Trains.com

I CAN BUILD STRUCTURES

1543 views
19 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: East Bedfont; England
  • 238 posts
I CAN BUILD STRUCTURES
Posted by powlee on Sunday, February 13, 2005 4:23 AM
As I said before, I am not good at kitbashing but I can build bigger things.



Winter building in the garage.This was the start of the railway 2 years ago.



The bridge is made of aluminium. The supports and base are reclaimed stretcher poles we were dumping at work. The base rests on the shelves that surround the pond.



The bridge is lowered into the pond and secured to bank either side. It can be removed for maintenance if necessary.
Note that this was all the rolling stock I possessed at the time.



Now I getting the hang of this photo lark, I can show some recent pics. But the temporary computer I am using at the moment isn`t speaking to my digital camera.

Ian P - If a man speaks in a desert where no woman can hear, Is he still wrong?

  • Member since
    October 2003
  • From: Hunt, Texas
  • 167 posts
Posted by whiterab on Sunday, February 13, 2005 7:37 AM
That looks like a fun bridge to build!

Get that digital camera talking and post some more!
Joe Johnson Guadalupe Forks RR
  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: North of Chicago
  • 1,050 posts
Posted by Tom The Brat on Sunday, February 13, 2005 8:30 AM
Yea! Great bridge! More pictures!
  • Member since
    December 2001
  • From: Smoggy L.A.
  • 10,743 posts
Posted by vsmith on Sunday, February 13, 2005 9:21 AM
Cool, Marty better look out , we got another bridge builder here!

   Have fun with your trains

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 13, 2005 10:02 AM
Good Job, excellent construction and choice of materials.

Will you leave it the brigde the almunium color, or have you had desires to weather or paint it?
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: East Bedfont; England
  • 238 posts
Posted by powlee on Sunday, February 13, 2005 10:30 AM
QUOTE: Originally posted by Capt Carrales

Good Job, excellent construction and choice of materials.

Will you leave it the brigde the almunium color, or have you had desires to weather or paint it?

No Capt, I left it in it`s natural state. The metal has tarnished now and looks less bright. I had a painted bridge there when it was 00/HO. The paint tended to peel after a while. Too much maintenance, too little time.

IanP

Ian P - If a man speaks in a desert where no woman can hear, Is he still wrong?

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 13, 2005 10:37 AM
Looks Great! Did you weld it? Mig? Heliarch? Details! We need details!
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: East Bedfont; England
  • 238 posts
Posted by powlee on Sunday, February 13, 2005 10:54 AM
Did I heck ! Nuts, bolts and rivets.

Ian P - If a man speaks in a desert where no woman can hear, Is he still wrong?

  • Member since
    October 2004
  • From: Northwest Montana
  • 409 posts
Posted by Rastun on Sunday, February 13, 2005 10:56 AM
Ian,

That looks great, nice use of different materials.

Jack
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: East Bedfont; England
  • 238 posts
Posted by powlee on Sunday, February 13, 2005 11:03 AM

Just a couple of old pics. My Doodlebug is about to cross a concrete viaduct that was originally built for my 00 track.


I had to join the G Scale Society to meet more enthusiasts. This current pair are attentive but don`t contribute much.

Ian P - If a man speaks in a desert where no woman can hear, Is he still wrong?

  • Member since
    May 2003
  • From: US
  • 209 posts
Posted by SandyR on Sunday, February 13, 2005 12:10 PM
Ian, handsome dogs, beautiful garden, and the original concrete bridge was a treasure! I'd love to know a little more about it. And the new bridge is totally awesome! Nuts, bolts and rivets...I'm amazed at the amount of work it must have taken. Great job!
SandyR
  • Member since
    March 2004
  • From: Canada
  • 73 posts
Posted by aljay on Sunday, February 13, 2005 1:17 PM
Hi Ian,
Beauty what a nice job. Keep up the great work and please show us more.

Thanks
" Are ya sure you can't use that for scratch building? "
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Sunday, February 13, 2005 1:40 PM
Hi Ian,
Lovely work mate, glad to see the dogs take an interest in your work!! Looks like Sunday evening is Brit evening. Work tomorrow, sigh.
Cheers,
Kim
[tup]
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: East Bedfont; England
  • 238 posts
Posted by powlee on Sunday, February 13, 2005 2:08 PM
Sandy
Thanks for the comments. The bridge upper structure was a bit fiddly. The nuts/bolts were very small. I have a job where I sometimes get a lot of time between calls so I took the pieces to work and assembled them there. You could say I got paid for building my own bridge.
The concrete viaduct took some time. Took me a week to make the shuttering/mould out of timber and round plastic guttering, 15 mins to mix and pour the concrete. I left it for a week and with a deep intake of breath from me and my wife, I removed it . Hey presto. It has been in place for a number of years when the double 00 track ran on it. It now looks old and just right.
My wife is the gardener and she thanks you for the compliment.
All the best
Ian

Ian P - If a man speaks in a desert where no woman can hear, Is he still wrong?

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 14, 2005 7:03 AM
Hi powlee
I don't know that anything can be added to the other comments on the bridges very impressive.

The Dogs get one demerit each for being within 3m of the track without safety vest [:D]
Sorry could not resist that.
regards John
  • Member since
    January 2014
  • 1,264 posts
Posted by bman36 on Monday, February 14, 2005 9:02 AM
Hey there,
Well done! I need to build an 8' bridge for my indoor line. Need to build strong! That's quite a span with no support underneath. Considering doing Western Red Cedar but your aluminum sure looks interesting. Thanks for the pics! Later eh...Brian.
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • 305,205 posts
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, February 14, 2005 12:36 PM
Brian
I got most of my building repaired and painted, working on a 6 silo grain elevator, it's not fancy , but when it's done it will suit me. ben[2c]
  • Member since
    January 2003
  • From: East Bedfont; England
  • 238 posts
Posted by powlee on Monday, February 14, 2005 1:44 PM
QUOTE: Originally posted by bman36

Hey there,
Well done! I need to build an 8' bridge for my indoor line. Need to build strong! That's quite a span with no support underneath. Considering doing Western Red Cedar but your aluminum sure looks interesting. Thanks for the pics! Later eh...Brian.

Thanks Brian
Actually the pic is deceiving. The close-up is a bit blurred but it shows two pieces of ally 28mm x 28mm box sections the full length of the bridge( something else I found as scrap). I used ally for it`s strength and to stand up to the elements. If you are planning indoors,cedar would be alright, probably look nicer too.


All the best Ian P

Ian P - If a man speaks in a desert where no woman can hear, Is he still wrong?

  • Member since
    January 2014
  • 1,264 posts
Posted by bman36 on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 8:43 AM
Ian,
That is an excellent idea for outdoors. The square tubing is very rigid for long spans. I'm thinking for strength of hiding aluminum angle in the base of the bridge. I have never built a bridge that long so it should be fun. Later eh...Brian.
  • Member since
    December 2004
  • From: The great state of Texas
  • 1,084 posts
Posted by TurboOne on Tuesday, February 15, 2005 10:17 AM
Ian, nice job. You also have the two best fans, they can't complain about anything, and they just wag and wag and wag. [:)]

I like the viaduct also. Looks like a lot of work.

Tim
WWJD

Search the Community

FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTER

Get the Garden Railways newsletter delivered to your inbox twice a month

By signing up you may also receive occasional reader surveys and special offers from Garden Railways magazine. Please view our privacy policy