ngauger - challenge #1

[jim currie]

coming along nicely

 

[N Gauger]

Thanks Guys

Ed - yeah - I didnt have anything sharp with me this time sign1 sign1

 

[N Gauger]

Well, I finally got some more time to work on the challenge

In order to make a good final display, You have to have a prototype

http://www.detrick.army.mil/cutting_edge/index.cfm?chapter=chapter10

Note the open pit between the rails, and the concrete on either side, presumidly keeping the rails in gauge

 

[N Gauger]

Now, for my next step, I had to build a rail support and also design something to keep these rails from spreading open. I decided that a good foundation of 2 x 4's would carry the weight of the Bachmann Climax, so I cut out the middles of the ties, cut 2 2x44's to fit under the track, painted them white and set it all up as below.

 

[N Gauger]

After screwing it all together, I re checked the level of the tracks (Close enough)

And then started the positioning of the wood for the supports of the rails... That piece of 1/4" plywood is 5 1/2" x 16 1/2".... I set the wood against the ends of the ties.. this is what keeps it in line...

 

[N Gauger]

Next problem..... Note on the prototype, the concrete comes almost to the rails... I need some more wood here.. After measuring with a scrap piece of 1/4" - I found I was 1/8" short... Spacers are a good thing!!!!! I put some spacers cdown, then cut and set the "top" pieces of 1/4" a little higher than the railheads

 

[TruckLover]

Looking good:thumb: :thumb:

 

[N Gauger]

Now we're close to the prototype... Both ends of the ties are tightly wedged in between the wood. The rails are not moving "outward, (They will move in, but teh flanges on the cars and engines will compensate for that)

Now... concrete... hmmmmmmmmmm

I always wanted to try spackle as concrete.. I decided that this would be a good test...

Step 1 -- Take a good portion of spackle and put it on the wood...

Step 2 -- Get a small bowl of water

Step 3 -- Wet you rhands and smear the spackle around.. This is the fun part!!!!

Step 4 -- Use a paint stick (wet it first) to smooth it out as much as you can. Remember - you can always come back for a second coat in a day or 2 when this first coat dries...

Step 5 -- When you finally have all the spackle totally smoothed out, go wash your hands... and stand back (3 ft) and Look!!!!!!

 

[N Gauger]

Now, take one finger and wet it and clean off the spackle on the rails

Now you got it!!!!

A repair pit for a car or locomotive.... Of course, Sizes vary. You might not need a 16" long one for your Ho cars But since my cars are a foot long, I thought 2" on either end would be ok...

I'll have to see how this dries to see if I need a second coat...

 

[N Gauger]

Looking good:thumb: :thumb:

Thanks!!

 

[ezdays]

You are marching along just fine now...:thumb: Man, the competition is really heating up now.

 

[N Gauger]

The hardest part was finding scrap 1/4" plywood, with a straight edge 2 of them no less!!!! sign1 sign1 sign1 sign1

 

[N Gauger]

Here's a pic of the concrete finished.. It took 3 coats of spackle, smoothing it out by hand and a drywall knife.

 

[N Gauger]

And the cardboard box, that will be the "Structure" of the building. It measures 20" X 20" X 14" tall. That's 33' X 33' X 23' tall on the prototype.

 

[N Gauger]

Well, I know I'm not going to finish on time, but I'll keep working on it anyway

Here's what i finished so far

 

[N Gauger]

The trolly stops intside just to get a good look... The front has the wood panels in place, theright side shows the side of the cardboard box that I used as a base. The long slits are windows, that i cut plexiglass for.... The orange wires ahe holding the plexi in place. The 2 smallesquare windows are skylights (Plexiglass) and have extruded aluminum frames.

It measures 21 X 21 X 16" tall