Ron Heggs

But there not meant to carry locomotives, etc.

Well the stress/loading test has been completed ... 13 cans in total - 4.29 kg (9.438 lbs) .... could have put 14 on the bridge, but the last one would be sitting on the bridge support .. there was slight bending outwards at the top of the span beams, when the overhead bracing beams are fitted this will correct it There was a 2mm deflection in the centre of the bridge, and note the rippling of the unbraced lattice bracings - all of which has disappeared now the load has been removed B) ... successful test with no permanent damage ... and 13 wasn't a unlucky number

I am planning for the layout track level (open grid structured baseboard) to about 1 to 1.2 metres, which means that the canal water level will be 240 - 250mm below The viaducts will be positioned from front of baseboard - MSJ&R Viaduct approx 200mm Cornbrook Viaduct approx 400mm Castlefield Viaduct approx 600mm The rear of the baseboard at this point will be almost tight to the rear of the Castlefield Viaduct So viewing of the structures will be as open/restricted as the prototype - allbeit I can't shrink myself to 24mm to get the full access views Cheers Ron

... after busy day in the garden and workshop, building half arched framing for climbing plants from Reunion Island, I have just managed to complete the deck beams and fit the deck. The stress/loading test will now have to wait until Tuesday afternoon Underside of deck View of deck beams and their position on the span beams Overhead view of deck Side view of span and deck beams, and deck The overhead span bracing beams are next on the build agenda ... then the smaller spans/deck etc. ... to be continued >>>>>

Well it's down to Masymas or Mercadona tomorrow, to get me a 12 pack or two - There has to be a degree of overload available for the stress test Just got to finish the deck beams then it's Anchors Aweigh

STOP PRESS - Management has given me notice to quit - using the temporary support structure (glass vase) so I have now started yet another task - constructing the castellated brick and sandstone decorative columns at the juncture of the brick viaduct and the bridge structure Recent photo. of western bridge span with the decorative support At this end of the bridge there is only one decorative support The adjacent Castlefield Viaduct is too close to this bridge to allow the building of a decorative support between the two bridges/viaducts However there are two decorative supports at the eastern end of the bridge The bridge in the foreground is one of many on the MSJ&AR Viaduct Some of the card components - Printed brick card and two layers of mount card Upper decorative supports Top Sandstone (Plastic strip) detail Lower Sandstone (Plastic strip) detailing added The sloping sandstone castellation cappings (plastic strip) require adding All the plastic detailing to be painted sandstone & weathered ... well the card base is built now to add the brickwork, etc. Upper part of support fixed to base, and card support strips added Lower support shaped (long edges are all bevel cut) and ready to fix in position Completed support ready for brickwork card Complete printed brickwork card shaped Underside of printed brickwork card, showing scored fold marks Completed brickwork ... to complete structure sandstone detailing required above and below brickwork A couple of pics of the bridge without the deck in position - looks OK if must say myself ... to be continued >>>>>

Hi, Ian The first link - can't pick up the video stream The second link - OK This confirms details of the proposed tie-up Thanks Ron

Thanks for that info Ian. It certainly will be good news when the project gets its funding Cheers

Good job I'm not in Australia Thanks again for your comments B)

Cornbrook Viaduct - Bridge #2 - Bridge Deck .. not much progress to report today, management had me wallpapering the corridor to our bedrooms but I still managed a couple of hours - Deck with all straps in place, and the central row of T supports completed .. found that the outer sections had no arched plating, just plain supports to top deck plating Close-up of central T support straps, the outer T's yet to be completed .... there endeth the first of the last shipment of bottles of Plastic Weld - its only taken 9 days to empty .. I'm going to have to stop breathing so deeply

Hi, distortion is unfortunately the name of the game Any solvent used as a 'welding agent' or as an adhesive will cause distortion in the joint and in the immediate area around it. It becomes more of a problem when joints are long and continous. The best way to reduce its effect is to keep a close fit along the joint faces and to use fast brush strokes so the minimum of solvent is used and the capillary action draws it into the joint. Leave to dry and if necessary refix using the same technique just where the joint needs fixing. ... As they say less is more !! When fixing cross bracings, etc. to the many bridge structures and the Train Shed roof and gable ends, again use little solvent and allow adjacent joints to dry off before attempting another. Also, alternate fixings when attaching items to both side of another piece, then go back to fix alternately the remaining items - i.e. try and cancel out any distortions by alternating the timing of your fixings There are number of other tricks one can use such as placing parts in hot water then clamping/weighing them down and letting them cool off Hope this helps a little Cheers Ron

Hi, Larry Thanks for your comments - for someone who has a great deal of expertise in rolling stock special builds, and knows of the area firsthand in the distant past like myself - it is especially encouraging My last visit was some 8 years ago - but I have my younger brother, friends and colleagues who still live in the area who are able to assist with photos of details, etc. & comments on my builds Cheers Ron

Hi, Paul - Thanks for your interest and comments Ron

Hope I'm not the instigator of unnecessary pain !! Thanks for your interest Ron

I share the naya (sun room) with our siamese cat until the railway room is ready, and I've even been out shopping all afternoon with management which cuts into modelling time Well if each can is 70mm diameter and the bridge is 850mm long in theory at least 12 cans, but only time will tell B) Cheers Ron

Cornbrook Viaduct - Bridge #2 - Bridge Deck The construction of the 39 deck beams is progressing. Jumping from one task to another to keep the brain active I have started the proper build of the deck The deck top plating is 40thou plasticard 850mm x 90mm with 4 x 20thou x 4mm cut strips as channel webs. The central two are 23.5mm centres apart, and the outer webs are at 19.5mm centres. The locations marked previously with a knife stroke. The raised edges of the partial cut locate the strip to ensure it is fixed in a straight line Deck plating with channel webs in place Close-up of channel webs Channel flanges of 20thou x 80thou strip are fixed to both sides of the webs Channel flanges fixed to webs Close-up of Channels 20thou x 60thou strips are added next to the 20thou x 80thou flanges as support fixings for the arched plating The arched plating cut from 5thou plasticard is fixed in place at the long edges only The strips are 19mm wide for the 18.5mm gap, and 15mm wide for the two 14.5mm gaps. By pressing down on the centre of the strip they click into place between adjacent flanges and held by the 60thou strips. Solvent is brushed quickly along the edges of each strip. Each arch remains held as a curved surface Arched plating in place Close-up of plating The plating jointing strips 20thou x 80thou x 19mm are curved and fixed in place at 20.5mm centres, positions previously marked in pencil Central arched plating fitted with jointing strips ... to be continued >>>>>

Thanks Ian Halford's Grey Primer works wonders as a base coat Have you run out of bricks or are you running out ?? B) ... yes I am looking forward to the completion of the train shed roof as well, but still waiting for the Town Hall (Ayuntamento) to grant me a building licence for the underbuild works I hope I can maintain your interest and that of others Cheers Ron

Thanks Mike for your comments - I didn't expect such response from my posts I thought just posting pictures/photos might be a bit elitist ('hey, look what I can do'), and it would be more informative and helpful to others in some way, if a few drawings, and construction and build info. was also posted Hope you continue to enjoy this thread, there's a long way to go yet Cheers Ron

Cornbrook Viaduct - Bridge #2 - Second Span ... photos of the completion of the second span, suitably arranged on the support structure Temporary end support still in use Close-up showing typical position of deck beam - deck structure will sit on 39 of these beams End detail and approx. position of deck beam on lower span beam Overhead view View from underside ... this evenings session will continue with more deck beams, followed by the deck structure B) **** We'll keep knitting **** .... to be continued >>>>>

Hi, Darrel Thanks for your comments, much appreciated ... from my first post - .. maybe it is slightly bigger ? .. size isn't everything - it just allows you to build more ! Cheers Ron

Cornbrook Viaduct - Bridge #2 - Bridge Deck .... completed the first face of lattice work and 25 cross-bracing trusses with T bracings leaving 25 more to construct As a break from this I have built one of the 39 deck beams .... and have now run out of plastic weld, but got note from local Correos that I had a package to pick up - that's the plastic weld + weathering powders ... here are the pics of the first deck beam - 113mm long x 7.5mm high x 2mm deep / 20 thou plastic - 38 more required for the longest span there is a better view of end detail in the reflection The package at the Correos had my 6 bottles of solvent, etc. so on we go again ..... ... thought I would do a test build of part of the deck while I had a deck beam finished, and check for any construction problems Construction uses 20 thou plastic card (all stripping is hand cut), except for arched plating which is 5 thou Section thro' deck showing deck beam with arched plating & inverted channel rail supports and top deck plating (not shown here are the vertical plates at the outer edges of the deck to contain the track ballast etc.) The deck beams sit on top of the lower span beams of each bridge span © 65179 The deck with arched underplating and channels at track centres, and the outer vertical deck plates (NB: the deck is shown underside uppermost) The deck beam is not fixed at present, but is placed in its correct position The arched plating is supported at the edges of the channels, and fixed by T section members midway between the deck beams (NB: the curved vertical leg of the T has yet to be fixed to the T top member shown) Some of the arched plating needs to be fixed at odd places - carefully as it is only 5 thou and could be damaged by too much solvent Otherwise, no problems with construction technique ... back to the second span construction ... to be continued >>>>>

Thanks for that Cheers Ron

Thanks for your comments. I see you are an excellent scratchbuilder also Cheers Ron

Hi, Lee Thanks for your comments Cheers Ron

Hi, even I can't believe the response I've had to my thread, still away to go yet Just completing the cross-bracing trusses for the second span - another 2-3 days before the second span beam is completed Then I hope to make a start on the span deck beams and plating Ron