back to it again todaydecided to sort out the bridge as i wasnt happy with it
first up removed the peco girders
and added stone walls instead
while i was in the model shop earlier buying an extra metcalfe retaining wall kit and brick paper i spotted this bridge girder kit which i thought i give a go instead of the peco sides
you basically build the individual panels so you can make a structure to the size you need
you get the top and bottom beams in the kit but i decided to use some plastistrip angle for the bottom and the supplied parts for the top
fills the space perfectly
next up i fitted a column on the opposite side of the high level bridge
then glued a couple of offcuts together
covered the other side in brickpaper
and fitted it under the bridge
then a couple of columns on the other side
i really didnt think i'd have the room to fit proper recessed walls on this side, i was going to use brickpaper but i managed to get a couple to fit with no messing
i did have to adapt the other ones though
and on the other side, when i eventually dot he scenics on the main bit i'll extend the 'stone' into the tunnel mouth
its certainly tight with my longest wagons, in real life you wouldnt want to be stood there when a train passed, must invest in a load of limited clearance signs!!
but the almost finished product looks a lot better than i thought it would!
going back to the other side again, i added a piece to the bottom of the column so it 'beds' into the riverbank
made a similar underbridge for the other side, i'll be refilling the hole in the foam when i begin the scenics
made up the 2nd bridge girder and loosly fitted it up, you can also see a couple of doors on the bridge side that will be an 'authorised walking route' when i detail up, paint them as steel doors
that was it, so i though but when i ran the log train round the wagons caught the outer wall as they left the removable section so i ended up moving that away from the track, i have had to add an extra column to the other edge but i'm glad i did as it looks a lot neater and will make the transition between the removable section and fixed layout a bit easier to disguise/model
just need to cover the hole over with card or plasticard, once its all ballasted up it wont be noticable at all
and most importantly the panel is still removable, i will have to be carefula about the card fading in the sunlight though, both when in storage on the door or in situ on the layout
next up i recon i'll have a go at fitting the point motors in the yard as i've had my scenery fix this week and fancy going back to something 'technical', not sure when i'll get in the next though as the kids are back from hols today