I've just about completed this small scratch-built trestle for my first N-Scale layout. Can anyone suggest ideas to simulate bolts which attach the sway bracing? (Since these photos were taken, I've added the girts and intend to add side wall bracing). What I've done so far is to indent holes with a push pin with the idea that the washes I'm going to apply will fill the indentations and make a series of dots. However, what I'm looking for is something raised. The only idea I've found so far is using pulled sprue, but I have no idea how one would pick up, place, and glue a lot of little itty-bitty pieces of sprue. Ideas anyone?
Nice looking trestle Gerry.For your stay bolts I would suggest using HO nut,bolt,washer castings.I don't know if they are available in Nscale but some of the smaller HO units should work fine.I would check the Walther's HO catalog for GrandtLine parts. <marquee>North American Rail Alliance</marquee>
In the craft stores they sell this stuff called "PuffyPaint" It is intended for drawing on shirts, etc. I put a dollop of paint on a paper plate and then use a toothpick to pick up some paint and then spot the places where I want the NBW (Nut-Bolt-Washer). If you do it right, it flares out at the bottom and picks up at the top, kind of like a Hershey's Kiss. Does a decent job of giving you some texture.
No one makes any NBW castings in N scale, or bolts themselves, so what I do is have to go into the HO field. I found some Tichy Train Group bolts (made from plastic) which are pretty small, I think its the .020 size, so although oversize to some extent, they are excepatable. You will need to drill a hole for every bolt, so I suggest making a jig to align the holes, but once your done, the effect will be well worth it, as a trestle would like very bare without them. Mike Antkowiak
How about track nails? I've done this with HO bridges...looked pretty good. You just drill a hole and push them in place. Russ
Here are some links from the Walthers catalog Grandt Line HO NBW 1-3/4" http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/300-5046 ********** Grandt Line HO NBW Star Shaped http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/300-5270 ********* Grandt Line HO NBW 1" square nut http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/300-5045 ******** Grandt Line HO NBW 1-1/4" Nut http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/300-5066 ******** Kadee HO NBW Metal Castings size not given http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/380-439 ******* Detail Associates HO 3/4" Hex NBW (48 pcs) http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/229-2203 ** This may be your best bet as they would scale to nominally 1-1/2" in N scale ** ****** Good luck on your project Nice looking trestle 8=) ******* Don B [ 01 July 2001: Message edited by: dbn160 ]
I wish you luck on your NBW idea. The only thing that I could think of was to take a tiny piece of cardstock, and cut/punch out a little round piece. Then stick a super-small piece of wire through the middle. Paint it black or rust color, and apply the homemade NBW to the correct location. You might want to just take a paint bush and make a little dot of black/rust paint where the NBW would be. This would give the idea of a NBW.
If you are going to make extremely close up photos of this tressle, then the "Puffy" paint would be the easiest method. If you are simulating these to be seen from an arm's length away, just use a drafting pen, and place ink dots where ever needed. The effect is the same, because in N scale, even the .05 ink dot is nearly 6" in diameter.
Thanks everyone for the trestle bolt suggestions. I didn't realize that NBW castings existed!! Unfortuneately, I've now added the girts and side bracing, so I can't get at the bents to drill small holes for bolt castings. However, here's a simpler idea that I had. I got a package of dress maker straight pins, cut off the heads leaving a little stub of the pin shaft, and glued them head side down. The head represents the washer and the little piece sticking up represents the nut and bolt. I threw together a small test piece and I think the idea has possibilities. It was tough to take a photo of something this small, but here's a couple of tries (those hawk eyes among you will notice that the bottom left pin-head got lost along the way to the photographer's studio): I don't know if the heads look too big because I have no idea what size bolts and washers were used on the old trestles built around 1885. At any rate, since no one makes N-scale NBW castings, pin heads could offer a cheaper alternative.
Gerry, it looks like you are well on your way to creating museum quality displays! Here is some data to help, or hinder, or cuss and discuss about. N Scale is 1 to 160, which makes one scale foot .075" and one scale inch is .00625". In my Railroad Reference Manual of 1919, when this kind of trestle was highly engineered, wrought iron bolts, washers and nuts were very specifically designed for both trestles, and wooden bridges. There is a whole chart just on the characteristics of different woods. Back in those days there was still a lot of old growth trees so timbers are mentioned as large as 36"w x 48"h x 100'length+. Round tree trunks were not reccomended for bents unless deemed temporary. Drilling of bolt and peg holes were done by hand with "brace-n-bit" up to 1" diameter, and by use of one or two man "T" drills up to 2" diameter, with "T" and "Star" augers used up to the 6" bolts. So there were some pretty large bolts, nuts and washers! (Tidbit of information for you.) An N Scale bolt 1" diameter is .00625" and has 8 threads per inch. The square nut for it is as thick as the diameter of the bolt, so .00625 thick, by (one and a half times the diameter of the bolt, plus 1/8") across the flats, so is .0101" square. The reccomended washer is determined this way: (I quote): "When much strained against wood, the side of a square washer, or the diameter of a circular washer should not be less than 4 times the diameter of the screw for which it is intended, and its thickness shall be 1/2 the screw diameter, at least." So a washer for your one inch diameter bolt will be .025" either square or circular, and .003125" thick. (I don't think I want to sit and hand file these to size for you personally.) They are quite specific about the bent design for various heights, and dimensions of the timbers required. It was all very scientific back then. So if you grow to be a detail hound, e-mail me and I can give you some specifics for close up photos, shows, and contests. The largest timbers normally used after 1929 were 14" x 18" x 50' to 100' long, and were fitted with 2" diameter bolts in various patterns. The larger bolts were used to connect the trestle or bridge to the abutment, and to connect spans. The ones you made, may also be made from specimen pins used for insect and Lepidoptera display in biology classes, and museums. The head is the smallest I know of. Now you can protect yourself from the nit-pickers if they give you any static. [ 04 July 2001: Message edited by: watash ]
