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Dude, Great work on the bridge! Did you build that yourself or is it a kit? I have two LL E8s. Great little runners! I also have two Kato E8s. Even better. For the money, the Life Like's are excellent value. They leave my old Rivarossi/Atlas E8 (70s-era) for dead...

Vic The Windex did have some effect but not enough to hold the balsa as tight as I had curved it. Anyway, I had already traced my bridge outline onto the styrene sheet. I scored along the curved line with my Exacto knife then bent and snapped the sheet to release my new road surface...

Hmmm ... no, I didn't know that, but this is sure a good project to try it out! While my bridge "girders" are off the layout is a good time to give them a spray. Thanks for the info. Out with the Windex ...

Vic I am not sure where we get it from (apart from the hobby shop haha). I presume Indonesia or the Phillipines. It is quite expensive here too if you want to complete a project using LOTS of it. But for my little bridge project, the 60 cent strips didn't break the bank! I buy...

Some of the concrete has been "poured". I used some mid-grey "German Board" (available from art stores) to cover the grain of the balsa and represent the "concrete" bridge abutments. I drew lines with a 2B pencil (then smudged a little with my finger) to represent the "pour" lines in the...

A quick test fit inder the bridge deck. I have carved the block of balsa in the foreground to a landscape profile and painted it to match the rest of the fascia. I have also realigned the road to a continuous curve through and off the bridge.

I have been "off-line" for about a week after a lightning strike took out my cable modem but bridge building has continued. I have constructed a bridge pier using balsa off-cuts and Plastruct styrene tube

Larry, Comparing the "before" and "after" shots, it is quite amazing what a good backdrop will do! Thanks for sharing. Gavin

Thanks msh. You might notice that my benchwork is also built out of balsa. This makes for super lightweight modules!!! Balsa is actually quite strong. That's why aeromodellers use it! Obviously if you king hit it or sit on your benchwork you will smash it, but how often do we sit on...

Well, after 30 minutes, this is as far as I have got. But now I can at least see the "skeleton" of the desired final product. This is where balsa wood is just the most convenient modelling material. It is SO-O-O easy to work with (cut, glue, pin). You can see the aeromodellers' "T"...

This bridge has to be "purpose-built" for the location as it has to curve to mate with my curved backdrop. I needed a material I could curve sideways and downwards at the same time (to form the incline on one side). Balsa strips are ideal for this. This photo shows balsa strips bent and...

I wanted to disguise the hole with a highway overpass. This would achieve two things. Allow road vehicle access to the industrial area on this module as well as cover the hole. I have started building a highway overpass using balsa wood abutments and bridge supports (these will be clad...

On my "turning" module (where the tracks disappear through the backdrop and turn 180 degrees) I have the problem of how to disguise the great hole in the backdrop. This photo shows what I mean:-

The old and the new pass on the RailNet mainline.

CUTE! I'll have to see if I can get the RailNet's company chopper "operational". Gavin Miller

David, Yes, it is "N". Thomas, Annie & Clarabel are by TOMIX although, before these models were available, I had actually customized a Thomas engine myself by repainting a Graham Farish N scale 0-6-0 Tank engine. So now I have TWO Thomas's!! (My effort doesn't have a face though ...

Larry, She's a GIRL (Elaina). If she could talk she would probably send you an email scolding you for calling her a young MAN, he heh. I have another grandchild "on the way" but ultrasounds indicate it is another girl. I told my daughter she is going to have to produce a grandSON or...

msh (sorry, didn't catch your name?), I like your suggestion about white lettering. It sounds good in theory anyway!! Hope it works in practice :-) I will have to give it a try next time I am doing some lettering. Thanks guys for your other positive remarks. Cheers Gavin

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It doesn't take long for a two year old to figure out how to operate Granddad's trains. Every visit to the train room now requires a run on the mainline by Thomas and friends.