I decided to join, late, after thinking about some photos a friend sent showing the subject of this project: Turning this strip of hardboard into a model of the original US Rt. 1 overpass over the B&M Eastern Route main just RR west of the Newburyport/Newbury town line.
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Jim, if this is too far along to count as a Challenge topic, let me know.
I neglected to photograph it before its concrete crumbled from too much road salt and it was demolished in 1996. But friends found enough to work with Here's a distant shot from the RR east (farther from Boston) side:
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Civil Engineering students are boring holes for experimental pile driving. They chose this area because the subgrade is crummy at best and replacement of the old overpass would start soon. Here's a close-up of the east side:
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The once double-tracked main line used the right span. The left span only had an industrial lead. Crumbling concrete made them shift the highway to cross the abandoned track at grade on the west side, behind the guardrail visible in the background.
Next a close-up of the west side, which had a sidewalk. This gives a better view of the concrete pillars and spans that supported both approaches.
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I'm building the main bridge spans in styrene. I'm thinking the piers that support the span girders might be worth making patterns and casting. But I'll need, at best, only eight of one kind of half-pier, four of the other. I could cast the approach viaduct segments in resin, or I could cut them out of wood or high-density foam.
Starting to fit the East girder core to the existing hardboard. This simple approach didn't work: the girder sloped down L to R, and the East and West side girders weren't going to wind up horizontally parallel.
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This looks like a very cool and different project, James.
Personally, I would love to see you make some masters and cast your abutments.
Cheers, Mark.
James, this is a great bridge to model.
I'll enjoy watching you build it.
Draw them up and 3d print them...
James,
This is a different project, will be interesting to follow along, which I will be doing.
James neat project and certainly something different.
Thanks, Mark, Rick, Karl, Ron and Larry C. Karl, going 0-60 on 3D printed objects in time for April 15 seems iffy, particularly with my other jobs intruding. But it's an option...
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Wednesday afternoon I worked on girder position and support for proper appearance and RR clearance. The 1/2" dowel piers are all different lengths and labeled, though temporary. The East girder core isn't exactly level but I will be able to make it match the West. Overhead clearance is OK, side clearance is "glad this isn't on a curve". I committed to this layout by solvent-cementing a "curb" of .060" x .080" strip along the top of the "deck".
James,
This is going to be a fun build to watch. Love the actual photos.
Tom
I'll definitely be following.
Howdy Jame,
Wow, that overpass looks like an amazing project. The photos reveal that it is loaded with character.
Have fun,
mike
James this will be really worth following.
Jerry
Thanks, Tom, Curt, Mike and Jerry. I started putting details on the East girder: thick areas on both sides at each support point made from blocks of .060 styrene. The center one has a corresponding block below the roadway, making it a press-fit on the hardboard. Then I cut and squared the West girder. Here's a test fit, shot atop a sandbag with the lens well above cab level.
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The two girders aren't parallel. At this angle it's quite visible. Much less apparent from the aisle. Tomorrow I'll re-shoot from track level and see how I like it. Most of my scenes are built for one or more good looking LP-perspective photo angle, one of my favorite parts of the hobby.
James,
This is going to be a great scene when completed.
Nice progress...
Thanks, Ron and Karl. The first two shots are West side, then East from closer to engineer's eye level:
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Leaving the girder layout issues to one side, I really like how the track detailing I've done looks from this angle.
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The angle on the RH side of the coved backdrop was cut to leave a little room around the window. From this angle, I'm motivated to splice a filler piece in. I should be able to match the sky color, I still have both cans of paint.
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The East girder has styrene supports gripping the hardboard, definitely worth the effort. I'll apply more detail to the pillars over the piers tomorrow, while working on the side visitors will see.
That is an excellent job so far.
The scene under the overpass looks fabulous, James!
Cheers, Mark.
That looks good, can't wait to see it in person when it's done (along with the Newburyport buildings)
dave
James,
This is fantastic looking and the track level view gives the correct perspective to the overpass. Love it!
Tom
James great job and love the camera angles; really tells a story.
James,
That is a signature shot for sure. I'm really enjoying this build and watching it come together.
James
What a great looking scene. This is going to be a wonderful build.
Jerry
Thanks, Mark, Dave, Tom, Larry, Ron and Jerry. I continued work on the RR East girder this afternoon, applying reinforcing ribs to the pavement side.
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A little more styrene needs to be applied to the thick sections built around the ends of the hidden steel. And I also need to find 5 packages of RIx's Wrought Iron Railings I bought in 2024 for the sidewalk on the RR West side. They'll help me decide how to do the sidewalk: Either built around and under the 1/8" hardboard , or entirely styrene, with the hardboard cut back so the girder grips the new edge like it does on the East side.
James,
The girder is starting to look good.
James,
I love the rounded up and over look of the road.
Tom
Just wow! New height!