After a long time away from the layout (the last construction update on my blog was 1/2/2012, one year ago tomorrow), I have decided to start work on the Etowah River bridge scene: I'll be kitbashing the bridge from several Micro Engineering deck girder bridge kits and casting the piers and abutments using plaster poured into scratchbuilt molds. Lots of new challenges for me on this project over the coming weeks. Jamie
Excellent I remember when i found this thread and read the entire thing-kept waiting for new work, can't wait to see how you get along with the 'new project'!
Jamie, Good to see working your layout again, been checking for updates. Looking forward to the progress as well.
Oh yay! I'm so looking forward to seeing new progress. You do some great work, and that bridge is going to be an excellent scene!
Finally, an update on one of my favourite layouts! That bridge scene is going to look awesome with some trains rolling over it. I just hope we don't go another 364 days without another update!
Good to see you back at work on the layout, Jamie. I know how easy it is to get out of the habit. The only thing I've done on the layout has been the details on the E9s...busy with CHRISTmas decorations (won our subdivision's best yard prize, so I guess it was worth it) and now they need to come down. I MISS the layout, though!
I managed to start cutting the .060" sheet styrene that will be used to build molds for casting bridge piers for my Etowah River bridge: While I say I am going to cast bridge piers, I am also considering building them out of styrene in case the castings don't live up to expectations. I hope to get the molds finished and at least one pier cast this week. Jamie
The best laid plans... I have been working on bridge piers for my Etowah River bridge. However, since I didn't have the right tools for assembling the styrene pier castings (specifically, I have no tools useful for scratchbuilding) I ordered a Right Clamp and a Duplicate It from Micro Mark. While waiting for them to arrive, I thought I would sneak in a little work on the helix. I have had all of the materials to start the helix but have never had the motivation. So off to the garage I go to cut the roadbed for the first level. This requires making a pair of circle cuts into an 8x4 sheet of 1/8" hardboard. I got my jigsaw and jigsaw circle cutter...wait where is the curcle cutter? It was just here four years ago when I cut the circles for the helix base. Apparently, in four years, jigsaw circle cutting attachments can actually grow legs and leave on their own, because mine was nowhere to be found. Besides, by the time I stopped searching, there wasn't enough daylight left to cut anything. So, my next construction project (aside from the bridge piers) will be to build a homemade jigsaw circle cutting attachment (I am not spending another $30 on one that can walk away). How ironic that after a year of no motivation, now I have an excess of motivation and a shortage of the right tools? Argh! Hopefully things will change as soon as FedEx shows up. Jamie
I feel your pain with regards to the shortage of tools! Apartment living always has me short of something I would find useful lol
With the eagerly awaited arrival of the FedEx truck loaded with my bounty from MicroMark, I began assembly if the bridge pier casting: So far I think I like the right clamp for these small assemblies. Will definitely come in handy when building smaller structures. I also found some good ole Testors liquid plastic cement with MEK...didn't think I had any more hanging around. Love the stuff for welding styrene. Jamie
Oh my dear, what happened? He was so kind with his time and so willing to share his knowledge. What a tragedy.
woah.... No way. I used to talk to Jamie all the time. Very sad.... George, how did you hear of this? Mike
Another post here on TB Mike...:crying: http://www.trainboard.com/grapevine/showthread.php?159184-CSXDixieLine-Sad-News