Recycled Bridge Project - new Free-moN Module

[Mark W]

Well I suppose I better make a build thread to document this new one.  I'm building a bridge module to finally recycle the wooden deck bridge I built for Thunder Ridge several years ago.

I built the Module frame from scraps before I had a design.  I knew I wanted the bridge and a curve.  Had I planned before building the frame, I wouldn't have angled the end plates as much.  To fit everything the radius comes to 22".  I would have liked a little more broad of curve, but it will do.

Here's the design:


And first construction.  Yep, that's gluing with "Great Stuff" on the rental apartment's carpet.   


Luckily no drips, no spills.  Carved and spackled:


I moved the project to Dad's workshop to cut out the terrain contour on the side plates.


And base paint:



So, that's where we are as of now.  Hopefully we'll have cork down and the bridge set in place tomorrow.

[Mark W]

Since the bridge is the feature, here's some old photos from the archives of the scratch-build progress:

[Car17]

Great work Mark!!! Really liking the Module photos! How did you go about bracing the bottom?

[Mark W]

Great work Mark!!! Really liking the Module photos! How did you go about bracing the bottom?

Thanks Car,

I just have 1/4th fascia and braced with a single 1x4, sideways, below the foam at the center point.

[Mark W]

Since the bridge clearance on the under side is pretty slim, I'll be doing the scenery below before planting the bridge and laying the track.
Today I mixed up the sanded grout and went to town.  I started out just under the bridge, but then I figured I might as well do the whole module while I'm at it.

[Car17]

You located in Utah by chance? I am trying to start a Free moN in northern Utah!!!

[Mark W]

Ran home during lunch to check on the grout.  Sun happened to be coming in through the window perfectly.  Had to grab a few pics.

[Car17]

Grout looks good, what kind of grout did you use? Did you use grout for a certain terrain texture?

[Mark W]

Just plain old Sanded Grout. It has a great scale "dirt" texture.

I finally put in the track.  Admittedly not my best effort.  But it should hold well enough until ballast is in place.
Also you'll see I opted to lay track unpainted.  I had a few tie gaps between the flex and bridge track, so rather than having to deal with painting multiple free pieces, I figured I'll just fix it all in place, then mask it off.

[Mark W]

Things are starting to look good. 

[M.C. Fujiwara]

Especially on the side of the bridge that has support rods 

Those your scratched boxcars?
Or FineNScale?

[davefoxx]

Are you going to put abutments under the wood-frame bridge or are you going to leave the structure resting on the ground?  I think it would rot quicker, not to mention sink into the ground, if it were not placed on abutments.

One easy way to add the necessary height to get the bridge off of the ground would be to lay another layer of cork roadbed on top of the first.  Then, you have approximately 1/8" or so to put something under and raise the bridge.  Or, you could carve out from under the bridge.

DFF

[Mark W]

Especially on the side of the bridge that has support rods 

Those your scratched boxcars?
Or FineNScale?

They're my little scratchies.

[Mark W]

Are you going to put abutments under the wood-frame bridge or are you going to leave the structure resting on the ground?  I think it would rot quicker, not to mention sink into the ground, if it were not placed on abutments.

One easy way to add the necessary height to get the bridge off of the ground would be to lay another layer of cork roadbed on top of the first.  Then, you have approximately 1/8" or so to put something under and raise the bridge.  Or, you could carve out from under the bridge.

DFF

None of the photos yet have a good angle on it, but I did half-a$$ mold some concrete abutment/wingwall thingers into the terrain.  Not the prettiest, surely not the most prototypical (if at all) but good enough for me.  

[timgill]

Love it. Very nice work.

I just started using grout as a ground cover (the unsanded kind) and it's really effective applied as a slurry. Do you blend different colors together, or use just one?