Tecko Posted November 7, 2018 Author Share #26 Posted November 7, 2018 Thanks fellows for encouraging responses. Much appreciated. _______________________________________________________ My old table, now a worktable, has a bow to due to a history of supporting weight. However, I noticed, with the model base board on top of it, a huge gap. There was enough room for my pencil to roll under the base board! Closer examination revealed that the base board is also bowed. To compensate, I cut another larger base, from the same resource, and glued opposing bows together, under weight. The next day I inserted screws to secure it. Minder has poor safety sense. Here he is guiding my cut. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted November 7, 2018 Share #27 Posted November 7, 2018 Looking GOOD! Wait.... about 30 kg weights on the boards....where are the missing 170 kg weights from your barbell? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tecko Posted November 8, 2018 Author Share #28 Posted November 8, 2018 Looking GOOD! Wait.... about 30 kg weights on the boards....where are the missing 170 kg weights from your barbell? Ho ha. Yeah right! These weights are at least ten years old. As you can see, they have not been used much in that time. Got them for competitive road cycling. Since a bad fall in the World's Championships, I've put on weight. In fact, as much weight as what's on the boards. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tecko Posted November 8, 2018 Author Share #29 Posted November 8, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tecko Posted November 8, 2018 Author Share #30 Posted November 8, 2018 Exchanged the original base for the larger one. Now the first base will be referred to as a platform. The second base is larger to accommodate a display frame. Three millimeter clear Perspex will enclose the model as a display case. Used scrap 3 mm Perspex, plus thin card, as a spacer between platform and framework. I have no 45 deg cut jig. Top-right: As it happens sometimes, it was the last option that was the correct one. As I was about to fill nail holes, etc., with wood putty, Minder noticed I drilled too many holes. The column at each end of bridge was not needed. A while ago I bought a cheap spatula for wood putty (to save me using my painting one). It broke while filling the drill holes. Had to use the painting spatula to finish the job. After some sanding . . . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tecko Posted November 9, 2018 Author Share #31 Posted November 9, 2018 Here is the movie bridge under construction in Sri Lanka (Ceylon), during 1957. This photo also reveals that the river water level is lower than shown in the movie. I am assuming that this is the drier part of the year, for they have not done anything to divert the river flow. You may notice that the right-hand cantilever piers are inserted into the river bed. To do this, they used a cofferdam. For those not familiar to what a cofferdam is. This photo ought to be self explanatory. However, there was no such advanced equipment for the POWs to build the bridge. They had to pile-drive the piers into the ground, and river beds, by hand. Teams of POWs, at both sides of the trestle, hoisted the heavy weight up and then dropped onto the pier. They did this repeatedly, day and night, for months while building the various bridges along the 415 km railway. First real bridge (circled), on the river Kwai, is made from timber. The second bridge got constructed and then bombed by RAF. Soon afterwards the timber bridge got completely destroyed too. Afterwards, the second bridge got repaired. They used a different, simpler, design structures (not curved), to replaced the destroyed sections. Bottom photo is how it looks today. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Proud Kraut Posted November 10, 2018 Share #32 Posted November 10, 2018 A very well researched project, thanks for sharing all these informations! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tecko Posted November 10, 2018 Author Share #33 Posted November 10, 2018 A very well researched project, thanks for sharing all these informations! Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tecko Posted November 10, 2018 Author Share #34 Posted November 10, 2018 The movie bridge has really been slapped together in a 'near enough is good enough' approach. I had to come up with my own approach to making joints and at least try to be more consistent in using them. This plan go improved when I was about to add the horizontal beams. The central piers are easy to put in. A set square ensures accurate vertical installation. Both a set square and a profile template ensures correct angles for outer piers. Altered the drawing to thicker horizontal beams with notches. Used the template to make sure the beams are level and at the correct height. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MECHINF-A15 Posted November 10, 2018 Share #35 Posted November 10, 2018 Great project, research and absolutely splendid presentation Peter! I very much look forward to more of your posts. All the best, Mike Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sjones Posted November 10, 2018 Share #36 Posted November 10, 2018 This is going to be fun to follow! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArtyScout Posted November 10, 2018 Share #37 Posted November 10, 2018 This looks like a lot of work, but well worth my time to follow your progress. Your research on this project is awesome. Semper Fi. Manny Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tecko Posted November 11, 2018 Author Share #38 Posted November 11, 2018 Thank you fellows for following and making comments of encouragement. Much appreciated. ___________________________ To lean-in the outer piers I had to take off a fair bit of wood of the dowel. I was not happy about that, so I re-drilled the outer holes at a slight angle. Still needing to fashion the dowel for a lean-in, but not much whittling was needed. Keeping various trimmings for possible later use in the diorama, such as sawing off-cuts, and debarking lumber. Made another template, but made from card, so it could be fitted between the columns (Timber one was too thick). The card also has a profile drawing to signify which columns have horizontal beams. One step back too far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted November 11, 2018 Share #39 Posted November 11, 2018 Thank you fellows for following and making comments of encouragement. Much appreciated. ___________________________ To lean-in the outer piers I had to take off a fair bit of wood of the dowel. I was not happy about that, so I re-drilled the outer holes at a slight angle. Still needing to fashion the dowel for a lean-in, but not much whittling was needed. Keeping various trimmings for possible later use in the diorama, such as sawing off-cuts, and debarking lumber. Made another template, but made from card, so it could be fitted between the columns (Timber one was too thick). The card also has a profile drawing to signify which columns have horizontal beams. One step back too far. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted November 11, 2018 Share #40 Posted November 11, 2018 Hey just don't blow it up with a big firecracker like a M80 or a Block Buster when you done building it Tecko Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted November 11, 2018 Share #41 Posted November 11, 2018 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mikie Posted November 11, 2018 Share #42 Posted November 11, 2018 Please tell Minder for me that he is doing a fantastic job. I'm sure things wouldn't be going so well without him! Mikie Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsbody Posted November 11, 2018 Share #43 Posted November 11, 2018 Hello Peter, if you don't mind I'm going to tag along here 'cause this promises to be a lot of fun (actually it already is... ). I'm impressed by the way you go about building the bridge and your thorough research. Rene Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tecko Posted November 11, 2018 Author Share #44 Posted November 11, 2018 Thanks fellows for your humorous responses. Yes, without Minder there would surely be more constructional hiccups. I have always like watching all the Addams Family explosions. I have not seen this old TV series of Magnum P.I. where they blow up a model of the bridge. But besides blowing the bridge up, here as some basics in the cantilever design. Both the movie and real bridges used this design. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tecko Posted November 11, 2018 Author Share #45 Posted November 11, 2018 Adding horizontal stiffening beams. Soon came across a problem. One of the re-drilled holes was too deep. Minder had a solution. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tecko Posted November 12, 2018 Author Share #46 Posted November 12, 2018 Basic trestle structures on both sides of bridge completed. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bertmedals Posted November 12, 2018 Share #47 Posted November 12, 2018 Great project and its wonderful fun seeing the planning and progress. I admire your workmanship and attention to detail. I was thinking though, hasn't this model thing been done before? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tecko Posted November 12, 2018 Author Share #48 Posted November 12, 2018 Thank you Dennis for supporting comments. Never seen the Jerry Lewis movie 'The Geisha Boy'. Strange having to see Sessue Hayakawa in a comedy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted November 13, 2018 Share #49 Posted November 13, 2018 Great project and its wonderful fun seeing the planning and progress. I admire your workmanship and attention to detail. I was thinking though, hasn't this model thing been done before? Thatttts Right, I remember that now, it was a like a spoof in the Geisha Boy movie. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Navybean Posted November 13, 2018 Share #50 Posted November 13, 2018 This is a great build really enjoying your progress with pictures. Thanks for the entertainment and look forward to your progress Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now