Albury staging benchwork - 2

Benchwork progress for Albury Staging 

A short post this time.  

PN 48144 waits in Junee yard for its next assignment Oct 30, 2024

Since the last blog post, I regret that I have not progressed the layout benchwork as quickly as I would like.  The causes have been multiple, including ongoing medical issues, and gardening.  And I made 2 batches of mulberry jam, whilst our tree is producing.  (that was a good distraction).

More framing cut

The section that will be the murrumbidgee River bridge, placed over the chalk drawn paper template

Barn raising

I started screwing and glueing all the frame elements together, then the thought struck me:- the frame was starting to get really heavy, and there was only so much I could lift on my own.  So, I set up my support "A" trestles, and rested the frame on these

The timber frame on the RHS that will attach to the big upright leg on that side is not yet present

The Murrumbidgee River extension frame was not bolted on to save weight, and also to not twist the frame prematurely. 

The A frame trestles had the frame 87cm above the floor, not the 85cm that I wanted,  Equally frustrating, I had cut the timber legs for the lower elevation so it was not possible to fudge.   

Fitting the legs

Keeping things square, and level.  The clamp is holding the 2nd leg in midair, whilst it is drilled, and screwed to the frame

I attached the first set of leg whilst the frame was still on the A frame trestles.  Once these were secured, I extracted the A frame trestle at that end, and continued to the other end where I again fitted a pair of legs, ensuring that the benchwork was level. The floor is not level, which added to the challenge

Attaching to the existing upright

The long timber chord was screwed to the first big upright leg, the other part of the frame was then attached to the frame, and screwed to the big upright leg ensuring the frame was level  

The frame as it stands, is fairly sturdy, although some angle leg bracing should be added.

Next steps.  

Add the Murrumbidgee River frame section, more legs, bracing, and then cut, and add the plywood deck.  I am also  running short of the 65mm decking screws that hold the frame timbers together, so a trip to Bunnings will shortly be on my agenda.

I understand that my method of benchwork is unorthodox.  It was certainly NOT the light and airy benchwork that I envisaged when designing the trackplan.  However, I am using up lumber left over from my room build, it is "free", and that is internally satisfying.   I would not use this method for a portable layout, and most of my upper deck will be more conventional

Until next time, don't spend too much money on ebay.  

Nothing to do with trains, but a view of the sunset here in Junee Nov 3, 2024. Could make a great backdrop?