0-72, 3 arch curved, skew arch bridge with 1% grade
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timw
Joined: Dec 21, 2011
Topics: 46 Replies: 46
Topics: 46
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This bridge was at the York TCA meet in April 2012, and will be at the April 2013 meet, as well, along with my 5 arch low bridge pictured lastly here, and which also appears elsewhere on my blog space.
Both of them were at JT's Mega Steam Smoke Fluid booth.
Jeb @ JT's Mega-Steam Smoke Fluid will also have the almost-to-scale 2 arch Rockville Bridge for the April 2013 York meet, and someday, a four arch 1/2 scale Rockville, shown under another of my topics posted on my site.
Thanks,
Tim
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t8afao
Joined: Jul 23, 2010
Topics: 39 Replies: 64
Topics: 39
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Again, that is a buitiful bridge. I wish I had space for one of those, may be my next layout.
wow that is a great bridge. you did this with Foam? what is the technique? I mess around with the foam cutting wire but I wondered how you do the cutting of the block shapes? is this plaster covering and then using sharp tools to cut out the blocks? just curious. thanks Chris
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timw
Joined: Dec 21, 2011
Topics: 46 Replies: 46
Topics: 46
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Chris,
Thanks for the compliment.
Both of the above bridges are hand carved.
I used an electric hot tool for carving, and each represents a different technique, for different stone effects.
I find the hot wire from the foam factory bends too much and not accurate enough. I have had issues with cutting arches perfect. ended up plastering them over which looks fine. the brick detail you do is amazing. like the wires on the one pic. very realistic
Chris
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timw
Joined: Dec 21, 2011
Topics: 46 Replies: 46
Topics: 46
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The folks at Hot Wire Foam Factory are fantastic people, excellent customer service, and very generous when things don't go well with their products. I have several of their products, and some are better than others. The product you are referring to, I do have, but use very sparingly now, due to the same reason you noted, and for other reasons. I have had to come up with alternatives, and a drill press, a large hole cutter, and radial arm saw are now my tools of preference. Must be very cautious though, foam is not like wood, it can be in your hand one second, and airborne the next. The radial arm saw is safer, as it allows one to see both blade and fingers at the same time, using a table saw is very unsafe, and I absolutely do not recommend it.
I make bridges now out of other things too, more conventional materials, plastics, wood, real stone, and foam.
I enjoy incorporating things that are really made for other uses into my bridges, as can be seen from some of my experiments in my blog.
I have a table saw and your right, makes me nervous sometimes. I use that for cutting strips of 1/4" ply for stick bridges I built in the past. beats the price of balsa!
I thought of wood to build arch bridges. more durable and may hold up better with longer spans and the plaster may not crack as easy if its wood. just my thoughts
I like the foam factory tool, but I need one of their better ones.
Progress: