Boston Mountain Sub-Division

Joe Lovett Dec 27, 2015

  1. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett TrainBoard Member

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    I checked with the guys on Frisco website and it looks like the building is a control house, not sure yet if it's has a operator or if it's automatic. Asked how it was worked in 1948 to 1952 time era but haven't heard back yet. That time era is the time my layout is based. Will definitely add the building to the bridge. I hadn't noticed it until mtntrainman asked about it. Thank you for your question, I was paying too much attention to the lift towers and missed the building completely.

    Joe
     
  2. NtheBasement

    NtheBasement TrainBoard Member

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    From the photo (excellent shot btw) I assumed that the center house contains the actual motor that lifts and lowers the bridge. The house's cables appear to turn winches that raise and lower the span while lowering and raising the counterweights. Such a single-motor design mechanically ensures that the bridge ends go up and down in unison and by the same amount. Being the animation nerd that I am, I'd be sorely tempted to get the model to work same as the prototype.
     
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  3. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett TrainBoard Member

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    I agree with you NtheBasement about how the bridge works. To make the bridge lift would be far more technical than I would be able to do. I made the building in the middle of the bridge and everything is ready to paint. Going to Hobby Lobby in a few minutes to get the paint that is needed. Will try to paint the parts tonight, there is a bunch to do.

    Joe
     
  4. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett TrainBoard Member

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    Everything is painted except the walkway on the main span, I used Krylon rattle can paint on all of the bridges and the building that goes in the middle of the main span. The main span and the Kato bridge is Modern White and the Kato bridge is Leather Brown. On the piers, pylons and counterbalances used Folk Art Acrylic paints. Mixed Boulder and Skin Tone on the piers and on the pylons used Prairie Sage. On the counterbalances used mixed Prairie Sage and Skin Tone. The walkway will be painted using Boulder later tonight, have a couple of chores to do first. Wanted to wait to take a photo when everything was done but the sunset was near so I went ahead and took the photo below. The piers on each end of the bridges is just a couple pieces of scrap, they won't be part of the bridge.

    Joe

    IMG_20200314_192058.jpg
     
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  5. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett TrainBoard Member

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    This afternoon I finished the weathering on all of the bridges and other parts associated with the project except for the building in the center of the main span. Will do the building when the winch end plates arrive in the mail any day now. There will be additional pieces installed on the lift towers, like the winches and walkway on top of the towers for the maintenance crew. Later on will install the safety ladders and stairway to the center building along with a walkway around part of the building. The bridges are ready to install on module 05 and then install track. After that I want to do some electrical work to get a train running on the tracks that I have installed so far. Can't wait to see a train go across the bridge, will try to get a video.

    Joe

    IMG_20200318_181149.jpg IMG_20200318_175242.jpg IMG_20200318_175257.jpg IMG_20200318_175307.jpg
     
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  6. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett TrainBoard Member

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    The entire bridge project was done on a TV tray in front of my recliner. Talk about relaxing while you work, good thing one of my old supervisor's wasn't around. He would get mad at an employee if you leaned on a workbench, you were expected to stand at least three inches from the bench. I changed from nights to days to get away from that idiot. This was when I was working as an electrician for a company that made oil field control equipment about four years before I got into aircraft manufacturing.

    Joe
     
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  7. Stephane Savard

    Stephane Savard TrainBoard Member

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    The bridge is looking awesome! I especially like the brown sub bridge, i may just have to make a bridge on my layout with a similar colour.

    Canada Post says 4 to 6 business days to the USA, it definitely should be any day now!
     
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  8. HemiAdda2d

    HemiAdda2d Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Wow, what a trestle! Love the heavy weathering!
     
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  9. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Those piers turned out really great. It's going to be a great module!
     
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  10. Kurt Moose

    Kurt Moose TrainBoard Member

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    So that's what they mean by "armchair railroading"!:D:ROFLMAO:
     
  11. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett TrainBoard Member

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    Thank you guys for the compliments!!! This has been a fun project to work on and all from the comfort of my recliner. Well most of it from the chair.

    Today I finished painting and weathering the building in the middle of the main span. Also made a platform for the building using a couple pieces of scrap foam to insure clearance under the platform when I was installing it. Now it's ready for some handrails and a stairway from the platform to the walkway on the bridge.

    Joe

    IMG_20200320_123017.jpg IMG_20200320_175517.jpg IMG_20200320_175755.jpg IMG_20200320_175823.jpg
     
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  12. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett TrainBoard Member

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    Now it's time to get out of my recliner and setup the bridge on module 05 and start installing track. There may be a slight miss match between the bridges and will need some support structure for the track under the lift towers. Have all of the supplies needed so I don't have to get out for any reason except to go to Braum's for some eggs and milk. After Braum's, most of the rest of the day can work on the layout.

    Joe
     
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  13. gmorider

    gmorider TrainBoard Member

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    Great bridge and related stuff.
     
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  14. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett TrainBoard Member

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    I got to work on my layout quite a bit today, the bridge is installed and so is the track. Still have to adjust the height of the main span and south tower. Also need to make some pieces of support structure for the track under both towers. Will work on all of that tomorrow afternoon. For the remainder of the night I'm cutting feeder wires to install tomorrow and if all goes well will run a train.

    Joe

    IMG_20200321_213430.jpg IMG_20200321_213422.jpg
     
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  15. BNSF FAN

    BNSF FAN TrainBoard Supporter

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    Fantastic!!!(y)(y)(y)
     
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  16. MK

    MK TrainBoard Member

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    Beautiful!!! Be sure you get some shots with a train on it!
     
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  17. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett TrainBoard Member

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    I will try to make a video of a train running across the bridge later today. Right now I'm getting feeder wires ready to solder to the mainline track, there will be a set of feeders on every piece of track. About half of the mainline is installed, it goes from module 02 to 08 and is about 18 feet long. The final length of the main will be 33 feet, a scale mile.

    Joe
     
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  18. Sumner

    Sumner TrainBoard Member

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    Might be a scale mile but I bet the illusion will be much longer than that. Great work on the bridges,

    Sumner
     
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  19. sams

    sams TrainBoard Member

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    Is the bridge going to rise too ? or is that just for looks. Either way bitchin man !! Looks good. The piers take the cake (y)(y)
     
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  20. Joe Lovett

    Joe Lovett TrainBoard Member

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    Thank you for the compliments.

    The main span does not lift, not sure if I have the skills for it to work. There would be a lot of technical mechanical engineering involved. Someday if I get the bug to make it lift may give it a try, right now the plan is to get all of the track and most of the scenery installed. I got all of the feeder wires cut and tined, it's ready to install the feeders which I will do in about a hour. Hope to make a video before sunset so the lighting will be better. The window in the hobby room is facing west.

    Joe
     
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