Ron Heggs

Hi, Sean I have my two local english/spanish architects overseeing the project - and using a well known and recommended local builder Don't seem to have the 'foreigner' tax/prices problem here, prices for timber are a little steep compared to the UK, but not too far over the top, and I do get loyalty discounts at some supermarkets, diy stores and petrol stations Ron

Yes, that was in the past. Now they are all being squeaky clean, crossing all the T's and dotting all the I's. Too many high profile prosecutions going on There will always be that sort of thing going on everywhere even in the UK

The underbuild because of its location is generally protected from the excesses of outside temperature changes. However, I do have an air conditioning unit ready to install, and the possibility of an extension to the central heating system (it does get cold in winter - down to 2 deg C overnight) What is important is having a dehumidifier to ensure that any excessive dampness is controlled, and a stable level of humidity is maintained - card, etc. is particularly susceptible to damp conditions Ron

Hi, Larry I am sure you will agree, patience we must all have to do any decent model construction. Repetition isn't so bad as long as you set up all the materials, build procedures and don't count or think about where you are up to until each individual task is complete Sunday is spraying day for both bridges #1 & #2, although I still have the shorter span of bridge #2 under construction (lattice work is being fixed on both span beams as I write) Our siamese cat doesn't jump up on anything, except my lap when I'm modelling - can be a bit awkward at times Cheers Ron

The underbuild is already there it just needs three walls removing, and five RSJs putting in place to hold up the upper level walls/floors. Of course that all needs a building licence from the ayuntamento (local town hall)

Hi, Chris Thanks for the accolade, but to be strictly accurate I am a Model Bridge Builder rather than a Bridge Engineer It will be 'parked' in its rightful place on the layout along with all my other builds past, present and future. I am only waiting for the building licence approval so I can get the villa underbuild opened up, then I can truly start to build the layout (a 4mm scale of Manchester Central Station and its environs, in the 1950's & 60's) Cheers Ron

Hi, Your comments are much appreciated Repetition is a relatively easy task once you get into your stride, the difficult part is ensuring accuracy across all the similar components and setting up a build routine which makes for consistency of construction Patience does help a little Cheers Ron

... a few photos showing the first bridge span in more detail (including the odd hair and remnants of the paper template, all to be cleaned off before painting) ... tomorrow it's laying down the lattice work for the shorter bridge span ... so no more pictures of the build (only a shorter repeat of this build) until the two span beams are ready ... to be continued >>>>>

Hi, Ian Much appreciated comments I was originally going to build the whole layout in 7mm, until I determined that there was no way I could ever find a room or shed big enough to house it Pity really as I could have really detail these builds Cheers Ron

Hi, Jamie I use MEK, which is quite cheap in Spain, for all my C&L track building, as it works just great with ABS I have found that with styrene it tends to be slow to make a joint, and it also seems to cause fracturing of the thin plastic strips that I tend to use I can get the large cans of Plastic Weld direct from EMA, but have to have it delivered within the UK, and then wait for one of my daughters who travel to Spain by car to bring it over (just once a year), but of cause that still runs out pretty quick - may have to resort to buying four or more cans this year's December trip Cheers Ron

Your comments are much appreciated ... down to the last few drops of solvent of the second bottle in 3 weeks, and I keep them in the fridge to reduce evaporation (along with the beer), as it is now 28 deg C this week, was 38 deg on Saturday ... can't tell the difference between solvent fumes and alcohol in this heat Cheers Ron

... me in a hurry, not on your life B) .. it just seems like it, I can push on a bit especially when there is a lot of repetitive construction Hope you really enjoy the ride Ron

Hi, Colin Thanks for your comments Cheers Ron

.. the latest images of the bridge with all the overhead bracing beams in place - I'm going to have to move some of these model structures before management starts dusting them with the yard brush ... to be continued >>>>>

Hi, Michael Thanks for your comments I have always produced my own brickwork card, to ensure that the brick bonds and colouring reflect the prototype as far as possible. The mortar thickness and colour is also easier to control Any mistakes are easier and cheaper to correct. The smooth plain white card is 240gsm and takes ink without too much absorption and gives a better and repetitive colour reproduction The first print of the day is always a test and enables re-use of the other face, to ensure the print heads are working efficiently and correctly Cheers Ron

Hi, Sean Seems as though you have come up against the Almost Non-existent Spanish Railway Modelling Scene, except for us ex-pats of course, modelling centres around Scaletrix and Boat/Plane Building. I live even further from those Spanish Centres of Modelling, and find it cheaper and easier to buy on-line from the UK I am going through the same search of servos versus point motors for my layout where I need over 120 (yes 120+), so every cent/penny counts Virtually everyone round here knows what I'm building and the size of the layout has put off any prospective exhibits/shows, etc., that's not like the UK, where it seems BIG is great exhibition stuff, even if it takes ages to set-up and take down Good job yours is N gauge and likely to be smallish, at least there is a chance of you getting something together for November, and there shouldn't be any rivet counters there either Will be watching out for your layout details Cheers Ron

Hi, Sean Thanks for your comments Hope I can continue to hold your interest Ron

These three drawings give a taster for the railings etches - Basic outline drawing of one railing panel Each panel is 33.2mm wide Two etching drawings - 6 panel sections Typical three level lamination The brass would be 8 thou thick (0.20mm) and two etches would be laminated to make up the detail of the original cast iron railings Hope this helps in your venture

.. now for the overhead span bracings - using 20 thou plasticard with 10 thou x 30 thou strip for cross-bracings Step by step - Marking-out the end plates - 9mm x 10mm trapeziums End plates fixed to the bottom plates - 8mm x 11mm Vertical end plates are next - 9mm x 11mm Join two end-plate assemblies with top flange - 3mm x 115mm Connecting plates - 4mm x 6mm Connecting plates and vertical flange (2mm strip) fixed in position Overall view Cross-bracing framing - 1mm strip First side with vertical strips in place Second side strips fixed Cross-bracing frame fixed in position between end-plate assemblies Close-up detail of end fixing End strips in place Close-up detail of end fixings Bottom flange fixed in position First side of first cross-bracings fixed Second side of first cross-bracings Close-up detail Detail showing front-back spacing between cross-bracings Complete first face of cross-bracings Cross-bracings completed Close-up showing vertical T flange - 20 thou x 10 thou View along bridge - Overhead bracing beam in place (temporary) Overhead view - Overhead bracing beam in place (temporary) ... 9 more beams required ... to be continued >>>>>

Hi, Ian This model is in 4mm scale The time taken to build so far has been about 7 weeks with approx another 4-5 weeks to complete this double span bridge - approx. 150 hours in total The time to build a shorter bridge would depend on the level of detail you want to show - say 50 -100 hours .... it is relative to the total number pieces of plastic to cut and fix Let me know if you decide to go ahead and build it - I would be interested in your interpretation to suit your layout Are you going to build the bridges on the MSJ&R line ? - I have just finished detailing the etch for the bridge railings, if you interested Cheers Ron

Hope the injury doesn't become permanent, as there is still quite a bit to model yet I see you are just a few hundred kilometres north of here as well Best of Spanish luck Ron

Hi, Well, mass is directly related to volume, and volume is the cube of the linear dimension - at a scale of 1:76 the scale mass is 1: 438976. That makes the weight of 13 cans which is 4.29 kg equivalent to 1883.2 metric tons This bridge section could in reality have carried four steam locos plus two coaches simultaneously (two passing double-headed trains), which would have been say 700 tons. On the basis that a working weight tolerance of 100% was built into the design loading, then approx. 1400 tons could have been the likely design loading - I am no bridge engineer It is unlikely that the Midland Railways CE weight limit is still available Ron

Hi, Steve Hope my updates are interesting enough for you My modelling does tend to be a bit stop/go at times in terms of generating enough progress to post meaningfully Cheers Ron

Hi, Mike Thanks for your comments, much appreciated Cheers Ron

Hi, Ian Thanks for your continuing interest and comments Cheers Ron