Can't See for Looking

Well this week I received my styrene shipment (Thanks PK) so I attacked the Upper Richmond River Bridge destined for Kyogle.  The unfinished work was quickly completed. On Friday night while adding the gussets on the external members, I realised that the two central bracing members were going the wrong way - Doh!  I was wondering why the gussets I cut after looking at the photo that I was working from did not fit the model.  So I had to take these members out, and put them back on with the correct orientation.  However, once I did this, they did not fit - did they.  Due to bits of the old members that were left behind.  So this had to be cleaned out and new members cut.  Lucky I had a new packet of 'I' beam to use.  It was amazing none of my eagle eyed mates picked this rather large mistake up.  I'm also sure they won't know about this little issue as I will not be telling them about it.  But it is amazing that sometimes you can't see for looking.

So after fixing up these members, I was able to add the gussets, and then thought about adding the lattice work around the top of the bridge.  I found some styrene that looked teh correct size and while not exact as in the photos, I think it is near enough and gets the picture across.  This afternoon I gave the model its first coat of paint.  I will need to turn it up side down one afternoon this week and paint the underside.

The complete bridge with the latice work visible

The partly painted bridge

Today I also put together another 3 coil steel cradles as well as taking a few pictures of these so I can supplement my potential article text with a pictorial view.

Last week, I mentioned David from Silkwood Depot had fallen off his ladder and broken his wrist.  Well I might have actually understated the damage.  He actually smashed his wrist.  So on Friday, Humpty Dumpty went under the knife and had it all put back together.  I visited his place today and checked out his shed progress.  It looks great! The floor just needs to be painted and them the layout construction can commence.  David, just use this time with some detailed planning for benchwork and trackwork.

Next weekend will be the Railway Modellers' Club of Queensland's Exhibition at the Strathpine Community Centre.  As I will be there all day Saturday and Sunday, I will not have an update until late on Sunday night next week.  I thought I might just get in early and mention this so Geoff does not worry.