Building The Canyon Diablo Bridge

[Bob]

This is an amazing project to see!  Glad you have started again and are posting - it helps inspire others!

[Sokramiketes]

PPD does have capabilities to etch sheets as long as 890mm (35in), but the max height is 590mm and my artwork is 24in (605mm). If someone actually wanted this bridge and they were willing to pay handsomely for it, I would make all new layouts. I optimized the sheet using the 30in length, but I could do it in 24in with new artwork and increased cost for new photo tools. I'll cross the bridge when I have to (pun intended).

For the SS, I did them using .004 SS and the railings are only .006 thick. PPD does not go that small. They have strict rules that my etcher pushed the boundries for me.

PPD will help you play if they have time, as well.  They will push limits if you're OK that some parts will come out and some might not.  They just don't advertise it because they want most makers to be successful, and successful the first time. 

[TrainCat2]

With Canyon Diablo, the numbers just don't pan out to retool for PPD with the reduced vertical height as I will be wasting a lot of metal for sheets A and B. Don't forget about the very high costs of getting all that brass in 11.5x35in long sheets over to the US.

It does make sense to retool for my US etcher as I have a known commodity and the 18 x 24 is more favorable just shift items around from sheets 1 and 2 to sheet 4. The idea would be that the the 1/2 sheet of 4 would absorb parts not fitting after I retool from 18x30 to 18x24. The stainless sheet would not need to be retooled, just re-ordered.

At least that is the intent if anyone actually orders one. If not, I will have the only one as part of my collection. So let's see if this time is different. No one ponyed-up 10 years ago at half the price, so I have my doubts. Hope to be proven wrong.

[James Costello]

At least that is the intent if anyone actually orders one. If not, I will have the only one as part of my collection. So let's see if this time is different. No one ponyed-up 10 years ago at half the price, so I have my doubts. Hope to be proven wrong.

Good luck Bob. Having had the opportunity to railfan the Transcon and see the Canyon Diablo up close in 2006, the urge to model this is strong. Unfortunately I'll have to cheer you on from the sideline and enjoy your build as my Espee roots are too strong at Tehachapi. I love seeing you back at it though.

[mchilson]

Just finished going through your thread and wow! The attention to detail is right where I expect it to be from you Bob. I'm on board for sure!   

Mike

[Baronjutter]

Love to see progress on this again!  Ever since I got into model trains I told myself I would one day have a lovely traincat bridge, but when I could finally afford the space for one and the price, the bridges became no more.  I wonder if this means maybe getting parts of the business started up again?

[TrainCat2]

There are some in stock. Others, like the single track through Truss, are getting a special run for a member.