layout. If I cut the piece wide enough it would keep the bridge section from shifting from side to side as well. The bridge section will be built structurally similar to a prototype girder bridge. There would be side plates with ribs connecting the two sides between them and a top plate screwed to the sides and ribs. It would not resemble a girder bridge in any way, but would have a fascia like the layout and even some scenery.
The one across the middle of the room will actually have a river scene on one end. I will cut down a contour into the side plates and make the ribs from 1x2's rather than 1x4's. Until the actual HO scale bridge is built, I'll either cut the ply subroadbed narrow OR drop the ply down to the 'river' level and use a block of foam to support the track in order to get trains running sooner.
Speaking of running trains, I'm getting closer. Got the ply subroadbed/table top on the 7' section yesterday!
Galen
I may not be a rivet counter, but I sure do like rivets!