Hawks NEW "MHO Junction" layout

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I know that Shinohara does make a bridge track in code 70 and code 83, but it comes in a 36 inch length and is a rigid track, not like flex track. I had one that I have no idea where it came from and ended up stripping out the guard rail and used the track in a yard. The track was too long for my one and only bridge. Thankfully I had about 30 some pieces of stock rail from when I was handlaying track that worked much better for the bridge.

All you have to leave for spacing is enough room for the flange on the wheel to pass through. The plastic spikes on the code 70 flex track that was used on this bridge worked out fine. Once the guard rail was cut to length all I did was slide it along side the "spikes" and it worked just fine. Use the same code rail for the guard rail as the track going through the bridge and you should be fine.

Sure am glad that all of my track work is complete. The bridge really looks fantastic and should make a fine addition to your layout.
 
Yes, those are called "guard rails". They are intended to keep a derailed truck on a car from wandering too far off the main rails and slamming the car into the side of the bridge. You can easily make them from some Code 83 rail. Just bend about an inch or so of the ends toward the center of the track. To prevent short circuits, don't let the ends of each rail touch. (Prototype guard rails did meet in the middle.) Just glue them to the ties with CA adhesive or Walther's Goo.

Merry Christmas!
 


Here's my covered bridge updated, almost everything is ready for assembling.
I'm debating what to do for the roof.
1) Paint
2) Corrugated steel
3) Shingles

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The era is 1965-1975, location wooded area up north
What would be your pick?

Thanks
 
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I agree , I would do the shingles also . I associate a covered bridge with a rural or country setting and shingles go well with that .
 
I have two covered bridges behind my house. I never paid attention to the roofs. I think they are probably black shingles.

Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk
 
That really does look good Lloyd !! That makes me wonder , I have a liftout bridge that is only a 2x6 so it does not really lend itself to landscape. A covered bridge like that might just be the ticket . That's the nice thing about this forum , great ideas and nice how to's .
 


Thank you Rick and Jim

Jim, in the next 2-3 weeks, I'll be posting a video of the complete build. I've recorded every aspect of the build without sound, now I just need to stitch up all the parts and add sound.
 
Thanks everyone

Latest update:
Been sick ....you know..... a man's cold, but the last few days, I've been hard at work.
I don't have much to show, been testing a few things such as a backdrop and some wiring of tortoises.

I have a color printer and thought "hey maybe I could do my own backdrop", I'm pretty at ease with Photoshop, why not give it a try. I did look up Backdropjunction and for what I would need, it would cost me about $2,700 (about 170 feet). As for painting, I can draw straight lines only...lol. Here's a look at my first test.

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You all know that I'm a big "zero" when it comes to electricity or electronics, well, I'm no longer a zero, but maybe a 10 (that's out of 100). I manage to hook up two tortoises together with one switch and it works fine. I've been having no success with my tortoises last year because the wire wasn't stiff enough to move the turnout, so I did a bit of research and read that I should remove the spring in the turnout. I did that for both turnouts and voila, it works. Can someone confirm that I did right by removing the spring, because without a tortoise, that turnout is no longer good.

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I've also been working on my other bridge, a trestle bridge which is almost done and trying to come up with some sort of design for my river/falls under those two bridges.

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Lastly, I'm working on finishing the video on how I build my covered bridge. I had to condense a 6 hour video into 45 minutes and now I just need to narrate the whole thing, so maybe another 2-3 weeks before I'm done with it.

It just seems that I did lots, but don't have much to show. Hoping to have more done on the layout by my next update.

Thanks for following, later
 
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Man's cold. You should take the stuff they advertize on TV. Don't need to take a sick day. laugh.gif

Looking real fine, thanks for the update.
 
Hawkesburytrain said:
I have a color printer and thought "hey maybe I could do my own backdrop", I'm pretty at ease with Photoshop, why not give it a try. I did look up Backdropjunction and for what I would need, it would cost me about $2,700 (about 170 feet). As for painting, I can draw straight lines only...lol. Here's a look at my first test.

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Click to expand...

Looks good to me. It's a heck of a lot better than my attempt at the same thing! ;)
 
The backdrop looks good Lloyd . Did you take photos from your own album or was this something printable you found on the net? Will you have to laminate the paper to keep it from discoloring and landscaping damage? cant help you on the turnout question . I like the coloring on the trestle , it looks very old and weathered , nice .
 
Thanks Chet, the advertise stuff doesn't work....... lots of rest and liquids is the best medicine

Thanks KB02

Thanks Jim, photo was on the net where you buy credits for downloads. Had some credits left from a project 4 years ago and wanted to try something out. I have photographic paper which I'll try next, this was done using just plain paper. I wanted a brownish look but put to much black in my mix......lol. I'll be touching it up with some light brown chalk I think, but first will try on a sample.
 


Removing the springs is just fine. I pulled them out of every turnout on my layout and all is well. The other thing I did was substitute .032 music wire for the throw rod instead of that flimsy .024 they supply. It seems to really hold the points much better.
I like the way the backdrop looks. Talk about a $$$$ saver.
 
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