More stunning work there peter, great to see the paint starting to go on. Some very nice detailing with the windows and doors.

Thank you Pawel and Bish for your responses. Much appreciated.

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Drew up a template and started building the bridge towers.

Showing how I add doweling to the joints.

Because I underestimated, I had to buy more 6 mm square timber. Though it may not look it, over 11 metres of wood went into the bridge towers.

11m, blody hell. What wod are you useing for this. I take it you have access to all the measurments of the real bridge. I like how you have pinned the joints together, great idea.

Bish

11m, blody hell. What wod are you useing for this. I take it you have access to all the measurments of the real bridge...

I used Tasmanian Oak.

No plans for bridge were available. Had to use two diagonal references, road width and span length by using a tape measure. The rest of the measurements were exprapulated from many photographs.

This kind of modelling is the real deal.  I aspire to manifest this kind of creativity.  Great stuff.  This display will have young and old alike captivated when it is in action.  Bravo!!

Hey Peter ;

 That project is looking fantastic ! I like the fact you are working in wood , although that would not have been my first choice .You're making it look easy .

 Plus . you are doing it the same way I scratch -Build ships !

Thank you mmthrax for kind words. I sure hope it will work smoothly and for a long time.

Tanker - Builder

Hey Peter ;

 That project is looking fantastic ! I like the fact you are working in wood , although that would not have been my first choice .You're making it look easy .

 Plus . you are doing it the same way I scratch -Build ships !

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I tried to source narrow pulley wheels at a reasonable prices, but found none. So I decided to make my own (wish I had a lathe) out of washers. I sandwiched soldering wire between washers (on a greased bolt) and sweat-soldered them. The first one had too much solder, but after that, the other ten came out just right.

Making your own pulleys !!???    This is awesome.  Next level, outside the box thinking.  Bravo.  

Peter ;

 When are you going to start your own company building greeblies like that ? I'll take forty . LOL.LOL. Very good construction going on here . Good on You ! T.B.

Thanks for compliments mmthrax and T.B.

"Greeblies", that's a new word for me. Had to look it up . It reminds me of what Steampunk artists use for their artworks.

I am sure we all have our junk box of sorts.

When short for money/access to resources one is forced to improvise, adapt and overcome.

Nothing is impossible! Because I do not believe in impossibilities I am inspired to seek to understand how it could be possible. Scratch building sure brings this out in a person.

I believe 'greeblies' going back to when FX artists made spacecraft and other props for movies like Star Wars out of repurposed parts from plastic kits. 

I didn't notice how big the bridge was going to be until your more recent photos, a really big whomping progress and you're making great progress on her! Kudos sir!!!

Maybe I missed it but are you adding any figures for scale? 

Gamera

... are you adding any figures for scale? 

Yes. I bought a pack of unpainted plastic figures (1/72 scale or OO gauge).

Designed and made brackets for thr the pulley wheels.

The towers have not yet been installed. They are just resting there, checking for alignment. Both the road base and traffic lights need to be installed at the same time as the towers.

Cool, the figures will look awesome! 

Great work there on the brackets and the pulleys! 

Hmmmm;

   I will take forty of those too . AWESOME ! ! ! 

Awesome progress Peter! 

Thank you Gamera, T.B., and mmthrax for encouraging words.

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There is a gangway at the top of the towers, for accessing the pulley wheel mechanisms.

Because the tower's base framework penetrates the road, they cannot be installed until the road base, and traffic lights, are prepared.

Hello Peter, 

Nice work as always.  It is hard to tell from the picture, but the lights look to be about 3/8" each.  Is that about right?  Really enjoying this build.  Carry on sir.

Thank you ejhammer and mmthrax for your encouragement and interest.

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mmthrax

Hello Peter, 

Nice work as always.  It is hard to tell from the picture, but the lights look to be about 3/8" each.  Is that about right?  Really enjoying this build.  Carry on sir.

5 mm (3/16"). I was going to use the 3 mm LED, but they were hard to see if they were ON from the console. The traffic lights face away from the operator. So I chose the 5 mm, withheld adding hoods, to help them to become more noticeable.

Thanks for the response.  I have never seen LEDs in 3/8 so I was wondering.

Excellent work.

It is looking excellent, Peter. You are really going to town with this. It is fun to watch.

I'm beyond stunned, Peter. No challenge seems to stand in your way! It's just amazing to watch this project evolve.

Cheers,

Russ

Thank you Bakster and Russ for supporting comments.

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It was during this stage, just before building the road base, when I realised that the span needed alterations. Once the towers are in, the span cannot be removed passed the pulley wheels for servicing. The only alternative path of removal was sideways. So, I  decided to replaced two fixed lateral bumper rollers for two removeable versions.

Thank you EJ for following this build. I hope the remaining construction will not disappoint. I sure hope the working parts will do well.

Best of luck (preperation meeting opportunity) for the regionals at Grand Valley Collage.

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Built the road base from Masonite. Drilled untold number of holes for railing posts. Routed wiring from under the road, along girders and piers, towards exits through the display table.

The road, traffic lights, and towers had to be installed in one operation. Once the road base got fixed into place, the traffic lights and towers had minimal movement for alignment before being fixed into position. The cable from the pulley wheels need to be able to go through the road base and display table without rubbing on anything. 

It took a few hours to make fine adjustments, alignment (squared), and fixing the towers with doweling. Then gave the whole road another coat of paint.

mmthrax

Making your own pulleys !!???    This is awesome.  Next level, outside the box thinking.  Bravo.  

 

Indeed! Fun to follow this wizardry.

Hello Glenn. Thanks for compliment.

Thanks also for sharing an important part of your history through your signature link.