RMweb Gold Dagworth Posted May 20, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 20, 2011 There seems to be a severe risk of Foot in Mouth disease around here with all these jaws on the floor... Simply stunning work Ron, the way you can look at a structure and reduce it to flat elements amazes me. I would not know where to even start with making piers like these and you make it look so simple. Andi Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
McGomez Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Hi Ron. At least we have something in common…… we drink the same beer! Warn me just before you are going to do the load testing on the 4,5m new project so I can get some supplies in for summer! Fantastic modelling. Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted May 20, 2011 Author Share Posted May 20, 2011 There seems to be a severe risk of Foot in Mouth disease around here with all these jaws on the floor... Simply stunning work Ron, the way you can look at a structure and reduce it to flat elements amazes me. I would not know where to even start with making piers like these and you make it look so simple. Andi Hi, Andi Thanks for your comments, much appreciated It does take a bit of thinking about, as always there is more than one way to acheive the result. But my aim is to take the simplest method whilst still being able to repeat it easily without trying to make it a one off work of art Cheers Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted May 20, 2011 Author Share Posted May 20, 2011 Hi Ron. At least we have something in common…… we drink the same beer! Warn me just before you are going to do the load testing on the 4,5m new project so I can get some supplies in for summer! Fantastic modelling. Andy Hi, Andy Just passed thro' Murcia this morning on the way back from Carzola in Andalucia, it was a bit wet and cool out there this week, but its back to the sunshine and warmth I will give a reasonable warning of all future tests, so that topping out of each span can be approached in a workmanlike manner ... and thanks for your comments Cheers Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted May 20, 2011 Author Share Posted May 20, 2011 I really like the way you break the task down and give very useful stepped explanations The modelling clay you used could solve a problem for me with cornicing on station buildings I will be modelling Is there a trade name to ask for or supplier ?- I am only familiar with with DAS? Looking forward to the next bits! Many thanks Bob Hughes HI, Bob The step by step helps me remember how I achieved the results My experience with DAS was that it hardens completely and becomes brittle and subject to cracking The product I have used is Lewis NewClay a type of plasticine, which hardens but doesn't embrittle or crack I purchased it a few years back at one Hobbycraft shops in Basildon , Essex for £1.50, it is now £2.99 They do have quite a few shops around the UK, and an online shop The online product link is Lewis NewClay Cheers Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted May 20, 2011 Author Share Posted May 20, 2011 Managed to restart the build this evening - ... So completing the top part of the fluted capitol to the pier - Cut a piece of plasticard 40thou x 53mm x 53mm with a hole 40.5mm dia Slip it over the top of the pipe/pier and then cut a strip plasticard 20thou x 127.5mm x 7mm wrap it around the pipe/pier, and fix it to the previous 53mm x 53mm square piece, being careful not fix to the pipe Remove the square with the strip in place from the pipe/pier, and mark using the previous template, and cut slits in the square plasticard Cut two pieces of plasticard 40thou x 51mm x 7mm, and two pieces 40thou x 49mm x 7mm. Using the template mark these strips with the corresponding spacings Using a hole punch cut 4mm dia holes out of the strips at the relevant postions as marked Cut the remaining marked plasticard to form three arches in each strip Fix the strips to the square plasticard, lining up the arches with the slits. The two 51mm strips on oppsite sides, and similarly the two 49mm strips, to form a 51mm square box Note the slits visible on the 53mm x 53mm square plasticard Remove the pieces of plasticard between the slits Cut small pieces of strip 7mm high, and fix to each edge/side of the openings to form the continuation of the flutes Fix the assembly in place on the pipe/pier, ensuring all the faces of the two corresponding squares are closely fixed Moulding clay is placed in the top of each arched flute, and moulded into the arched tops of the flutes The next part of the build is to construct the split moulded sections which locate the lower span beams, and build the lower castellated section ... to be continued >>>>> 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
manorm Posted May 20, 2011 Share Posted May 20, 2011 Hi Ron, Where you describe the use of the modelling clay "The next step is to fill the area below the annulus with moulding clay and produce a concave fillet", do you achieve the nice smooth concave surface simply using your fingers? Do the cut flutes stick to the surface of the plasticard sufficiently well to stand up to the "Final cleaning up will be carried out before painting"? I love your project and only came across it today when my son (now 42) pointed it out to me. He thought I would be interested as I started a similar one quite a few years ago but faltered with some of the details you have conquered so superbly – although I still have many of the pieces I made at that time. Do you intend constructing all three sets of viaducts, including the earliest CLC (lower level) one? Regards, Norm Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted May 21, 2011 Author Share Posted May 21, 2011 Hi Ron, Where you describe the use of the modelling clay "The next step is to fill the area below the annulus with moulding clay and produce a concave fillet", do you achieve the nice smooth concave surface simply using your fingers? Do the cut flutes stick to the surface of the plasticard sufficiently well to stand up to the "Final cleaning up will be carried out before painting"? I love your project and only came across it today when my son (now 42) pointed it out to me. He thought I would be interested as I started a similar one quite a few years ago but faltered with some of the details you have conquered so superbly – although I still have many of the pieces I made at that time. Do you intend constructing all three sets of viaducts, including the earliest CLC (lower level) one? Regards, Norm Hi, Norm Thanks for your comments The concave surfaces are produced using an old craft knife holder which is aluminium alloy and has a diameter of 8mm Repeated moves along the length of the clay moulding seems to work best, but it is a bit of trial and error To prevent the clay sticking to the tool, I had thought of wiping it with liquid soap or something similar, but reconsidered it because it could cause problems with painting later on The final cleaning up is usually reasonably easy. Brushing the moulding with diluted paint and using a craft knife to give it a final smoothing and edge cleaning ... and yes, all three viaducts, although the earliest one the MSJ&AR is mainly brick built with cast/wrought single bridge spans I have kept all my trial builds just to show myself, how much my modelling has improved Cheers Ron 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted May 21, 2011 Author Share Posted May 21, 2011 Onward and upward - Cut and laminate into two separate identical items 2 pieces - 40thou x 61mm x 23mm 6 pieces - 40thou x 53mm x 19mm 2 pieces - 20thou x 53mm x 19mm A fillet of moulding clay completes the two sections The two sections are fixed into position on the top of the pier Moving on to the lower castellated decoration - Three pieces of 20thou plasticard are cut with 5.75mm x 8.5mm castellations, and fixed at their edges 20thou x 3.5mm strips are fixed at the vertical edges of the castellations Two pieces of 40thou plasticard 62mm x 45mm and two pieces of 40thou x 52mm x 13mm are cut and fixed at their long vertical edges A further 62mm x 13mm strip is fixed centrally to prevent the assembly from warping The castellated assembly is fixed to the main vertical part of the upper part of the pier and then fixed to the top of the pier assembly The upper castellated section will be built next, before all the castellated decoration is added ... to be continued >>>>> 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
60006 Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Simply amazing. Can't wait to see it develop more. Keep up the great work. Tom N. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold griffgriff Posted May 22, 2011 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 22, 2011 That piece of fabrication is simply ingenious Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted May 22, 2011 Author Share Posted May 22, 2011 Simply amazing. Can't wait to see it develop more. Keep up the great work. Tom N. Hi, Tom Thanks for comments Cheers Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted May 22, 2011 Author Share Posted May 22, 2011 That piece of fabrication is simply ingenious Hi, Thanks, think I have had enough practice now, still another 14 piers to go after this one Cheers Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
artizen Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 Any thoughts of making a mould to mass produce parts like this? Another 14 to go!!!!! Serious dedication especially when you are making each one individually. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted May 22, 2011 Author Share Posted May 22, 2011 Any thoughts of making a mould to mass produce parts like this? Another 14 to go!!!!! Serious dedication especially when you are making each one individually. Hi, Ian Never produced moulds/moulded parts before Only fourteen to make, I am not that desparate to reduce the production time, and I am sure the cost would be higher than plasticard, etc. Cheers Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted May 22, 2011 Author Share Posted May 22, 2011 The following photos illustrate the continuing steps in the pier build - The processes have all been detailed previously, and are repeated in a similar fashion in this build Stepped cornice in 20 thou plasticard added to top of the upper part of the pier Second cornice box in 20thou plasticard ready for concave moulding Cornice moulding completed Vertical flutes marked and cut Stepped ledge piece in 20thou plasticard added with corresponding cuts for flutes Cornice assembly added to top of pier .. .. Upper part of flute assembly in 20thou plasticard cut & fixed and moulding added Upper flute assembly added to top of pier Upper castellated assembly is next part of build ... to be continued >>>>> 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew F Posted May 22, 2011 Share Posted May 22, 2011 .......not just amazing modelling; the photography and lighting!..looks like a Greek God will appear on the top of it! . This thread is fantastic! Andy Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozzyo Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 Ron / All, just think that if this viaduct was being built nowadays it would all be in concrete with no decoration. I take my hat off to the Victorian designers and engineers. Fantastic work Ron. OzzyO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted May 23, 2011 Author Share Posted May 23, 2011 .......not just amazing modelling; the photography and lighting!..looks like a Greek God will appear on the top of it! . This thread is fantastic! Andy Hi, Andy Thanks for your comments The Greek God definitely wont be me I prefer night time photo, because of the plain white plasticard requires extra shadow and contrast to show it reasonably well The desktop modelling lamp provides direct backlighting, and the camera's flash adds the frontal lighting The biggest problem is trying get sufficient depth of field, so instead of macro close-up, I use max magnification and stand right back. Sometimes the pics come out a little fuzzy and shaky, so I select the best for the thread posts, and hope all of you are not too disappointed Cheers Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted May 23, 2011 Author Share Posted May 23, 2011 Ron / All, just think that if this viaduct was being built nowadays it would all be in concrete with no decoration. I take my hat off to the Victorian designers and engineers. Fantastic work Ron. OzzyO. Hi, I think you may be interested in this - I received the original contract details for the Castlefield Viaduct from the National Archives at Kew on Saturday Drawing numbers are detailed, unfortunately there are no drawings in the archive The contract sum was £119,411 sterling, with a contract date of 12th June 1890, and a contract completion date of 31st March 1892 The specification gives an interesting insight into how the piers were built - An excavation for each pier foundation was made 19'-0" deep, and Concrete laid in 2'-0" lifts The pier cylinder was constructed from semi-circular Cast Iron segments flanged internally, and lined internally with Brindle brick The pier parapets were made of Wrought Iron The bridge girders were of Mild Steel The bridge girders had bed plates of Cast Iron fixed to their undersides with planed channels fitted with Gunmetal strips acting as bearing surfaces, and these ran on slip bearings of 3" wide Lead strips, and similar Lead strips on Shap Granite blocks at the bridge abutments The bridge deck was made up from Rivetted Wrought Iron plates, Rivets were 3/4" dia x 2" long and joints were made through Canvas steeped in Red Lead Other details of steel/iron protection were also specified All parts were painted before assembly, and received three coats of paint thereafter, each coat of a different colour (you guess why) The final coat to be to an approved colour (not specified) Labour rates incl tools, tackle, plant etc. Labourers 1s-0d per hour Erectors, Fitters and Blacksmiths 1s-6d per hour .. Well I thought it was interesting Cheers Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted May 23, 2011 Author Share Posted May 23, 2011 I forgot to mention that all the plasticard for this build was delivered on Saturday morning My modelling area now looks like a plasticard warehouse Still waiting delivery of a dozen bottles of Plastic Weld, but I have two as backup, so that wont stop the show for now Will be posting again tonight Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozzyo Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 All parts were painted before assembly, and received three coats of paint thereafter, each coat of a different colour (you guess why) The final coat to be to an approved colour (not specified) Labour rates incl tools, tackle, plant etc. Labourers 1s-0d per hour Erectors, Fitters and Blacksmiths 1s-6d per hour .. Well I thought it was interesting Cheers Ron Hello Ron, the only reason that I can come up with for the three different colours is so that an inspector / foreman could see that all parts had been painted. How about the wages 1s (5p) per hour, or 1s6d (7.5p) per hour. OzzyO. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted May 23, 2011 Author Share Posted May 23, 2011 Hello Ron, the only reason that I can come up with for the three different colours is so that an inspector / foreman could see that all parts had been painted. How about the wages 1s (5p) per hour, or 1s6d (7.5p) per hour. OzzyO. Hi, I think you have hit the nail on the head. Inspection and testing were a big part of the contract specification Those were contract rates to the contractor including the supply of tools, etc. not wages. The worker probably got less than 2p-3p an hour. Living then was all about day to day survival for workmen Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColinW Posted May 23, 2011 Share Posted May 23, 2011 And we're off again Should someone warn the government about possible earth tremours being caused by modeller's jaws hitting the ground simultaniously seriously Ron its good to see the work you have done on this viaduct so far and will enjoy seeing more of it as you progress. Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted May 23, 2011 Author Share Posted May 23, 2011 And we're off again Should someone warn the government about possible earth tremours being caused by modeller's jaws hitting the ground simultaniously seriously Ron its good to see the work you have done on this viaduct so far and will enjoy seeing more of it as you progress. Colin Hi, Colin Thanks for your much appreciated comments, although the one about earthquakes is a little near home, well about 200 km (125 miles) away Cheers Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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