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More Questions from a beginner

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12 years 3 months ago - 12 years 3 months ago #14044 by jedforceone
More Questions from a beginner was created by jedforceone
It's funny, everything inside of me and all sources of common knowledge converge in agreement that starting simple is the better plan. Well where is the fun in that? Looking to build a fairly long steel/iron trestle that looks similar to this one. Ive sort of learned over time that kit building comes with its draw backs (not that I've even found a kit for this, at least not in Z. However, seems like most people are building their trestles out of wood. I suppose all I would need are some brass cut pieces that I could shape, color, etc. But any thoughts on replicating something like this?

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12 years 3 months ago - 12 years 3 months ago #14045 by Kelley
Replied by Kelley on topic Re: More Questions from a beginner
Wood trestles are cool, but usually found either in the early days of railroads, or on branch lines where lighter engines would run (There was and still a trestle on what was the Illinois central between Scheller and Dubois, Illinois that GPs used to pull coal drags over, dunno what goes over it now a days)
The picture you have looks great and I would love to see more bridges like this in Z.

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12 years 3 months ago #14046 by stonysmith
Replied by stonysmith on topic Re: More Questions from a beginner
The tallest trestle begins with a single cut.

If you already are accomplished at cutting/shaping/soldering brass, then by all means go for it. Otherwise, you will have to learn those skills. While you're learning them, you'll make "a few mistakes", but the reward of a finished work of art should be worth it.

The real question is .. are you determined enough to stick to the project, or would you rather have something closer to Ready To Run?

You may be more satisfied if you seek out a vendor that can etch brass for you.. assembing such a tower from separate parts would seem a rather daunting task.

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12 years 3 months ago #14047 by jedforceone
Replied by jedforceone on topic Re: More Questions from a beginner
As much as I hate to admit it, the length/height etc are all probably going to flexible based on stability, cost, construction. The current plan that I’m drafting on is a looping layout that spans on one end from the Rockiesish, over the Midwest and then ends on the other end in a Kansas City like town/city. Running BNSF and a mixture of rolling stock and locos from regionals in-between the two areas. Based in modern times is the goal, already have some GP35’s that I’m weathering down and eventually a pair of sd70s when the budget permits so sometime between now and 2020. Working with probably about 10 feet long, shaped like a U or L… enough space for the 200mm+ curves. Still very much planning right now… :pinch:

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12 years 3 months ago #14052 by markm
Replied by markm on topic Re: More Questions from a beginner
Jed,
I've been working on duplicating a similiar bridge on the WP:
www.yesteryeardepot.com/WP29A.JPG
Traincat & Micron Art have some nice deck girder bridges that I'm using. The MTL plate girder bridge can be bashed into a deck by flipping the girders and a bit of sanding.
The tressle has not been so easy. Plastruc has some towers and stock material, and the are several brass pieces you can fold, but I haven't found anything that I like so far. A Z scale bridge like these won at NTS last year and I was told the tressles were custom etched.

Hope this helps,
Mark

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12 years 3 months ago - 12 years 3 months ago #14094 by stonysmith
Replied by stonysmith on topic Re: More Questions from a beginner
To not hijack this thread too severely, several messages have been moved here

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