The Atlantic and Southern Build Thread Continued, Part 2

[ACL1504]

I finished the scratch built wood deck bridge this afternoon. I won't bore ya'll with a lot of narrative unless I want to explain why I did what I did.

I believe the pictures will give you the idea on how I built the bridge.

I added the deck support beams and used weights to hold it in place until the glue set, not dry.

The big glue gobs are for extra holding power while working on the bridge. Once finished, none of the dried glue will be visible.





More in a few.

[ACL1504]

Once the glue set, I marked on the blue foam where the deck support beams ended. I then removed some of the blue foam, just enough to let the approach section of the bridge sit on the top of the foam.





You can see now why I didn't want the glue to dry. I wanted to add the weights and let the bridge and beams dry in the position level with the foam not on top of it.

More in a few.

[ACL1504]

I also added 12X12 scale lumber beams for support at the top of each side of the sand hill for a little additional support.




I used a metal square to mark where the scale 2X8 decking boards are placed. To make it look prototypical, the boards are set perpendicular to the the support beams.



More in a few.

[ACL1504]

I glued the first HO scale 2X8 deck board in place. I then used an Emory board and rounded the edges of the support beams for a smoother area for the deck boards.



The 2X8's were added. I'm almost finished. There are a lot of deck boards.



More in a few.

[ACL1504]

A total of 116 scale 2X8's were used for the decking.





Continued after I find a cold Diet Pepsi.

[ACL1504]

Traverse bracing was added under the deck.



More in a few.

[ACL1504]

More in a few.

[ACL1504]

One side of the railing is finished.



More in a few.

[ACL1504]

All done!

[ACL1504]

[deemery]

Those 'farm bridge' overpasses are more commonly seen than modeled, particularly in the 50s and earlier.   Looks great!


dave

[ACL1504]

Dave,

Thank you, very much appreciated.

As a small boy, my father would take me downtown in Vandalia, IL and we would stand in the middle of the wood bridge and wait for the steam trains. The one we used had a pedestrian walkway on the sides. It was also in the early 50's.

When I was last in Vandalia, the old wood bridge was replaced with a concrete one. My mother was born in Vandalia, IL.

Tom

[Janbouli]

Wow , you are good.

[JusticeCity]

A good blend of dainty and rugged modelling. Good choice!

[PRR Modeler]

Tom, WOW, WOW, WOW. The bridge looks incredible. If I remember right your layout tours start later this week. I wish you all the best with the visitors.