Lizard Head Pass Snow Shed in HOn3

[Dave V]

I built the first strong back (the triangular truss structure on the longest beam), but I can't tell from photos whether they spanned the entire beam or not. You would think they would, but from the very blurry distant photos, it sometimes looks as if they didn't. I do know they were 6" x 12" with a suspension rod down to the beam, and they were connected at the peaks by 8" x 8" beams. I feel like from an engineering perspective, the would have to be square to the beam ends, so I'll probably build mine all that way.

[Ian MacMillan]

I like it. Keep up the good work Dave.   I'll have to check out the rest of the CO narrow gauge out there when I'm back in Aurora again.

[dem34]

I would err on your decision to make it look right. However, with what I know about the RGS not impossible to think there were either shortcuts in construction, or something broke at some point and it was repaired with chewing gum and bailing wire.

[Dave V]

One of the RGS guys on Facebook actually explained the engineering to me. My instinct was correct about the trusses being square to the beam ends, but what I was calling the "strong back" isn't...it's just a truss. The "strong back" is the 8 x 8 beam that connects the peaks of the trusses and helps transfer load.

So the good news is that I don't have to rebuild anything!

[Dave V]

What's counter-intuitive is that these trusses are not under the roof sheathing but over it. The flat plank sheathing will continue around and past the trusses.

[Dave V]

OK, so the trusses for the strong backs are in place along with the tie-rods. There will be 8 x 8 beams connecting the truss peaks. Now I'm working on that portion of the roof that transitions from flat to peaked, where the tracks are completely separate.

For scale, this is on a 2 x 4 foot table (that will later serve as the platform for my HOn30 project layout). The blue splatters are ski wax...I use this table for all kinds of crap.

[dcarrell8]

This is looking great Dave, eventually I'll have a snow shed or two on the OC&RG, this is very inspirational. 

What is your staining technique?

[Dave V]

This is looking great Dave, eventually I'll have a snow shed or two on the OC&RG, this is very inspirational. 

What is your staining technique?

Um...

I stain the wood? Like brush on stain with a brush on the raw stripwood before assembly.

Or are you asking which stains?

[dcarrell8]

Um...

I stain the wood? Like brush on stain with a brush on the raw stripwood before assembly.

Or are you asking which stains?

LOL, yes.  How do you achieve the overall look of the wood! 

Which specific stains/materials, and any other thing you do that might be something others would not ordinarily do. 

It doesn't appear to me, that you simply stained every piece of strip wood the exact same color and in the exact same way.  I guess I could be wrong, but I figured there was some "technique" involved aside from choice of stain!   

[Dave V]

Still laughing at "technique." You give me entirely too much credit.

I just slop on stains from Hunterline (Golden Brown, Cordovan Brown, Sepia Brown) and the ol' India ink/alcohol concoction. I mix it up and slop it around. I stain the stripwood straight out of the package and then mix it up as I build.

I also drybrush when everything's done. Barnwood arylic craft paint.

If you consider that something that someone normally wouldn't do, it's because I'm sloppier and lazier than the avergae person.

EDIT: Okay, crap, I just thought of something else. After it's assembled, I like to lightly sand things to even out some of the stark color contrast and it helps make the wood look even more silvered and weatherbeaten.

[dcarrell8]

Still laughing at "technique." You give me entirely too much credit.

I just slop on stains from Hunterline (Golden Brown, Cordovan Brown, Sepia Brown) and the ol' India ink/alcohol concoction. I mix it up and slop it around. I stain the stripwood straight out of the package and then mix it up as I build.

I also drybrush when everything's done. Barnwood arylic craft paint.

If you consider that something that someone normally wouldn't do, it's because I'm sloppier and lazier than the avergae person.

All of that sir, is the very definition of technique! 

Yes, dry brushing Barnwood is something I might not have considered.  I love the overall look.   

[Dave V]

Okay, ran out of steam for the night...



Here's a detail of the "strong back" truss system that supports the roof where there's not enough clearance below for a center post:

[Dave V]

The shed's basically done (save for the support "propped" poles which are just resting in place). Now I'm upgrading the scene around it to include some of the debris we see in photos, like spare poles and ties and such. I've also ordered a laser kit to replace my shoddily scratchbuilt section house (the large structure farthest to the right).

[Hawghead]

Beautifully done Dave.

Scott Dean

[Scott1984]

Impressive work Dave!! Looks awesome. That section house looks pretty good to me but looking forward to seeing the new one.