In addition to my CFL conversion, I started work on the last major scenic element of my layout this week...a reinforced concrete viaduct spanning the Bourbon River Valley.
The Grand Gap:
The first wall goes up:
I had planned on making both the front and back walls tonight and possibly installing the bottoms of the wide main arches. But, I went cross eyed cutting out the 30 arches on the front. So I glued up the blank for the back and called it a night.
Also, I would like to thank whoever suggested using plastic For Sale signs as raw material. That turned out to be the key in making this project a reality.
Nick
Take a Ride on the Reading with the: Reading Company Technical & Historical Society http://www.readingrailroad.org/
It will be all plastic.
Here's the back and middle arch installed:
Hindsight being 20/20, I should have built the foundations at the bottom of the piers and put a spacer in at the top of the arch, first. I would have been a lot easier to keep everything aligned, while glueing the arch in place.
The structure itself will remain hollow. The 3/4" plywood subroadbed carries the full load of the track and trains. The viaduct only need support itself. I figure it will be plenty sturdy after all the arches are installed.
I built an arch bridge/viaduct for my first layout. I did mine out of balsa. I didnt detail the vertical supports completley before I took down the layout but I was planning on making them look like yours with the arches in each "hole". What materials are you using? It looks like it is comming along quite well. Looks good keep posting pics of your progress.
P.S. you can view pics of my layout's bridge from the link below in my sig.
A Veteran, whether active duty, retired, national guard, or reserve, is someone who, at one point in his or her life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America" for an amount of "up to and including my life."
Massey,
The formed balsa is an interesting approach. Basically, I'm using loads of styrene. I cut the front and back walls from large sheets, and plan on using thinner stock to form the arches.
I did some more work on my Viaduct. I removed the arch that I had in place, and built the foundations for the piers. I also installed some crossbracing inside the arches:
Then I reinstalled the main arch:
Next comes the other main arch, and then the part I dread, the 27 little arches.
27 Little arches eh?
One arch per day for a month. And yer done.
This type of constructing using whatever is useful is just amazing to me.
Oh by the way, if you count arches in your sleep dreams, take a 4 day break and dont even look at the bridge. lol.
That's going to look amazing when completed. Out of curiosity, what is the source of your materials - looks like it used to be a sign. Looking forward to seeing it completed...in 27 days. :)
M
I can't remember when, but I saw a similar bridge built out of foam in N Scale Model Railroading, with a detailed step by step. It was pretty impressive. I would think that might be a bit easier than trying to cut all that styrene so precisely... Looks pretty good so far, though.
Lee
Route of the Alpha Jets www.wmrywesternlines.net
mearrin69 wrote: That's going to look amazing when completed. Out of curiosity, what is the source of your materials - looks like it used to be a sign. Looking forward to seeing it completed...in 27 days. :)M
It will look great!
Thanks everyone.
Falls Valley RR wrote:27 Little arches eh?One arch per day for a month. And yer done.This type of constructing using whatever is useful is just amazing to me.
I working on it some more after I got home from work, last night. I added the main arch that dives into the hillside and started the little arches. 1 little arch down, 26 to go:
And after finishing that one, I think you're right. One arch per day.
wm3798 wrote: I can't remember when, but I saw a similar bridge built out of foam in N Scale Model Railroading, with a detailed step by step. It was pretty impressive. I would think that might be a bit easier than trying to cut all that styrene so precisely... Looks pretty good so far, though.Lee
I looked into that, you have to cut the foam just as precisely. Plus my viaduct is on a slight curve. It's easier to cut the styrene arches slightly large, and then trim them down after the glue sets, then to try and figure/machine the required compound curves.
mearrin69 wrote:That's going to look amazing when completed. Out of curiosity, what is the source of your materials - looks like it used to be a sign. Looking forward to seeing it completed...in 27 days. :)
I made the front and back panels, and the arches from plastic For Sale signs from Home Depot. I used thicker Evergreen styrene for the pier foundations, and the ornamentation when I get that far.
Best Regards, Big John
Kiva Valley Railway- Freelanced road in central Arizona. Visit the link to see my MR forum thread on The Building of the Whitton Branch on the Kiva Valley Railway
mecovey wrote:Great work so far. What is your technique for installing the pieces inside the arch? Are you using testors or similar cement for plastics or a CA?
I used the thick Testor's in the tube to glue up the large panels, and plan on using the it to install most of the decorative concrete work as well.
I left the pieces for the inside of the arches a little long, and used thin Tenex to glue them in place. Afterward I trimmed them back flush with the side panels.
All I can say is WOW.... my lil' bridges are nothing compared to that!!! Very nice. Keep us up to date on your work!
Brian