Staining the edges of the girts and adding the diagonals:
I forgot to mention that all the girt and Diagonal material was pre-stained as a sheet, previous to being glued to the structure. Had I to do this trestle over, that is how I would have done all of the lumber for the bridge. So, I stained the sheet of balsa I was going to cut them from. After making strips for the girts and diagonals, I still needed to stain the the edges where I had cut the strips from. As it turned out, I used strips 1/16th X 3/16ths as the Sills and diagonals and 1/16th X 1/8th as the sway bracing and girts. These dimensions work out to roughly 6" X 9" and 6" X 12" in HO scale. Before adding the diagonals, I stained the edges of the girts and again there may be glue keeping the stain from coloring the girts in some places. These are the places I touched up with black and/or Burnt Sienna and again I dry brushed some light gray in vertical strokes starting at the top, to weather the girts. It is easiest to lay the trestle on its' side to do the dry brushing and easier to keep track of which way is up.Once I was satisfied with the staining and weathering of the girts, it was time to add the diagonals. By now, you should be able to understand the procedure. The diagonals will overlap each other. The first ones on, go from one upper corner to the lower corner of the same story on the next bent. Do all going one way, on one side of the trestle, flip the trestle over and do it the same way on that side. Then do the second diagonal by weaving it under the first. This gives you some clamping pressure when gluing in the second diagonal. There are many ways of doing diagonals! Some trestles even omit them. If you have an even amount of bents, you can omit diagonals on the second and third, forth and fifth bent, etc... You can have only one diagonal, instead of two, making a zig zag pattern on all the bents. On mine, I had the diagonals meet on the center bent using a mitered joint. Once you have the diagonals on, finish staining the edges, touch up where needed with black; or, Burnt Sienna and weather with dry brushing, again going vertically, oriented with the bents. Now you're at the same place I'm at, which is fitting the trestle to the layout. This is the end of the "Building the Trestle" part of this thread. I will continue with the installation of the the trestle on the layout.
NP 2626 "Northern Pacific, really terrific"
Northern Pacific Railway Historical Association: http://www.nprha.org/
Installing the trestle was a matter of framing it in so it would be supported from beneth. The following photo shows the preliminary framing I installed to do this.
The above photo shows one of the concrete footings I made to support the trestle. I expected to need to shim this part up to meet the base of tallest bent of the trestle. As it turned out, all I needed to do was sand a bit off the bottom of this wood block to get a perfect fit. These concrete footings are made from pieces of pine, sanded to shape and painted with concrete paint. I carved a few cracks in the concrete and used my diluted black acrylic stain, to weather them a bit . This one footing shown also has two short dowels glued to it's top, that trap the center piling of the bent, to secure the trestle at it's bottom, adding stability to the bridge.
Maybe, someone wanting to build a trestle for their layout will get some ideas here and if I can express one opinion, it is that building my trestle was fun and far easier then it might look.An interesting fact: A stretch of mainline track from Hawley MN, to Fargo N.D that was on the Northern Pacific was a trestle in the beginning. This trestle was very long (almost 6 miles). Fargo is on the bottom of a prehistoric lake (Lake Agassiz) To the west of Hawley was the eastern shore of this lake and there are several shore lines between the farthest east shore and the lake bottom. The trestle mentioned, eased the grade down to Fargo and the grade up from the lake bottom. The N.P. undertook a colossal job of filling in this trestle with earth and what is seen today is one of the longest fills I have ever seen. Considering the methods used back when this would have been done, what was done can only be described as amazing! Also, they found that the weight of the fill actually sank into the ground, where the fill crossed some fairly swampy areas. If you look at the area about 2 miles east of Glyndon MN on Google Earth, you can see places where the displaced ground caused waves to the sides of the fill. These are actual humps in the ground, visible from Highway 10! This grade is on the BNSF mainline from Minneapolis/St. Paul to Fargo Northe Dakota.,
The photo below shows all of the footings installed. It also shows how I made the other four footings height adjustable; so, I could easily get the top of the footings to just meet the bottom of the trestle bents. Also in the photo, I have attached cardboard frames so I will have a place to attache my cardboard lattus scenery support. work.
I guess if I didn't look at the Views counter, I'd think I was wasting my time and no one is paying any attention! However, the Views counter is showing that over the last few days, nearly 100 people per day are looking at this thread. Must be people ARE interested, just dont have anything to add!
Still I know this group of people! Not having much to say is not who we are!
Again, the five footings that will support the trestle were made from pine, shapped to look like concrete footings and painted with concrete colored paint and weathered. I make these so they are glued to the support framing and directly support each bent of the trestle. I want them so they just touch the bents, without causing upward pressure on the trestle. I've considering that maybe I should put a coat of something (paint/varnish) on the framing to stabilize it. My basement gets fairly humid in the summers and this might be a good idea.
The photo below shows some of the cardboard lattus work that will support the Woodland Scenics plaster cloth that will make up the hardshell.
In the above photo, it's somewhat difficult to distinguish from the rest of the cardboard strips; but, just off of the right side approach to the bridge, is a 3/8th inch diameter dowel sticking up through the lattes work, with a cardboard strip glued over it. This is going to be a rock spire sticking up from the gulch. This will be a scenic challenge for me, to see if I can get this detail to look right and natural.Because the Woodland Scenics plaster cloth I use for hardshell is placed on the cardboard lattes work wet, when gluing the lattes work together use any type of glue that is water resistant. In my case, I'm using Zap-A-Gap as it's what I have on hand. After the hardshell has set, I use Sculptamold as an adhesive for my rock castings and to "flesh-out" the rest of the scenic surface. I also carve the Sculptamold into stratified rock surfaces, while this material is still setting up. It works wonderfully for this as Sculptamold takes a while to set up and works well, even when about ready to set, so you have a good-long-working time with it.
The photo below shows some of the rock carvings and in particular the rock Spires I made to see if I could do this well enough that I would be pleased with the results. Although the white makes things sort of blend together, I think you can see how it turned out.
Here is a photo of the completed plaster/sculptamolded deep gultch area without the trestle installed.
Great job, what beautifull deep gultch you have created. I can't wait to see it with the trestle bridge in place.
Thanks for sharing,
George
I've installed the trestle back in the scene (must be a winter scene)!
The following photo shows the track cleaning train buffing the railheads on the bridge. My intentions were to show and talk about the process of scratch building a model trestle. My intentions were also to promote the building of models for your railroad. My interests in this hobby and my enjoyment of it stems from my deep interest and fascination with building models. I know that many people in the hobby today have no interest in this aspect. I enjoy it immensely and honestly, the hobby would not hold my interest, if I had to buy everything ready made. I'd find that pretty boring! No reflection on those who want to buy ready made stuff, that is just not where my interests lay.
My hopes are that some people will come away from reading this thread thinking: "Maybe I can do that and give it a try"! Good luck and best wishes.
Mark DeSchane
Also, anyone interested in taking on building a trestle, bridge; or basically any type of model building project, and would like to communicate personally, I am here to help and would love to help you with your project.
I've removed this post I felt it lacked pertinence to the topic.
Gidday, Looking at the amount of views you've had I'd suggest that you've created a successful thread and if in the future someone "Searches Our Community" regarding trestle bridges YOUR information will be there. This is the first forum that I've been involved in and not for that long but my impression there are lots of "Lurkers" who don't say anything which in its self isn't necessarily a bad thing.
For my self while I have no intention of building a trestle , the ability, as I mentioned in another thread, to be able to "drop in" from 8000 miles away and to observe your progress, not only is great but gives me inspiration in my humble endeavours.
Keep up the good work and Have Fun.
Cheers, the Bear.
"One difference between pessimists and optimists is that while pessimists are more often right, optimists have far more fun."
Thanks "Jabear"!
As I see the "model building" atmosphere in today's model railroading, I have to wonder if doing build threads has merit?
Gidday, As I previously wrote the amount of views this site has had (now just over 1300) would suggest that it has been a successful venture.
I also mentioned my impression regarding "Lurkers". More often than not I too am a "Lurker". There are threads and "posters" whose work and/or opinions I have come to value even if the thread is not of obvious or immediate value to my own ventures. I don't comment (1) because others have already done so, (2) too much vacuous praise or comments would, in my opinion, just "bog down" the forums making them worthless and an unpleasant place to visit.
Where I personally could get ticked off, and I know others do, is when a post is created, a question asked, answered by various contributors to the best of their knowledge, and then never acknowledged by the OP.
"The Philosophical Bit According To The Bear". The way I look at it is while it is nice to get praise from your peers for your efforts, I've learnt over the years to take personal satisfaction, only if I deserve it, from my actions. I worked for an outfit for several years where the staff on the floor took pride in the fact that we turned out quality work In spite of management!
Bottom line is that the only person to answer your question is yourself. Did you get satisfaction from doing it? Did you learn anything new? Did you get to "perfect" a technique that you've been working on? Has anyone made a favourable comment?
Its up to you but I would be disappointed if we do not get to see the trestle "permanently" in and the surrounding scenery "finished".
Cheers,the Bear.
What a superb piece of work, not to mention dedication to take all the pictures, document every step and put it all on line for those of us who have an interest in building a trestle can go for reference.
Thank you so much for all your work in every aspect. I for one will be building much the same thing and you have shown me how.
Regards
Choo Choo Willie
CDN Dennis
Modeling the HO scale something or other RR in the shadow of the Canadian Rockies Alberta, Canada
"Snip" I felt the first paragraph of this post was not worth keeping and removed it.
As far as finishing the scenery in the area of Deep Gulch, I am coming into my season where I am involved in other activities that take me out of the basement. So, I may not get back to it until fall.
I think what you have done looks very good indeed. It would call it a success, and be very proud of it.
I will probably be building a double-deck timber bent-framed trestle in the next two or three months, about the same length as yours, but less than half the height. For me, as a transition era player, I have to have at least one timber trestle visible on a layout. I even recovered the one on my last layout intact, and will insert it into the new layout just down grade from the new one, about 80 scale yards away. It, too, will need to have the lower reaches of its timber uprights clipped in order to fit.
Here is the old one:
Crandell
NP2626 My intent in commenting on the lack of others contributing to this build thread was not to attempt to garner accolades; but to attempt to start dialog on "BUILDING" models!
My intent in commenting on the lack of others contributing to this build thread was not to attempt to garner accolades; but to attempt to start dialog on "BUILDING" models!
A monolog is perhaps not the best way to start a dialog. If you want to start a discussion, I would suggest starting by posting a question or describing some problem or challenge, and asking for opinions from others, instead of saying "here is what I did" and then post a long thread showing what you did, and only then ask for comments.
Great work on your bridge, btw.
Smile, Stein
Gidday, If I caused offence, my apologies, it was not my intention.
Not including yours, there is currently five other "build projects" on the front page of this section of the forum, they of course come and go depending on the OPs progress.
Stein has beaten me "to the punch" as I was going to suggest that you raise the question of "the merits or otherwise of Building Models" in the General Discussion Section.
Have fun during your summer.
steinjr NP2626: My intent in commenting on the lack of others contributing to this build thread was not to attempt to garner accolades; but to attempt to start dialog on "BUILDING" models! A monolog is perhaps not the best way to start a dialog. If you want to start a discussion, I would suggest starting by posting a question or describing some problem or challenge, and asking for opinions from others, instead of saying "here is what I did" and then post a long thread showing what you did, and only then ask for comments. Great work on your bridge, btw. Smile, Stein
NP2626: My intent in commenting on the lack of others contributing to this build thread was not to attempt to garner accolades; but to attempt to start dialog on "BUILDING" models!
The comment I made in rebuttal to Stein's opinion, wasn't about the subject of this building project and so I removed it.
NP2626 steinjr: NP2626: My intent in commenting on the lack of others contributing to this build thread was not to attempt to garner accolades; but to attempt to start dialog on "BUILDING" models! A monolog is perhaps not the best way to start a dialog. If you want to start a discussion, I would suggest starting by posting a question or describing some problem or challenge, and asking for opinions from others, instead of saying "here is what I did" and then post a long thread showing what you did, and only then ask for comments. Great work on your bridge, btw. Smile, Stein What!?!? Describing a building project, maybe getting some people interested in doing a building project of their own and then attempting to get people to discuss building models is the wrong way to go about it? Nope, pretty sure I'm going about this the way I want to do it! You have some other way you want to go about promoting building models, have at'r!
steinjr: NP2626: My intent in commenting on the lack of others contributing to this build thread was not to attempt to garner accolades; but to attempt to start dialog on "BUILDING" models! A monolog is perhaps not the best way to start a dialog. If you want to start a discussion, I would suggest starting by posting a question or describing some problem or challenge, and asking for opinions from others, instead of saying "here is what I did" and then post a long thread showing what you did, and only then ask for comments. Great work on your bridge, btw. Smile, Stein
What!?!? Describing a building project, maybe getting some people interested in doing a building project of their own and then attempting to get people to discuss building models is the wrong way to go about it? Nope, pretty sure I'm going about this the way I want to do it!
You have some other way you want to go about promoting building models, have at'r!
I have no problem whatsoever with building threads, or threads showing techniques and approaches.
But I would suggest you having a look at what M.C Fujiwara does in his build threads (e.g. http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/p/195425/2218538.aspx and http://cs.trains.com/TRCCS/forums/t/203145.aspx) for some ideas about how to communicate efficiently in a web forum.
Note that MC does not spend half his time grouching about various other things (posting pictures, how he is not getting the discussion he wants, how he suspects that people these days aren't interested in building things any more).
MC is nice with people who answer, instead of essentially communicating "I would rather only hear from others who are exactly like myself", and accepts praise gracefully, instead of rebuffing it as not being what he wanted.
MC's model wasn't done before he starts posting. He is telling us as he is going along - making it meaningful to offer comments or suggestions on the current build, as there is a chance of the suggestion being taken into account.
MC's threads has a clear goal - to show how he builds a small layout, and share his enthusiasm. He is not trying to mix that with a general discussion on say why doing Free-mo modules or small switching layouts supposedly is a far superior approach to some other style of model railroading.
But by all means, keep doing things your way, if you feel that is a better approach. I'll bow out of this thread now.
And, for whatever it may be worth to you, that really is a good looking trestle and the middle part of this thread is a nice tutorial on building a trestle.
It probably would be smart to rescue that middle part, and put it on a blog or website, so you can refer people to it later, if anyone comes along who wants to build a trestle.
Smile,Stein
Again, this comment had nothing to do with the subject of building models and so I removed it. Stein had his opinions and I have mine.
I like what you've done. I just just finished a trestle myself, but yours is a lot neater than mine. It IS fun, isn't it? (I had insufficient supplies to finish the cross ties under the track; a later project).
Paul
Selector, I would try to save that trestle also, nice job and I love your surrounding scenery! Bigpianoguy, great job! Isn't building stuff an enjoyable aspect of the hobby?
Maybe this thread has run it's natural course. I have enjoyed building the trestle and it's surrounding scenic base. I also enjoyed presenting it here in the Model Railroader Forums. Writing about doing a project such as this, was as big a project, as actually building the trestle! Excepting some criticism, which I have a difficult time understanding the necessity of, the project of writing the thread was as fun as building the trestle itself! I would like to see more build threads here in the Model Railroader Forums. If you decide to do such a project, you will have my full support!
I do share your confusion over posting on going layout projects. I am putting up a ceiling train, and posted my progress. I got some encouraging comments at first. But I recently posted an update, from which my trestle pics originate, & this latest post has been completely ignored. Yet I see other, long-time posters, who have running threads about their layouts. The magazine itself posts a live video feed of its own 'latest project'. So what gives?
Thanks for the nice comments on my efforts.