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Super User 279 posts Tim Schwartz tschwartz Super User 279 posts
Tim Schwartz tschwartz

I had enough working on electrical and switched gears to my big trestle. A few commercially built bents, some of my own, basswood, balsa wood, glue, imagination a few days and the scene is coming to life.

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I used one of my extra helix pieces to support the structure. I laid out wax paper on the wood and then using pins and my fast track 30 inch radii guides curved basswood that will join the bents together. Each bent was then placed ~2” apart on the inside curve. I used a CA glue to initially set the bents but used wood glue to glue all the supports together. All wood is stained with a dark walnut stain. I used the fast track guides between the bents while everything was drying so as to keep the radius intact.

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Once the trestle was finished I took it off the jig and started fitting extruded foam around the base of the bents to provide support. The commercial bents were not even at the bottom so the foam was ideal for providing a good support for the unevenness.

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Using plaster cloth, my wife and myself set out covering the foam and screen support. It will need a lot of rock castings to texture the scene up.

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This is where the scene is at. The trestle will need final placement as will the two tunnels. Best get to work on that.

Tim Schwartz Having fun in HO
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vincep Regular poster 298 posts
vincep

Nice Trestle

Be neat to watch as this progresses.
Vince P
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Louiex2 Frequent poster 559 posts
Louiex2

Very Nice.

Exceellent work and great idea to use the Fast Tracks guides.

Lou in Idaho
Reply 1
jg290 New member 17 posts
jg290

Trestle in helix

I have thought about putting the trestle deck on the upper loop of my helix on a broader diameter than the lower loops or at least offset. That way it doesn't look like it is wrapped around a mountain like yours, mine is actually a prototype model of the largest all wood trestle east of the Rockies. Oddly enough it was outside of Birmingham, AL on an L&N branch line. It connected two ridges. It was a curve with the bottom of two 1%+ grades in the middle of the trestle. 600+ feet long 120 feet tall. It Burned in the 2000s after the line was pulled up and was in the process of becoming a trail. Trail idea was ditched without the bridge the grade across the creek between the two hills is too great.

Jason Greene
Reply 1
pldvdk Super User 2,562 posts
pldvdk

Great!

That's going to be a fantastic looking scene when it's done. A real crowd pleaser! Keep up the great work!

Paul Krentz

Free-lancing a portion of the N&W Pocahontas "Pokey" District

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anteaum2666 MRH Author 2,815 posts
anteaum2666

Looks Terrific!

If you've never used it, check out Bragdon Enterprise's products for rock castings.  They're great for making large rock placements, and produce nice results.

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Michael - Superintendent and Chief Engineer
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rickwade Prolific poster (deceased) 6,447 posts
rickwade

Very nice!

Your trestle looks great!  I do believe I'll start a thread on "Show us your trestles!

Rick

img_4768.jpg 

The Richlawn Railroad Website - Featuring the L&N in HO  / MRH Blog  / MRM #123

Mt. 22: 37- 40
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Tim Schwartz tschwartz Super User 279 posts
Tim Schwartz tschwartz

Rock work has started

lots of work to do but my rockwork has stared. I have both commercial rock moulds a several I have done myself.

 

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Tim Schwartz Having fun in HO
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Tim Schwartz tschwartz Super User 279 posts
Tim Schwartz tschwartz

Rocks are in

Rocks are in. Primary colours for rocks done. Soon I can lock the trestle in its spot and get the track laid down.

 

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Tim Schwartz Having fun in HO
Follow Me at Schist Lake Models 
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Reply 0
vincep Regular poster 298 posts
vincep

Looking great

Whenever i get to it i will have a similar scene to the csx/ns copper creek low/high bridges.
Vince P
Reply 0
sleetcutter Active Member 83 posts
sleetcutter

rock work

nice rock work!
Reply 0
rickwade Prolific poster (deceased) 6,447 posts
rickwade

Very, very nice

I love the trestle and rock work!

Rick

img_4768.jpg 

The Richlawn Railroad Website - Featuring the L&N in HO  / MRH Blog  / MRM #123

Mt. 22: 37- 40
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