Gary S' 2010 Summer Challenge - Bridge

[Gary S]

Now we're cooking!

   

[Gary S]

And a couple more photos. Next is to glue down the concrete slabs under the bridge and paint them.

   

   

[Dan85]

Your bridge looks fantastic! Nice Work!

- Dan

[doctorwayne]

Lookin' good, Gary. I give it not only a "WOOHOO!", but a "YEE-HAW! too.

Can't wait to see a train rolling across it.

Wayne

[Gary S]

Dan, thank you kindly.

DocWayne, there have been numerous times as I work on this that I think: How would DocWayne do it?

[Ralph]

Oh man! Look how good that turned out! All of your work and attention to the photos of the prototype really created a gem!
Ralph

[e-paw]

Gary, If you check page 38 to 44 of the August Railroad Model Craftsman There is an article on building a very similar bridge to the one that you are building. If you get the chance take a look at it.

[Gary S]

E-paw, I bought that magazine just the other day after Scubadude had mentioned the article.

Although the bridge has some similarities to mine, it is quite different too. The center section of the magazine bridge is a steel girder, with concrete sections on each end, whereas mine is all concrete. The magazine bridge has only two short bents and they are made of 24" diameter concrete pilings, whereas mine has 14" diameter steel pipes and some of them are over 35 feet tall.

Still, it is a great article with some interesting construction techniques... and some nifty scenery ideas, thanks for mentioning it, perhaps others will check it out too.

[Gary S]

Oh man! Look how good that turned out! All of your work and attention to the photos of the prototype really created a gem!
Ralph

Thanks Ralph, but I'm quite a ways from being finished. I am currently placing the bottom footings into the concrete slabs. I should have taken some photos, but I didn't. I cut out the foam directly under each bent, then placed the plastic sheet which represents the concrete slabs under the bridge. Marked and cut out rectangular holes for the bottom footings. Then I mixed up some USG "durabond 90" and poured that in the holes in the concrete slab, then set the footers into that. I'm waiting on that to dry right now. Then I'll have to use some putty to fill in the spaces between the sheet plastic and do a little sanding and clean-up. Then paint and weather the slabs, then put the bridge back in place.

Now, I'm sure hoping that I got the footers in the right place and the bridge pipes will fit back in them! :?

   

And since this is a structure challenge entry, I'm not planning on doing all the water and scenery yet. That will wait until I get further along with the layout, most notably, I have to get all the foam carving done before I tackle anything else, or all the greenery will be covered in clingy blue foam pieces and dust.

[Steamtrains]

Yikes..!!! That's some kind 'a bridge. Just SLAP AWESOME...!!!

[nachoman]

Great work, Gary! And also great to support USgypsum, who owns and operates a narrow gauge industrial railroad in southern California.

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[Gary S]

Gus, thanks!

Kevin, I couldn't find the actual Durabond product, but USG makes the same thing - EasySand 90 - at least I hope it is the same thing. A white powder that you mix with water, supposed to be dry in 90 minutes.

[Gary S]

A little bit of work... squadron putty in the joints and some sculptamold in the bayou. I cut the channel too deep, so the sculptamold is a base. Will go with the easy-sand on top of that, then paint and varnish for the water. One of the thngs that really kills me about modeling is the drying time for the various products. I want it now!!!!

   

[doctorwayne]

DocWayne, there have been numerous times as I work on this that I think: How would DocWayne do it?

Obviously you thought better, though, and did it properly instead.

Wayne

[Steamtrains]

Is it time yet...? Is it time yet...??