ozzyo Posted October 30, 2013 Share Posted October 30, 2013 The top deck and rails were removed before 1950, so will have to remove them for the period being modelled i.e. 1955-1965. Will post a few more close-up photos with background info. if you are interested Cheers Ron Yes please Ron. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted October 31, 2013 Author Share Posted October 31, 2013 The signal gantry on the eastern buttresses of the Deansgate CLC bridge originally carried semaphore signals. In 1935 the semaphore signals were replaced by electric light signals during the electrification of the signalling and replacement of manual operation of turnouts by electric motors. The gantry was moved some 200 metres west in 1958, as part of a re-signalling project, and was finally removed in early 1970's after Manchester Central was closed The only detailed picture of the gantry I have been able to find is in 'Scenes from the Past : 48 - EM Johnson - Foxline' The model was created from a CAD drawing produced from reference to the preceding drawing and the known span dimension 3D view created from the CAD drawing - the lower timber platform was replaced by metal vertical slats, and the upper platform and hand rails were removed, at some date between 1935 and 1952 The model will be modified by the removal of the upper platform to correspond with the layout period i.e. 1955 - 1965 The vertical struts are 10thou x 30thou/10thou x 20thou styrene forming angle sections The diagonal struts are 10thou x 30 thou styrene strips The horizontal members are 20thou x 40thou/20thou x 20thou styrene forming angle sections The handrails are made from 20thou styrene rod The upper platform comprises 1mm x 1mm obeche supports with 1mm x 20mm obeche strip for the platform The three three aspect signal heads are from Eckon kits. The shunting signal and the theatre displays are all dummies at this stage The gantry carried three alphabetic display boards denoting the lines corresponding to the signals, namely A for the slow line, M for the middle line and B for the fast line The three Eckon three aspect signal heads are wired via a linear cable boxing just behind the lower platform, and down both buttresses in similar cable boxings The metal vertical slats of the lower platform are 10thou x 20thou styrene strips A couple of the struts have snapped (probably due to the fragile nature of the structure, and the move from the UK to Spain) and will be replaced before the bridge is fixed on the layout 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mythocentric Posted November 1, 2013 Share Posted November 1, 2013 Absolutely glorious! To see modelling of this calibre and scale in today's 'quick-fix' society is pure delight! Regards Bill Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted November 2, 2013 Author Share Posted November 2, 2013 The gantry is under repair and the upper platform is being removed The picture mentioned above also shows a second gantry which carried signalling equipment for station bound trains. This gantry was removed completely in 1958 It is of similar, but not identical structure, and is mounted on the south side west end bridge parapet and a separate viaduct buttress just beyond the north side west end bridge parapet Producing the CAD drawing tonight, and hope to make a start on the construction early next week - will post details and progress Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
d winpenny Posted November 3, 2013 Share Posted November 3, 2013 Looking absolutely excellent David Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted November 3, 2013 Author Share Posted November 3, 2013 The elevation drawing of the second signal gantry with comments - The access laddering is detailed at the bottom of the drawing The items identified with an X are diagonal angle cross bracings located within the structure The lefthand end of the gantry sits on the south side bridge parapet, and the righthand end sits on separate buttress close to the north side parapet due to the skewed arrangement of the bridge Now to produce the 30th x 30thou angle sections from 10th x 30th & 10th x 20th styrene strip, and the 60th x 50th angle sections from 10th x 60th & 10th x 40th strip Pictures tomorrow 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted November 4, 2013 Author Share Posted November 4, 2013 Today's progress - A bit of a wrecker's job - ... and only one broken strut - that's the upper platform removed - just a bit of a clean-up job now The buttress adjacent to the north side parapet Just three of the eighteen 30thou vertical angle struts The 60th angle members End plating and gusset plates The first three 30th vertical angle struts fixed ... and the remaining struts in place Close-up End plating vertical/curved angle strutting fixed Close-up 30th diagonal struts fixed Close-up ...and again Cross bracing diagonal struts fixed Close-up 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Kenokie Posted November 6, 2013 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 6, 2013 Ron I keep witching your progress with amazement, and then keep getting even more amazed. I don't' really post comments anymore cos the only comment I have about your work is "amazing". Thank goodness for the Craftsmanship Clever button! Your posts and photo's of your progress have had an impact on me, and now I am retired once I do get going I will definitely be willing to try stuff I would never have considered a couple of years ago. Amazing Chris Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted November 6, 2013 Author Share Posted November 6, 2013 Completed both sides, and joined them together with bracings and cross braces - Access walkway supports added The construction of the walkway The walkway added Temporary location 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Siberian Snooper Posted November 6, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 6, 2013 Hi Ron The craftsmanship clever does not do this plastic civil engineering masterpiece justice. Cheers SS Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ozzyo Posted November 6, 2013 Share Posted November 6, 2013 (edited) Hello Ron, you must be stark ravaging bonkers to do this amount of work. On something that most people would say that will do and buy a kit that's near enough. But please keep on being stark ravening bonkers, as the work is just fantastic. OzzyO. PS. I'm mad.I know I'm mad Etc. Edited November 6, 2013 by ozzyo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted November 7, 2013 Author Share Posted November 7, 2013 Hello Ron, you must be stark ravaging bonkers to do this amount of work. On something that most people would say that will do and buy a kit that's near enough. But please keep on being stark ravening bonkers, as the work is just fantastic. OzzyO. PS. I'm mad.I know I'm mad Etc. Possibly But as the saying goes - 'I like it' ... and it keeps me sane - I think or is that insane Cheers Ron 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheesysmith Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Excellent work there rom. One question, are those signal gantries welded or rivetted? Only asking because I dont see any rivets on the gusset plates. :-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
'CHARD Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 now I am retired once I do get going I will definitely be willing to try stuff I would never have considered a couple of years ago. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted November 7, 2013 Author Share Posted November 7, 2013 Excellent work there rom. One question, are those signal gantries welded or rivetted? Only asking because I dont see any rivets on the gusset plates. :-) The gantry dates from 1893. After 75 years the rivets heads disappeared under countless coats of paint Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cheesysmith Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Wot a cop out. Not what we have come to expect from your standards. :-) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted November 7, 2013 Author Share Posted November 7, 2013 Wot a cop out. Not what we have come to expect from your standards. :-) It's no cop out The real problem is that no photographic detail exists of rivetting locations, number and size. So any attempt at rivet placement would only be a guess If it is even feasible to place the smallest rivet transfer 8thou on the 30thou strip bracings, and on the 20thou insides of the 30thou angle sections, the visibility of such rivets is questionable I will attempt a few placements. If all goes well there will be a minimum of 130 rivets to place Cheers Ron Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
artizen Posted November 7, 2013 Share Posted November 7, 2013 Don't suppose you will be subjecting this little beauty to a load test then? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PaternosterRow Posted November 7, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 7, 2013 Simply WOW and OMG! This Layout is going to be unbelievable when finally finished and at this rate that wont take that long I'll wager. Simply brilliant, Ron. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted November 7, 2013 Author Share Posted November 7, 2013 Don't suppose you will be subjecting this little beauty to a load test then? I'm hoping that no locomotives will end up on top of the gantry Tested with a full bottle of PlasticWeld - slight bending of cross braces - no permanent deformation Cheers Ron 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brass0four Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 It's a stunning piece of work and I've shared my highest accolades earlier, but I'm curious regarding how much of the non-railway buildings and infrastructure are planned - if, indeed, such development is considered? Tony. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Welly Posted November 8, 2013 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 8, 2013 Screw the rivets! That gantry is the dog's danglies! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted November 8, 2013 Author Share Posted November 8, 2013 (edited) It's a stunning piece of work and I've shared my highest accolades earlier, but I'm curious regarding how much of the non-railway buildings and infrastructure are planned - if, indeed, such development is considered? Tony. Hi, Tony So far only four non-railway buildings have been constructed - Crown Hotel on the corner of Deansgate and Trafford Street Two shops and a residence/offices (built as one structure) on the corner of Deansgate and Bridgewater Street Railway Hotel and the two terraced houses adjacent (built as one structure) on the corners of Deansgate, Whitworth Street West and Crown Street Canal Lock Keepers House (used as offices) by Crown St and Whitworth St West The engineering works sandwiched between Trafford Street, Great Bridgewater Street and the GNR viaduct between Deansgate and the NR goods yard is about 50% completed. This awaits the finding of any photographs for the frontage and access/yard details, before completion Houses along Bridgewater Street and the surrounding environs will be built (plenty of photographs available) - subject to period evidence, as this area was undergoing clearance from the 1950s onwards ... and there will one or two more on the south side of the Castlefield/Cornbrook Viaducts which are canal related Cheers Ron Edited November 8, 2013 by Ron Heggs Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwealleans Posted November 8, 2013 Share Posted November 8, 2013 Screw the rivets! I think you may not have grasped quite how they work...... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Heggs Posted November 8, 2013 Author Share Posted November 8, 2013 I think you may not have grasped quite how they work...... Transfers are bad enough - but screwing them in, well, will have to take a Swiss Watchmakers course Thanks Welly for your sentiments Ron 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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