Looking for ideas for a jig for ramp supports

[spr1955]

So I am building a steel ramp up to my high line (walthers blast), it is 42" long, I have the top support structure with supports for a single track and a 4' walkway and rails. Here is a picture of a 14" section, I will have 3 of these glued together, then laying it on it's side, I plan on attaching the "H" girder uprights with angle cross bracing.  Thinking that I would make the top portion the same for all and then just cut the bottoms off of the "H" girder for each one and attaching a strip of block styrene for a concrete base. So, I am looking for ideas on how to build a jig to make the "H"/angle sections. I don't have a lot of experience on jigs..... ideas?

[thomasjmdavis]

Can you provide a prototype photo ( or a link) to show us what you are trying to model?

[TrainCat2]

What you have built in the photo was harder than the uprights will be. Given: each upright will be longer than the previous one so the jig must be open ended at the base. Given: the tops will be consistent in construction per your statement so you really could use just three blocks of balsa wood to keep the uprights in vertical alignment. The center block to set the upright width and the top of the center block to build the top. Two blocks on the outside of the uprights keep them in place. When ready for the concrete pad, rotate your upright assy 180 deg so the top helps with the pad. Once dry, add your cross bracing.

[Lemosteam]

How tall is your girder in 1:1 scale? How many supports are you adding, every cross strip? Every other?

Are you modeling a particular railroad?

Here is what I did for a similar support as the PRR elevated trusswork in NYC:



Design starts here:

https://www.therailwire.net/forum/index.php?topic=28266.msg479409#msg479409

In one look on my layout, there was one spot that did not appear to be structurally capable of supporting RR traffic, so I had to increase the height of the girders, and using the image above, I designed and printed the cross braces to resemble those in the picture as well.

All of this preamble is for you to consider the structural feel of what you are building and how much even a single track requires.

[spr1955]

the walthers high line is 1-1/8" high, and I am starting at about 1/4 in off a concrete pad. Proto would be Donora ASW but not sure this is what they had, lacking 1955 photos.
 Uprights would be at every cross of the I beam.

[Lemosteam]

When was it originally constructed? Much of the pre-1960's structure was riveted steel with latticework. as seen in the photo I provided.  This proved true in other structures as well.

[spr1955]

Originally constructed in the early 1900's but was upgraded as this is 1955 and decomissioned in 1966. So few photos available. Don't think it was as elaborate as NYC and you are doing a great job of that, this is just an elevated line to the blast furnace, going to be pretty basic using whatever was available. Most references to this blast furnace were to the smog temperature inversion that happened and killed 20 people in the 40's, most tragic.

[Lemosteam]

Is there a newspaper article of that? May see some images there.

https://sites.google.com/site/donorahistoricalsociety/donora-history/steel-mill

Is this what you are looking for: [ Guests cannot view attachments ]

[spr1955]

Yes, that is it.  I have searched many images but can not find the close up detail I would like to have so I have to go with what is most frequently found for this purpose. Modeling compromises......

[Lemosteam]

Those look like wood structures to me, almost like trestle bents rather than steel.