ColinW Posted April 26, 2019 Share Posted April 26, 2019 Hi Ron, Good to hear that you are re-starting the project. I look forward to seeing your updates in the near future. Colin 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted May 7, 2019 Author Share Posted May 7, 2019 Have inspected the outdoor 'trench' in which the viaducts will pass through on leaving the basement, and after a little thought decided that the length of the viaduct will be extended to almost 3 metres (2.995m to be exact) beyond the exit point. This will make the transition from the viaduct to the concrete track base supporting structure easier to make The curvature of the trackwork will need four viaduct spans all of differing lengths - 770mm, 765mm, 815mm and 645mm. Unfortunately none of these match the length of brass etched viaduct span, and the modifications needed would be fairly onerous. So, unfortunately this has been abandoned, and a start made on the first viaduct span of 770mm using STYRENE (Now who would have guessed?) The required 27 deck beams have just been cut, and now in the process of being partly wrapped with the flange strips to allow them to be fixed to the deck plating. At present there are 9 beams still to be wrapped and fixed Pictures later this evening Ron 9 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Siberian Snooper Posted May 7, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 7, 2019 Good to know that you're back at it Ron! Looking forward to the photos. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted May 7, 2019 Share Posted May 7, 2019 1 hour ago, Ron Heggs said: So, unfortunately this has been abandoned, and a start made on the first viaduct span of 770mm using STYRENE (Now who would have guessed?) The required 27 deck beams have just been cut, and now in the process of being partly wrapped with the flange strips to allow them to be fixed to the deck plating. At present there are 9 beams still to be wrapped and fixed Ron Luckily your break to do work has allowed the world to stock up again on Styrene, just in time before you begin work on this next set of arches. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Ron Heggs Posted May 7, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted May 7, 2019 Pictures of the start of the first viaduct span build for the final four spans - A view of the underside of the viaduct span deck with 27 deck beams The first 19 beams are fixed on the deck with flanges of the 6 longitudinal beams used as spacers fixed to deck . The next 4 beams along the longitudinal beams await fixing to the deck, and the last 4 beams remain to be threaded onto the longitudinal beam extensions The overall dimensions of the deck are - 770mm long x 146mm wide x 18.25mm deep View of the far end of the deck with the beams still to be fixed in place The top flange strips for the longitudinal beams are still to be fixed, and will also act as spacers. The flange strips for the deck beams will be added last 12 18 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted May 8, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 8, 2019 Good to see you back up and running on this magnificent project Ron. Presumably the viaduct section will be used to deliver wine from the wine cellar, which will be adjacent to the railway room, to the outside summer room?!! Mike. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Ron Heggs Posted May 30, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted May 30, 2019 (edited) More work done to try to get up to speed again - That's the work on the deck finished for now On to the first of the two span beams - Cut ? one of two 220mm x 330mm sheets of the truss pieces. Each sheet contains 80 pieces which will make up into 40 trusses. The Cameo cutter will not cut through 20 thou plasticard, so the Stanley knife will sort out this little problem - The lower item is two truss pieces fixed together to create the cross bracing of the truss. The upper item is the remaining piece of a completed truss member after it was cut to enable the cross bracing of the trusses within the span beam The inside view of the first completed span beam The outside view of the span beam with the deck temporarily in place The second span beam is next. Cutting of the next 36 trusses (A 220x330 sheets will produce 40 trusses) underway, which will take about 4 hours altogether Whilst the cutting machine is busy, the second deck is being constructed. The deck beams have already been cut and in process of being assembled and fixed to the deck. This second deck is the longest of all the decks, being 865mm in length with angled joint at one end, which means two different span beams lengths More pictures later on this evening Edited May 31, 2019 by Ron Heggs A single sheet of plasticard will produce 40 trusses not 20 7 34 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Howe Posted May 30, 2019 Share Posted May 30, 2019 This is more like it! I've missed my regular drool over your beautiful plastic engineering. Hope you're keeping well Ron; it's really good to see you once again making progress on your own project. Cheers Phil 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Siberian Snooper Posted May 30, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 30, 2019 Excellent work there, Ron. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold SHMD Posted May 30, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 30, 2019 I pass these beams every (work) day. Stunning stuff sir. (...and welcome back!) Kev. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted May 31, 2019 Share Posted May 31, 2019 It's good to see you back at work Ron, have certainly missed your building updates. Colin 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
runs as required Posted May 31, 2019 Share Posted May 31, 2019 I'm a bit further away perhaps - I regularly cycle over the prototype of your Hagg Bank, Wylam bridge, upon which I always think of you Ron. I'd like to ask you whether the Manchester Central styrene engineering structures are still in good shape? You must have had them in store since the Sri Lankan project took over your time. And are you confident the structures will withstand the Spanish diurnal temperature range when sited outside ? With Best wishes dh Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted May 31, 2019 Author Share Posted May 31, 2019 On 30/05/2019 at 13:58, Phil Howe said: This is more like it! I've missed my regular drool over your beautiful plastic engineering. Hope you're keeping well Ron; it's really good to see you once again making progress on your own project. Cheers Phil Thanks Phil. I'm as healthy as can be expected, although I do suffer a little from Osteoarthritis in both hands (nobbly and painful finger joints). This is not causing me any problems modelling, other than slightly shorter working hours Ron 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted May 31, 2019 Author Share Posted May 31, 2019 (edited) 2 hours ago, runs as required said: I'm a bit further away perhaps - I regularly cycle over the prototype of your Hagg Bank, Wylam bridge, upon which I always think of you Ron. I'd like to ask you whether the Manchester Central styrene engineering structures are still in good shape? You must have had them in store since the Sri Lankan project took over your time. And are you confident the structures will withstand the Spanish diurnal temperature range when sited outside ? With Best wishes dh The bridge model is still on display in the railway room and regularly receives a few 'oow aahs' from visitors The route of the railway tracks out of the railway room over the length of the viaduct spans and bridges is always in shade. Under non-operationing conditions and during those times the trackwork, viaducts and bridges will be completely covered by a removable weatherproof & insulated structure. With summer coming up rapidly (24-26 deg C today) now will be the time to carry out temperature checks prior to placing the viaducts and bridges in position. The real death dealer is UV radiation which can destroy styrene within a couple of weeks I do have sample structures both painted & unpainted which could also be used as 'guinea pigs' during the testing period Ron PS. All the structures within the railway remain stable and show no signs of degradation, weakening or warping. Some of the structures are now approaching 15 years old Edited May 31, 2019 by Ron Heggs PS. added 3 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted May 31, 2019 Author Share Posted May 31, 2019 Pictures held over from last night - Bit of a dash in construction to complete before the truss machine cutting was finished The angled end for the attachment to the third span deck A closer look at the deck structure The first 28 of 80 truss cut pieces. 72 required for the second span beam Looking for more progress this weekend 7 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
runs as required Posted May 31, 2019 Share Posted May 31, 2019 3 hours ago, Ron Heggs said: The bridge model is still on display in the railway room and regularly receives a few 'oow aahs' from visitors The route of the railway tracks out of the railway room over the length of the viaduct spans and bridges is always in shade. Under non-operationing conditions and during those times the trackwork, viaducts and bridges will be completely covered by a removable weatherproof & insulated structure. With summer coming up rapidly (24-26 deg C today) now will be the time to carry out temperature checks prior to placing the viaducts and bridges in position. The real death dealer is UV radiation which can destroy styrene within a couple of weeks I do have sample structures both painted & unpainted which could also be used as 'guinea pigs' during the testing period Ron PS. All the structures within the railway remain stable and show no signs of degradation, weakening or warping. Some of the structures are now approaching 15 years old Thank you for that reply Ron, most interesting - and reassuring We can all look forward to the summer ! dh 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Blandford1969 Posted June 5, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 5, 2019 Not sure if this is any use or you have already seen this Ron? Manchester Central plan on Ebay 1967 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GJChurchward Posted June 7, 2019 Share Posted June 7, 2019 It's great to see this project gathering pace again. Each new post causes my jaw to drop. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted June 7, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 7, 2019 Have you considered Rowmark for the outside structures Ron?, whilst not indeterminately colour fast it has a higher UV resistance than Plasticard and might be more suitable for use in our climate. Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted June 9, 2019 Author Share Posted June 9, 2019 On 07/06/2019 at 21:18, Enterprisingwestern said: Have you considered Rowmark for the outside structures Ron?, whilst not indeterminately colour fast it has a higher UV resistance than Plasticard and might be more suitable for use in our climate. Mike. Hi, Mike Certainly has a higher UV resistance, but the cost is rather prohibitive, and would require a complete change in construction methods Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Ron Heggs Posted June 9, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted June 9, 2019 Finally finished the second span beam. Modelling during the week is nigh impossible The second span beam is to the front A view of the central portion of the span beam showing the detail of the crossing of the cross bracing beams The overhead tie beams linking the two span beams are next to be constructed 11 1 31 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Siberian Snooper Posted June 10, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted June 10, 2019 Stunning, simply stunning!!! 1 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Ron Heggs Posted June 18, 2019 Author Popular Post Share Posted June 18, 2019 The span is complete, and awaits painting This is the first of six spans which will extend the existing viaduct model into the garden A reminder of the existing viaduct model - The short angled span will be removed and replaced by the new span A few piers and castellated towers will be needed to make all the necessary span joints The second span is under construction 13 31 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted June 29, 2019 Author Share Posted June 29, 2019 (edited) A friend has managed to get some close-up pictures of the bracing and cross-bracing details, which have been elusive for quite a few years as access to the viaducts is not normally possible. However, with some telephoto equipment and a lot of patience, success has been achieved What all this means that the previous guessing game can be replaced by a more accurate representation of the real structural build, and should ease the overall model design and build process The second span which is under construction has been modified with three new types of bracing, replacing the single type used previously. When I have removed the old type bracings from the build, the latest designs of bracing will be added Pictures of the revised part build will be posted tonight, after the heatwave cools slightly Edited June 29, 2019 by Ron Heggs 3 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted June 29, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted June 29, 2019 1 minute ago, Ron Heggs said: Pictures of the revised part build will be posted tonight, after the heatwave cools slightly Good weather for testing for warpage at the moment! Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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