A short update..

Bridge building has begun.

Here is a knocked together mock up (or an artists impression) of an Iron Girder Bridge.

The main bridge structure is a simple piece of 3/4" ply that spans the 30".

The girders were designed to drop in place.

They were built using odd scraps of wood - Ply, Balsa and Bass.. And are minus about 2000 rivets...

The abutments and sidewalls are made from 1/4" hardboard and covered with brick paper printed using a laser colour printer.

They, like the girders slide in and out.

Producing a bridge effect or illusion rather than an actual bridge...

Having decided this would make a good project..

My mind is now turning to the possibility of building an actual model bridge - one that functions as a bridge.

One better way to get a good representation of an old Victorian era Iron Girder Bridge - might be to use plastic..

(Another would be to make one from soldered brass - but lets not go there just yet

The realm of plastic strips, sheet, I sections etc., is now under investigation

I have been researching pre-formed plastic rivets in strips - but so far come up with zilch!

A problem that has occurred by building the bridge in O gauge is that it intrudes on the space of the H0/H0e layout..

One idea to help blend the two different scales together, is to board up, probably using corrugated Iron and wood fencing, the lower part of the bridge?

All ideas welcome..