Ron Heggs

I have managed to unbox the Train Shed Rear Glazed Gable, and have taken a few photos - Gable with transoms - Internal view from North West Gable with transoms- External view from South West Overhead view - showing internal bracing & trussing Close-up showing maintenance walkway (handrailing to be added when finally installed on the layout) Close-up showing underside of maintenance walkway Transom detail with smoke/steam deflector Decorative Gusset - matches the external canopy gussets

CORNBROOK VIADUCT - BRIDGE #2 - Continuation Each truss was taking approx. 30 minutes, so I had to come up with some means of speeding up the process A paper template - to produce 25 trusses at a time - just 2 hours work A 25 truss assembly - to be separated into individual trusses All trusses fixed in place Close-up of central area - showing the interlaced trusses Close-up of central area - viewed from outside through the lattice work Now to add the internal lattice work, and complete the top & bottom span beams - to be continued

Hi, Yes there are certainly a great number of bridges in that area, and I have not even mentioned all the MSJ&R bridges, which parallel the Castlefield & Cornbrook viaducts Ron

Hi, Previous trial builds showed that a number of shallow spraying passes in all directions, generally got paint into all visible nooks & crannies. At least with the openness of the structures, if you can see the odd corners then you can get paint into them If I think that any particular spots are gonig to present a problem then an initial touch with a fine brush before spraying should fix it Ron

Hi, Thanks for your comments The turreted bridge which is nearest to MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) is the Castlefield Viaduct Bridge - 1894 (Trial build is shown in My Gallery), the one which I am currently building is immediately behind and alongside, which also has turrets this one being the Cornbrook Viaduct Bridge #2 - 1877. The #1 bridge, which is also behind the Castlefield Viaduct does not have turrets Ron

CORNBROOK VIADUCT - BRIDGE #2 - Continuation Just a couple of pictures of progress yesterday Bridge Span - West [Overall length - 848mm, Height - 87mm] Halfway - showing Cross-braced Trusses in place on Outer Lattice work bracing - Internal View Bridge Span - West [Overall length - 848mm, Height - 87mm] Halfway - showing Cross-braced Trusses in place on Outer Lattice work bracing - External View - to be continued

Hi, Ian Good to know there are some out there, who acknowledge the pre-grouping mainstays Any help I can give just ask Ron

Hi, Thanks for your comments Your favourite pre-group railway wouldn't be Great Central by any chance? Most of the presently available literature seems to centre around the GCR extension into London Ron

Hi, Simon Yes, that could be done quite easily as there is no real space restrictions along that side of the baseboards Thanks for keeping a look out for pics. I have all the Manchester Central Library Archive photos. Ron

Hi, Simon Thanks for your interest The extent of the model is shown in My Gallery - Extent of Layout The model will include the full extent of the Castlefield Viaduct 1894 - Bridge sections - approx. 4.6m long (4mm scale) I have not yet decided to model the shops along the Eastern side of Deansgate backing on to the GN Goods Warehouse and Goods Yard. I have the architectural detail, but very few pictures showing the shop frontages during the period 1950-1965. I can remember visiting a few of them especially the Artist/Architects Supplies shop during the late 50's and early 60's Ron

Hi, The quick answer is no Card, etc. Yes Plasticard, etc. No MEK/Butanone, Yes Plastic Weld, No Acrylic /Enamel paints, Yes Locos, Rolling Stock, Track components, etc. No Family in the UK and Mail order/Online suppliers are the norm. for railway modellers Ron

Hi, Thanks for your comments Ron

Hi, Jim Thanks for your back-up information Cost for a single sheet of plasticard would be about £2, of course all the work would be down to the modeller At the end of the day only the individual modeller can decide on the play-off between cost / skill / time, there is no one solution Ron

Hi, David Thanks for your praise, will try not to disappoint Ron

Hi, Speed is not important only the outcome. But you don't need to follow your signature to the letter Ron

Hi, Thanks for all your ongoing comments. I will try and keep the interest alive Ron

Hi, Thanks for your comments I tend to model most nights for about 2/3 hours, as my days are occupied with charity work, walking group, gardening and shopping on Saturdays Ron

Hi, Simon Thanks for your comments. No warping has taken place with the Train Shed structure over 6/7 years, so I'm hoping this bodes well for the future As they say only time will tell Ron

Hi, Simon Sorry, but just couldn't manage 6, so it had to be 8 cans (2640ml - 2.63kg)., and still no discernible distortion. That means at least two Brittannias plus coaches (The Palatine), or the occasional Brittannia piloted by a Black 5 on the bridge Cheers Ron

Hi, Stuart Thanks for all your comments, no intended competition entries here! Ron

CORNBROOK VIADUCT - Bridge #2 Details of the design and construction of the bridge span cross-bracing - Continued Bridge Span – West Construction of one set (North face) of the external members of the T beams, which I will call lattice work is complete, comprising 8 off at each end – 10th x 3.75mm width for the external non-trussed bracing 8 off at each end – 10th x 3.75mm width for the internal trussed bracing 8 off – 10th x 3.00mm width for the external non-trussed bracing 8 off – 10th x 3.00mm width for the internal trussed bracing 12 off in the central portion – 10th x 2.00mm width for the external non-trussed bracing 10 off in the central portion – 10th x 2.00mm width for the internal trussed bracing A scale size print of the span bracing was used as a template to ensure the correct location and positioning was maintained during assembly Lattice work – Overall dimensions 820mm x 86mm 10th plasticard distorts rather easily, but this will corrected when the trusses are fixed in place - to be continued shortly

Hi, Steven Thanks for your comments Laser cut plastic, etc. and etched brass is very expensive compared to plastic card, etc. especially where most structures are one-offs, and there are a lot of unique structures . Setting myself up with etching or laser cutting equipment would be an investment not worth having for just a one-time model. It would be different if I was setting up a business Plastic is relatively cheap, and with no time constraints, time is not important. To build a scale model of a prototype in any material you need an accurate drawing, and a way of establishing a method and order of construction CAD I have had for some 30 years, but even without it I would need to produce accurate drawings for templates, etc. Etchings I have had produced for me include 100's of window frames and turnout tie-rods, etc. None of the many similar items available are identical to the prototypes I am modelling Ron

Hi, Ian My next few posts will show how the construction proceeds for these bridge structures If you would like some more detailed info. particular to your bridge structure send me some dimensions, etc. via a PM or Email Ron

Here are few photographs of the Cornbrook Viaduct - Bridge #2, as it exists today These photographs have been provided by 65179 with my thanks Copyright in these pictures remains with 65179 South face of central portion of bridge with upper portion of pier/stanchion. MSJ&AR viaduct in the foreground View of North elevation of pier/stanchion from North East View of North elevation of pier/stanchion from North West Detail of stanchion. Chamfered portion is a later detail provide during refurbishment for the Metrolink Detail of pier/stanchion bracing

CORNBROOK VIADUCT - Bridge #2 Details of the design and construction of the bridge span cross-bracing Bridge Span – West (2 off) Bridge Span – East (2 off) (the above drawings are not to the same scale) Bridge Span – West Black – 3.75mm width – external non-trussed bracing Grey – 3.75mm width – internal trussed bracing Blue – 3.00mm width – external non-trussed bracing L.Blue – 3.00mm width – internal trussed bracing Bridge Spans – East & West Green – 2.00mm width – external non-trussed bracing L.Green – 2.00mm width – internal trussed bracing Red & Mauve – 2.00mm width – trussed bracing in sections A practical construction problem arises with the L.Green internal cross-bracings, as the trusses are interleaved in the central section this affects 14 trusses in each span. to one degree or another Construction proceeds with one set (North face) of the external members of the T beams laid out first, and the basic truss assemblies fixed in complete or part sections on top, and the remaining set (South face) of the external members of the T beams fixed on top of these trusses. The completed cross-braced truss assembly will then be fixed within the upper, lower and end span beams - to be continued shortly