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Bridge terrain

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  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Bridge terrain
Posted by BigDaddy on Monday, June 25, 2018 7:35 PM

I am blessed by having a model railroad friend, who is looking for an excuse to build models.  

Note that this isn't built with Central Valley girders, all the lacing is custom build.

The bridge is just temporarily set into position, so anything is possible.  The surrounding layout is foam and as you can see, the tops of the piers are below the top of the foam.  The asymmetry between the left side of the bridge and the right, and the inward leaning right pier are optical illusions and the fault of Tim Cook. The piers are wider at the base than the top.

My plan is this is not a river but a gorge.  Maybe there will be a stream at the bottom.  On the backside of the both ends of the bridge, there is a square edge and the tops of the piers sit below ground level.   What should I do about that?

 

 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    May 2004
  • 7,500 posts
Posted by 7j43k on Monday, June 25, 2018 8:58 PM

You'll have to add a low retaining wall where the irritating foam sits.  Concrete would be the obvious choice.  Wood timbers would work, too.  Though they wouldn't last as long.

 

Ed

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Monday, June 25, 2018 9:38 PM

Henry, you are indeed blessed!

Very nice bridge. Is it brass or styrene?

I'll be watching to see how you finish it off.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    January 2017
  • From: Southern Florida Gulf Coast
  • 18,255 posts
Posted by SeeYou190 on Tuesday, June 26, 2018 11:29 AM

That is a beautiful bridge model you were given.

.

Please post a finished picture.

.

-Kevin

.

Living the dream.

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Tuesday, June 26, 2018 3:12 PM

hon30critter
Very nice bridge. Is it brass or styrene?

Plastic, and the lacing was little strips of styrene, individually glued on.  If I had the steady hands, I wouldn't have the patience to do that.

 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    May 2010
  • From: SE. WI.
  • 8,253 posts
Posted by mbinsewi on Tuesday, June 26, 2018 3:24 PM

BigDaddy
What should I do about that?

Ed's idea is what is typically done.  You could make the "concrete" look like the "blocks" that the abutments are made of.  Google images of railroad bridge abutments gives some ideas.

That IS a great looking bridge!

Mike.

  • Member since
    March 2017
  • 8,173 posts
Posted by Track fiddler on Tuesday, June 26, 2018 6:28 PM

Nice bridge Henry. Great friend you have too, he does very nice work.

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Tuesday, June 26, 2018 7:25 PM

He is building a Coast Guard ice cutter for another friend.  He bought several pieces of 5x5" balsa 40 years ago.  Balsa really gets hard in 40 years, in case you are hoarding some. 

I am experimenting for the first time with sculptamold rock castings.  Made my first one today, with too much water and it too a while to dry.   4 hours later, it is not as hard as hydrocal, but as I won't be trying to scratch it with my finger nail, that is not a deal breaker.

The back corners look the strangest.  I think putting some puff ball trees behind the bridge will hide the 90 degree drop off.  A concrete abutment can only be so wide

 

 

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

  • Member since
    November 2016
  • 476 posts
Posted by j. c. on Tuesday, June 26, 2018 10:39 PM

Henry curse about on this site to get ideas for abutments.   http://bridgehunter.com/ 

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Bradford, Ontario
  • 15,797 posts
Posted by hon30critter on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 1:33 AM

j. c.
Henry curse about on this site

Hey j.c.

Did you really mean "curse"? I hope not, otherwise you will get Henry in trouble with Steven Otte!Smile, Wink & GrinLaughLaughLaugh

Sorry. couldn't resist. My bad!

Interesting site by the way.

Dave

I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!

  • Member since
    November 2016
  • 476 posts
Posted by j. c. on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 7:03 AM

hon30critter

 

 
j. c.
Henry curse about on this site

 

Hey j.c.

Did you really mean "curse"? I hope not, otherwise you will get Henry in trouble with Steven Otte!Smile, Wink & GrinLaughLaughLaugh

Sorry. couldn't resist. My bad!

Interesting site by the way.

Dave

 

 

old eyes big fingers.

  • Member since
    December 2015
  • From: Shenandoah Valley
  • 9,094 posts
Posted by BigDaddy on Wednesday, June 27, 2018 4:59 PM

j. c.
Henry curse about on this site to get ideas for abutments.   http://bridgehunter.com/

Well, dag nabbit, I forgot all about that website.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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