Jan and Feb issues of MR detailing building the causeway on the MR&T. I love these guys. They show you how to build one that is straight then put a curved one on the Feb cover with no insight as to how to set up the cuts for accomodating the curve.
Anyone here with ideas? Has to be a lot of angled cuts on the molding they use, but perhaps there are some shortcuts or jigs they can show us. I look at doing something like this as a way to utilize the wasted space of a curve at the end of the layout.
Blaze,
Calculating the angles is going to be different depending on the curve ‘radius’. I would use a large sheet of cardstick to layout the curved bridge ‘full size’. swing the track centerline and the sides of the bridge with a compass(yardstick with a hole in one end for a nail and another set of holes for a pencil to stick through for marking). Decide how far apart each bridge panel/pier will be and mark them as well. Now, cut off a section of that millwork a little too long and transfer the marks to the piece cut it. Make several and ‘test fit’. Once satisfied, start cutting duplicates. You should wind up with a series of 2" wide straight deck panels that will assemble into a curve to match you track. As you mentioned, making a jib for cutting the deck panels after you make a ‘good one’ will speed up the process and insure you have duplicate panels.
Jim
Thanks JR. For a N layout, a tighter curve will mean a lot of segments and a lot of bents.