Guest jim s-w Posted March 24, 2010 Share Posted March 24, 2010 Hi All Been experimenting with mixed results. Firstly A little test for a welded rod portal - while the leg turned out fine the main span needs a rethink regarding the way it is put together. Plus I realise I can go a lot finer on the etch for the rods itself. However I am much happier with this - a single piece etch that folds up into a registration arm and its bracket. Here posed on a 10p piece for scale. Cheers Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClikC Posted March 25, 2010 Share Posted March 25, 2010 Cracking work Jim. With the change to and etched registration arm, what is your ideas on fitting the contact wire to it? Regards Matt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jim s-w Posted March 25, 2010 Share Posted March 25, 2010 Hi Matt Same as when I used a tube - I have half etched lines on the inside of the arm so there is a slot I can solder my mounting wire into. Cheers Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jim s-w Posted March 26, 2010 Share Posted March 26, 2010 Having said that I am going to do one with holes in for Andi Dell's loop method as that is what we will be using to join the OLE on Proof House Junction and Tring. Cheers Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jim s-w Posted April 12, 2010 Share Posted April 12, 2010 Hi All As I mentioned I was not happy with the first test etch for my welded rod portal so after literally returning to the drawing board I have now arrived at something I am much happier with. Cheers Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jim s-w Posted April 12, 2010 Share Posted April 12, 2010 Hi All Also under development is my design for a heavyweight portal - A flat etch just wont do so this ones a bit more complicated. The following picture shows construction in progress and gives an idea to how its put together. And here is the finished leg. For those who want a closer look I will be demoing model OLE at Scalefour North this coming weekend - hope to see some of you there. Cheers Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wizard of the Moor Posted April 12, 2010 Share Posted April 12, 2010 Blummen 'eck! Lovely stuff, Jim. How wide do the diagonal members on the gantry come out at? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pinkmouse Posted April 12, 2010 Share Posted April 12, 2010 Smashing stuff Jim! Hold n' Fold or bending bars? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Phil Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 Stunning work Jim. Looks like you'll be an increasingly popular guy when Bachmann 85s and 350s start flying off the shelves !!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jim s-w Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 Blummen 'eck! Lovely stuff, Jim. How wide do the diagonal members on the gantry come out at? Hi James The leg is 39mm wide at its base. I used bending bars as I dont have a hold and fold - I really should get one along with a rivet press! Cheers Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
dave_long Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 That second portal span looks stunning. It certainly, doesn't look all one etch or flat like the N brass version, what made you change your mind and go for a full etch? You've certainly put the scratch v r-t-p arguement to bed with these. rgds Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jim s-w Posted April 13, 2010 Share Posted April 13, 2010 Hi Dave While the welded rods are not round they probably will be after paint. Plus there is the overall neatness factor - This portal is making the one on the plank look rubbish! Which is what I wanted as, while I was happy with the plank I wanted to move forward from it for the layout proper. Cheers Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jim s-w Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 Hi All Been assembling the cross span for my heavyweight portal this evening - this is a model of BB 00 81 which is just in front of the tunnel mouth at the Wolves end of New Street. For a single span its absolutely huge! A glimpse of the real thing Cheers Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigwelsh Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 I'll have to have a look at these on the weekend though its more for the design of steel structures rather than anything to do with the OHLE nature of yours! Looking forward to the day we have that signalbox view available with all the wires in front of it . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jim s-w Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 Hi All The 3 main parts of the large portal are now done - told you it was a monster! Cheers Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jim s-w Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 Hi All Turning to simple masts for a moment. I have done a little etch for a bracket to hold the cantelevers to the post. This is VERY close up - to give you an idea the pole is 0.6mm wide and the H section post 2mm across following is my registration arm mounted in position and finally an overall shot of the finished cantelever assembly This brings me to the unusual point of thinking that there is probably no way to take this any further forward from here! Hmmm... Cheers Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ClikC Posted April 14, 2010 Share Posted April 14, 2010 Jim, that is absolutely stunning! I can't wait to see it painted. Is it possible to get a little step by step for the construction of single masts? For those of unable to make it to scalefour north this weekend. Regards Matt Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jim s-w Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 Hi Matt I dont know if it can be broken down any more than it is already TBH. It really is super simple the only bit not shown is cutting the tubed to length and threading the .2mm wire into them before wrapping them arround the adjacent pole. The little bracket on the lower in 1mm OD 0.6mm ID steel tube shaped and soldered in place. Cheers Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted April 15, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 15, 2010 Hi Jim, In the shot of the real gantry it appears to be slightly arched, which would of course help with the span. Is it just distortion in the photo ? Stu Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jim s-w Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 Hi Stu Its hard to know - the BR drawings show these as flat. There are diagrams for other types of portal that show what the curves should be. Cheers Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete the Elaner Posted April 15, 2010 Share Posted April 15, 2010 These are absolutely stunning. I had 2 goes at scratchbuilding OLE on my previous layout & never got anywhere near this standard. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemeg Posted April 20, 2010 Share Posted April 20, 2010 Hi All The 3 main parts of the large portal are now done - told you it was a monster! Cheers Jim And McKenzie & Holland (who made similar things for railways more than a hundred years ago) would be mighty proud of you. Looks like you too have had to resort to actually building some of these things rather than simply using etchings. And isn't it incredibly satisfying when they come out like that? Well done that man; they are superb. Cheers Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
craigwelsh Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 Looks like you too have had to resort to actually building some of these things rather than simply using etchings. And isn't it incredibly satisfying when they come out like that? Cheers Mike That gantry is etched as I was looking at Jim's method of folding it up on the weekend. Its actually really strong too which seemed surprising, even more so on the tiny gantry also shown! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest jim s-w Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 Thanks Mike As Craig says it is all etched. Its just more than 1 piece laminated together to give the right angles. You can see how the construction works in the picture of the half finished leg. Each vertical is paired with 1 diagonal to make assembly easier. Of course anyone who wants quick and easy can always use the N-Brass stuff that is a flat etch, For me given the effort involved in building OLE why go for a timesaving shortcut that doesn't really make a big difference to the effort but looks nothing like the real thing. But thats just me. Cheers Jim Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikemeg Posted April 21, 2010 Share Posted April 21, 2010 Thanks Mike As Craig says it is all etched. Its just more than 1 piece laminated together to give the right angles. You can see how the construction works in the picture of the half finished leg. Each vertical is paired with 1 diagonal to make assembly easier. Of course anyone who wants quick and easy can always use the N-Brass stuff that is a flat etch, For me given the effort involved in building OLE why go for a timesaving shortcut that doesn't really make a big difference to the effort but looks nothing like the real thing. But thats just me. Cheers Jim And me; that's why I've scratch built my lattice signals. But, etch or no etch, that OLE certainly looks absolutely spot on. Cheers Mike Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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