A bridge too far or long

[minimans]

Many years ago I bought a Gscale bridge kit off ebay coz nobody else bid on it! when I got it it consisted of two big box's of wood and some glue so i put it aside to look at another day..............Well yesterday was the day! I have started on the two halves and as I laid it out I realized just how big this thing is! anyway pictures worth a thousand words right? so here it is and I will update as I make progress.

 

[mike]

were egales dare matey

 

[annieshalt]

cor thats a big boy!!!!!!!!!!!:-:-

 

[peterbunce]

Hi,

That will be some bridge - from experience, see if you can add under the track deck a couple of square tubes, preferably in one piece each - to give it some strength,. I used styrene for all the gussets on my bridges , and I would see it they could also be pinned - with brass wire (so no rust). The mass of rivets that it should display could be the Grandt Line ones, and those + paint will cover the holes and wire in those (heck of a lot!) gussets. I would also raid the shops for some latex based contact adhesive - because it stays flexible for more re-enforcement/backup on the joins.

The length is I guess about 6 foot? if so you will need something to keep the track clean - that's a bit more than arms length I think - again from experience!

Look forward to more photos!

 

[Don Gilham]

It's....................

[font="verdana,geneva"]B I G !!![/font]

 

[tramcar trev]

Superlatives fail me, impressive comes to mind though!

 

[peterbunce]

Oooops!

Thanks for that - message now changed - they don't have Evo-stik either! So for UK members Wilkinson's are selling the 65g tubes at £2.95 each - that is £1.00 cheaper than Christmas last year!

Yours Peter.

 

[Rhinochugger]

At the risk of being boring :sleep::sleep:

Bridges in this scale have to do some real work. I haven't done an anlysis of the triangle of forces on a bridge of that style, but my guess is that the vertical members will be in tension, and the diagonals in compression. (Failing that, it will be the other way around )

But whatever, that's why the gussets are so important

 

[minimans]

The kit comes with aluminium gussets with embossed rivets that you fold and epoxy onto all the joints which should provide all the necessary strength. and its a bit bigger than 6 ft. Its a wopping 96 inches!! I glued some of the gussets on last night so I will post a picture when i get home from work so you can see it. also the deck of the bridge has 4 stringers running the lenght of the deck to support the track which should be stiff enough but theres enough material to cross brace as well. There is also a system of cross braces across the top of the bridge to stop it racking these also have aluminium gussets at the cross joints, I think I could probably stand on this thing once its done! some thing that doesn't show in the photo's is that the wood is all milled to look like steel I beams (RSJ'S in Brit)

es

 

[minimans]

As promised here are the photo's of the gussets and progress last night.............

 

[Madman]

At the risk of being boring :sleep::sleep:

Bridges in this scale have to do some real work. I haven't done an anlysis of the triangle of forces on a bridge of that style, but my guess is that the vertical members will be in tension, and the diagonals in compression. (Failing that, it will be the other way around )

But whatever, that's why the gussets are so important

Are you sure you're not a politician

 

[bobg]

I cant say I've found gussets all that important.....................is what they hold that has most significance!

Some bridge!!!

 

[Rhinochugger]

At the risk of being boring :sleep::sleep:

Bridges in this scale have to do some real work. I haven't done an anlysis of the triangle of forces on a bridge of that style, but my guess is that the vertical members will be in tension, and the diagonals in compression. (Failing that, it will be the other way around )

But whatever, that's why the gussets are so important

Are you sure you're not a politician

Well, yes AND no, Minister

 

[Rhinochugger]

some thing that doesn't show in the photo's is that the wood is all milled to look like steel I beams (RSJ'S in Brit)

I did once have a gentleman from the Emerald Isle, who completed his time sheet to advise that he had been installing an Irish Jay

 

[beavercreek]

As promised here are the photo's of the gussets and progress last night.............

I like a good gusset..fnarr fnarr

The ready-made detail in the gussets is a real bonus. This will look very sweet indeed.

 

[minimans]

Right more proggress this weekend! I have finished the bare bones of the bridge and am now putting on the frilly bits, the cross braces are all made from 1/8X3/32 wood it's all good quality stuff but a pain to cut and fit without breaking or splitting it! I have discovered that it's easier to super glue the small lumber in place and then layer with epoxy after, as it's too difficult to epoxy and then try to hold everything in place!! The kit was by a company called Miami Valley Products Company, sadley they seem to be out of business a shame because I would like to build the abutments they show for the bridge in there catalouge. Anyway more pictures I think.

I used this Pic. To give an idea of the size of this bridge, big in'nit!!

I wish I had smaller hands sometimes!!

 

[trammayo]

Now you really do get how big it is! Its like the fuselage of a 'plane! Great work Paul.

 

[mike]

its all commimg together nicely paul

 

[Rhinochugger]

'Tis a labour of love - will you trust it to the weather?

 

[JRinTawa]

It's a big one alright, a lot of work but worth it