Module Progress--ICRR Bridge at Kankakee--NSF56K

[Zox]

Well, I've finally started working on this, and figured I'd post my progress here. I guess I haven't embarassed myself in public enough lately...

I'm building a module to showcase this bridge, the Illinois Central's crossing of the Kankakee River at Kankakee, IL:





It was, at one point, at least triple-tracked, and that's perfect for my needs. (Two mainline tracks, plus a segment for a train-assembly siding.) Unfortunately, the dam won't quite fit on the module. Maybe next time.

Anyway, I've already worked out how I'm going to (over)build this, and the first step will be cutting the sides of the main piers and arches out of 1/4" MDF. I made templates of the piers and arches in Corel Draw, printed and cut them out, and attached them to a strip of MDF with low-tack spray adhesive:



Then, like any good wargamer, I proceeded to bomb the bridge. (With a spray bomb, that is. ) Once I peeled the template off, it looked like this:



The next step will be to secure another strip of MDF under this one (for the opposite side of the bridge), and use a jigsaw to remove all the black area, giving me two matching sides.

[wm3798]

That's going to be cool.  Would you have a scroll saw available to you?  That might give you better control than a jig saw.

Lee

[TiVoPrince]

Watching with interest
http://www.flickr.com/photos/80651083@N00/322473827/in/set-72157594213331732#comment72157594420415660
since this is a project I have on my 'someday to try' list...

[wm3798]

You need to selectively compress, or add 6" in front to get that dam in there.  That's what makes the scene!

Lee

[Zox]

Lee, if I had a scroll saw, I'd probably try using it, although maneuvering a four-foot-long board through multiple curves might have entertainment value all its own. But since a jigsaw is what I have, a jigsaw is what I'll use. As for including the dam, we'll see--you're right, it would be nice if I could work it in somehow.

Speaking of jigsaws, I've got the "outside" parts of the arches cut:



Not perfect, but not bad either. So far, so good.

A note to anyone using this technique: sawing MDF generates unholy amounts of ultra-fine dust--you can see it all over the floor in the image above. It's not static-sticky like styrofoam dust, but it will stick to damp surfaces, like your skin. Definitely wear eye protection if you're working with your head right over the saw (like I am). Consider using some sort of dust mask, and a dust collection system if you have one.

[James Costello]

Watching with interest
http://www.flickr.com/photos/80651083@N00/322473827/in/set-72157594213331732#comment72157594420415660
since this is a project I have on my 'someday to try' list...

You going to model Gaviota someday Tivo?
Gotta love the Coast Line.

http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2167243050043154927tnbhmb?vhost=good-times
http://good-times.webshots.com/photo/2923653740043154927yHRqst?vhost=good-times

[TiVoPrince]

Hope to
model select scenes from the coast in .  I'm really hoping for a basement to do this justice, because it would be completely too jam packed in the 10x14 server room I currently have partially available.  I'm looking more at a highlights of the coast line runthrough sort of layout.  Operations would be more a relaxed vague flavour of the coast line rather than an accurate to the last tie recreation...

LA - East staging
Burbank - Metrolink (yes, WAY out of era) in a perma-night urban scene
Van Nuys - GM/Budweiser/Busch Gardens (depends on space)
Rio Hondo - side by side bridges are just too cool to miss
Gaviota - signature locaton
Tunnel 9 - probably the 'daylighted' version
Lompoc - running through everybodys backyards
San Luis Obispo - Helper operations
Stenner Creek - coast line would be incomplete without it
Goldtree - gotta love the loops
Cuesta Summit - with fire train and rerouted trackage
Watsonville - West staging

[Craig Martyn]

Tivo, you've described my ideal layout locations! 

Camped many times beneath the big trestle at Gaviota; what a sight!

[TiVoPrince]

If I had
unlimited time/space/skill and some manufacturer support...

Taylor Yard - just for the 'deadline'
Moorpark Rocks - so distinctive, so much grafitti
Oxnard Blvd - quaint industries, nearly street running and the mall
Carpenteria - with the old school wood and concrete highway guardrails
Santa Barbara - the big bridge over 101 would take years to build well
Betteravia - somplace for those beet racks to go

AND all the rest those beautiful sidings and charming scenes west of summit as 101 twists and dances in valleys alongside the SP main...

[Craig Martyn]

Great work so far Zox!  Keep us posted!

[Zox]

Tonight I finished cutting out the sides:



And although the deck is a bit too wide, this quick clamp-up gives a preview of the scale of the thing.



In case someone noticed, yes, the leftmost arch is a bit different from the others. That's where the bridge is over a road instead of the river:



I figured I'd better explain that, since it's not shown in the earlier prototype picture I posted.

[amato1969]

Looks great!  I'm curious to see how you approach the small arches above the main ones...

[wm3798]

I bow down to you Lord Zox...  Looking real good!
Lee

[NorsemanJack]

Looking good!  What type of module are you planning (i.e. Ntrak, etc.)?

[Zox]

What type of module are you planning (i.e. Ntrak, etc.)?

It's being built to the Smart-N standard: http://www.marrsweb.org/smrtnstd.html. The module will be a 48" by 12" rectangle, with a 6" front extension to bring the overall depth to 18".

In addition to the two required mainlines, there will be a third line extending across the bridge, with two crossovers connecting it to the rearward mainline. This will be able to serve as a (rather short) siding, or with other similar modules to form a longer siding. I expect eventually to build a companion module to this one to extend the siding, with a model of the Kankakee train station/railroad museum.

I may also be able to use this module with NTrak--I'd need adaptors at the interfaces to match NTrak's electrical connectors, as well as to bring the track spacing from 1.25" (which is in fact legal for NTrak) out to NTrak's 1.5" at-the-interface spacing.

I'll try to get a plan posted soon, along with my progress pictures for today...