I need to cut the bottoms of my Micro-Engineering Viaduct towers. What is the preferred method of cutting them to get an easy cut without damaging them?
Just cutting is quite simple with a razor saw. To not damage the boxed girders it may be nec. to back up the stock with some sort of fence to hold the piece. The cuts themselves are not the only issue. Just cutting at random length can affect the bracing positions. This isn’t critical on the model, however modifications should be made to alter the attachment of the diagonal bracing.if your length is shorter than the reinforced brace placement.
The towers are designed in 3 segments. You will note that the latticed girders have flat plate stock at the separations for the horizontals as well as the diagonal bracing.
This is why in my installation, I decided to alter the benchwork to fit 2 section of the towers and in the pic you can see that only just a single top “bent” was used. The fabricated conc piers are tall enough to allow for some variation of scenery.
Thanks. I don’t have a razor saw, but think it looks like a good investment.
If you haven’t built the towers yet, it is much easier to make those cuts before assembly. I built the bents then made the cuts, Then continued the rest of the tower assembly. If your lengths are less than those segments, repositioning of the bracing can be done as you assemble.
I have the bents built, but not the towers at this point. I will need to figure out the terrain so I can decide where to cut them.
A razor saw is not even that big an investment. They can be had for under $20.
However, you don’t necessarily need one. I have successfully used both a hacksaw and a coping saw with a fine-toothed blade to cut Atlas bridge piers down to size. You can also score styrene parts and snap them off over the edge of a metal ruler, although the end generally needs to be dressed with a mill file afterwards.
Well? Do we get an undate? What did you decide? lol
The first time I read this thread, I was thinking of a ‘hacksaw’ blade. It could be a thick cut… but a slow easy cut, so as not to do any damage to the structure. Most local hardware stores carry a mall ‘hand held’ handle that you can attach the blade … and adjust the blade to make simple cuts. The adjustment is used to shorten the length of the blade to prevent ‘wobble’ when cutting. The blade it thick and could get into your measurement … the wrong way~.
Then again… when I read this thread, I thought of a red hot old ‘butter knife’… lol. Ya know… ~ place it under the the gas stove till its cherry red/ white hot… cut through most things… maybe start a fire~. Then again ‘Spontaneous Human Combustion’… commonly called SHC… woou… I hate that~ … So I guess that would be a bad idea.
Speaking of bad ideas… I’d hate to cut into that bridge of yours in the first place. Compromising the over-all integrity of the bridges strength… is at stake?
Wouldn’t you be better building around the struts… and make false foundations?
Ok. ok… if you have to cut… I recommend these…
Bottom right… Great cutters for everything. You can cut rails… most anything. The price… i believe it was 8.99. I know it was the cheaper one of the bunch at the LHS.
Nice layout btw… coming along nice.
&n
I ended up buying a razor saw at my Model Railway Store - it has two blades - one very fine and one a little less fine. It does a great job!
The integrity of the towers is not compromised because I just had to remove the bottom storey, so the two remaining stories still retain the required structure.
I’ll try to get some pics posted soon…
Thanks!
Is there an alternative to cutting the bents? Not that it’s a bad idea but it’s usually best done before you build them. I’m sure it can be done but it’s just a bit more difficult when they are already built.