Free-moNebraska

[Mark W]

Quick upgrade on the CBQ bridge.  I had previously misaligned the main span's truss height, which caused some damage to an autorack...


https://i.imgur.com/Jthb383.jpg


Well I finally re-printed the truss with the proper height.  Here is old bridge with the new truss ready to install.  Note the skybox clearance (or lack of). 


https://i.imgur.com/6PM0nVi.jpg

With the 100% snap fit design, quite literally one minute later the new truss was installed and the skybox is all clear!


https://i.imgur.com/FhBBqa7.jpg


The BNSF bridge will get it's own new truss, but for now I installed the old CBQ truss to get a preview of the two almost complete bridges!


https://i.imgur.com/fzwVt3v.jpg


Only a few more parts left to print now.  I could have both bridges operational this weekend!


https://i.imgur.com/mZ7ZFDL.jpg

[Mark W]

I took advantage of a gorgeous Sunday afternoon to set up the full 23 foot / three quarters of a scale mile module set. 

 Starting off with the bridges main span, 2.5 ft.


https://i.imgur.com/fydDHbK.jpg


Out to the full bridge, 8.75ft. 


https://i.imgur.com/9PKfuDP.jpg


And finally the whole thing!


https://i.imgur.com/SCesxcO.jpg


From the Iowa side, there's a long fill to level the tracks across the flood plains.  This goes for a little over 1 mile itself, but I only captured 1/3rd of a scale mile. 


https://i.imgur.com/lRlc3oD.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/n0A7PkK.jpg


https://i.imgur.com/Wba2dgh.jpg

Over on the Nebraska side, it's the opposite.  They cut away half a hill side for the approach. 


https://i.imgur.com/vX10GBv.jpg


I didn't get the new bridge operational quite yet, but that's very close now.

[Philip H]

That's gonna be HAWT!

[Sokramiketes]

I love building modules and I hate storing them.  Any tips?

[Mark W]

I love building modules and I hate storing them.  Any tips?

I use the sandwich method for storing them by bolting two modules together (scenery facing inward) using a board across the endplates.  All of my sandwich boards are set to 21" so I can stack modules in layers, for both trailer transport and storage.

One layer's worth of modules ready to load.

https://i.imgur.com/2aTnf2u.jpg


58 module sections in 3 layers.

https://i.imgur.com/Z5SWVxG.jpg

At home, I can stack them 4 high in a corner.  But usually half of them are just set-up to run trains and the rest are in a closet or stored under the layout. 

[Mark W]

The main span for the BNSF bridge has been designed and printed!  It's no longer just a copy of the old CBQ main span.


https://i.imgur.com/1xwWHah.jpg

And I disassembled the old CBQ bridge and painted it as well.  Here's the box of parts before paint.

https://i.imgur.com/UoT8BlM.jpg

Finally, with the bridge off, I recruited my wife to get some basic scenery applied!

https://i.imgur.com/pAbBt0U.jpg

I'm working on finishing up water effects and will begin laying track tonight.  The first live setup for the Plattsmouth Bridge set is just one week away!

[Mark W]

Well I think these two bridges turned out quite nice!


https://i.imgur.com/F1mJvrc.jpg



https://i.imgur.com/7CL0r2F.jpg

[Ed Kapuscinski]

Shut the front door. That's such an amazing play to the strengths of N scale that I don't know what else to say.

[MK]

Drops mic!   

[Pomperaugrr]

Amazing work.  Simply stunning.

[Mark W]

Thanks all.

And tomorrow, I get to set this up with a huge layout!

Spring Creek Model Trains is once again hosting a Free-mo Weekend, and we ended up with Free-moN.STARS from 10 states willing to make the trip and show an awesome layout!


https://i.imgur.com/oWpDouZ.jpg


The layout will have to run through 3 rooms!


https://i.imgur.com/TYt3en5.jpg

Yikes..I better get packing!

[w neal]

Fantastic Mark on many levels. First, great modeling! Second, wonderful to gather, especially from all around the country, when we're "not supposed to go out"! Yeah right.

Now that you're all getting together and assembling such a huge layout. Show what else wecan do in N. Run long trains!!

[Mark W]

...wonderful to gather, especially from all around the country, when we're "not supposed to go out"! Yeah right.

Let me clarify that we are not doing so lightly.  No, we are not supposed to go out and behave without a care like we could a few years ago. 

However, we have learned how we can gather safer, and all measures to do so will be enforced. 

[w neal]

Exactly. Now, run some long trains.

[w neal]

Hope all went well Mark and that everbody gets home safe. Post some pics of the multiple 110 car trains you ran.