After what I'm pretty sure has been a delay of well over 2 years, work has finally begun here on a new highway overpass for the layout. I'm combining 2 of the Pikestuff Modern Overpass kits, and the original idea has been to replace my existing overpass with something that would look a little more prototypical.
But of course, I almost immediately ran into sort of a problem. The roadway portion appears to be quite a bit narrower than what I had expected. And I think that the support pillars in the kit seem kind of narrow too. Anyway, I think now I will use this project to add another overpass to the layout, instead of as a replacement.
Each section of the kit roadway is 9 inches long, which seems kind of odd to me, as I think bench work width is typically a multiple of 8 inches (16, 24, or in my case 32 inches deep/wide), so I'll have to make a cut to one of the sections
I watched a couple of YouTube videos (links below) of this same kit being assembled and weathered, and got some really helpful ideas for mine.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5_JHvvGZAoY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9PR7sfY2Vfo&t=254s
Here's a look at the Pikestuff kits package photo and instruction sheet:
I don't want to use all of those large bases for the pillars, because I think they'll block too much of the view of the trains as they pass beneath the overpass
On the workbench of course, here's a look at the parts and sub-assemblies.
This is the underside of the overpass with the linear support beams all in place, and the support pillars and guardrails off to the side
Basically same photo, but with the roadway on top. The roadway is 20 feet wide, which, as I mentioned seems to me to be narrow for a modern overpass.
So, my solution is to add width by cutting .060 styrene strips 4 feet wide and add them to each side. This will create "concrete shoulders" on each side of the overpass.
I think that this extra width is going to make a big difference in the appearance. I've also attached the guardrails to the side.
This final view, for now, is after the whole thing has been painted. Trying to go for an aged concrete appearance for the overpass, so I've sprayed everything with Rustoleum "Smoky Beige" to start.
The paint filled in some of the section lines, so I cleared them out using the back of an Xacto blade. I dabbed small amounts of Tamiya's Black Panel Line to highlight the seams.
I'll have more on this project as it proceeds
To close out this post, here's a link to the video, in case you missed it, of the 5 cars on a CP freight train that were on fire as it rolled through London, Ontario on Sunday night. It was gondolas of scrap railway ties. Last I heard it was unknown just how the gondolas actually caught fire.
