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1/72 Pontoon Bridge +++ COMPLETED +++


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Yew don't need 'andrails, lad. Yew need to get yer 'air cut!

 

(Army 'elf n safety book, page one)

 

I seem to have one of these kits. Goodness knows where or when I got it!

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The glue has dried now and the surfacer has set - here is the 'cut down' version.  As I say it's a little deceptive - this is 16 inches across - I think the pontoons being closer looks more like 'a real one'.  The side supports and pontoons aren't fixed in position yet - I just can't help putting it together - over and over...

 

PONT110.jpg

 

Anyway - in attempt to add some 'detail' - whether real or imagined - it's time to break out the Evergreen...

 

PONT140.jpg

 

I have no clue as to the real engineering term - but I'm going to add some 'fixing plates' to the side spans - as they are still very plain...

 

PONT150.jpg

 

a bit of cutting and prodding gave me these...

 

PONT160.jpg

 

PONT170.jpg

 

PONT180.jpg

 

I'm sure they will look better with a bit of paint on them.

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9 minutes ago, Pete in Lincs said:

The term is probably 'fishplates'.

And yes, they do look good.

I think you are right - but for a second though I had this in my head...

 

porcelain-fish-plates-oval-plates-pure-w

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Apart from the handrails - which I am still pondering - I spotted these RSJ's

 

PONT215.jpg

 

PONT216.jpg

 

which seem appropriate and as it happens I have some 'I' beam strip in stock - don't know what I bought it for - but I knew it would come in useful at some point...

 

PONT220.jpg

 

I'm not wasting valuable steel though - you only see it 'peeping out' - so...

 

PONT230.jpg

 

PONT240.jpg

 

...don't worry - no one will ever see underneath :winkgrin:

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Super work so far mate. Great progress already too! 

 

How many afv,s can you fit on the bridge, along with bicycles and men? 😜

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1 hour ago, Antb said:

Super work so far mate. Great progress already too! 

 

How many afv,s can you fit on the bridge, along with bicycles and men? 😜

Thanks Ant - it is a lot of fun actually - I need to pace myself though or it could be all over by tomorrow :doh:

 

On a more serious note - I have had a word with a couple of Military Police guys - who have advised me that they will be strictly enforcing the 40 ton weight limit.  You don't mess with these guys...

 

jeep197.jpg

 

...I better get the windscreen in their Jeep though - or I'll be up on a charge :mental:

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Looking at my 'old boxing' of the kit and a newer boxing I noticed this...

 

PONT188.jpg

 

PONT189.jpg

 

...chains to hold the pontoons in place...

 

So I have drilled out the 'cleats' is that the right word?

 

PONT190.jpg

 

PONT200.jpg

 

I've also had a 'rummage' round for some chains...

 

PONT210.jpg

 

...even the tiny 1mm chain - second on the left scales up to 3 inches though - I'll leave it for now and come back to it later in the build.

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Wow - speedy progress on this one mate!!

 

Looking good so far and like all the little 'Big X' touches we have all come to expect.

 

At this rate you'll have finished all four builds before I've even started!

 

All the best

 

Ben

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Just now, badger said:

Wow - speedy progress on this one mate!!

 

Looking good so far and like all the little 'Big X' touches we have all come to expect.

 

At this rate you'll have finished all four builds before I've even started!

 

All the best

 

Ben

So.........  When will you be starting.......

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14 minutes ago, BIG X said:

So.........  When will you be starting.......

With luck tomorrow afternoon. Had visitors down for a few days and they've headed home tonight.

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7 minutes ago, badger said:

With luck tomorrow afternoon. Had visitors down for a few days and they've headed home tonight.

...I'm looking forward to it...

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10 minutes ago, BIG X said:

...I'm looking forward to it...

Me too - Chieftain first I think and I'll work on the Pup in the background whilst things dry.

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11 hours ago, BIG X said:

I've also had a 'rummage' round for some chains...

 

PONT210.jpg

 

...even the tiny 1mm chain - second on the left scales up to 3 inches though - I'll leave it for now and come back to it later in the build.

Could you use some Aber photoetch chain Aber photoetch chain which might give a more scale representation ?

 

I remember getting one of these for Christmas back in the day in a set which included a couple of sets of Airfix's HO scale figures and some vehicles.

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3 hours ago, Richard E said:

Could you use some Aber photoetch chain Aber photoetch chain which might give a more scale representation ?

 

I remember getting one of these for Christmas back in the day in a set which included a couple of sets of Airfix's HO scale figures and some vehicles.

Thanks for the 'link' to the chain :lol: sorry I couldn't resist that...

 

I think many of us got that kit for Christmas - back in the day - they are worth a fortune now...

 

4554_m.jpg

 

 

2 hours ago, Ozzy said:

Nice progress Big X, watching closely as I've got 2 sections of the Bronco kit left to use.

I'm not familiar with the Bronco kit - what scale is it...

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16 minutes ago, BIG X said:

Thanks for the 'link' to the chain :lol: sorry I couldn't resist that...

 

I think many of us got that kit for Christmas - back in the day - they are worth a fortune now...

 

4554_m.jpg

.

A boom-tish :)

 

Yes, that's the one, I must have been particularly good as I also had a couple of Airfix's gun emplacement kits which were in the same range and I think they also produced a coastal defence gun but obviously wasn't deserving enough to get that one.

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Looking at that old box has spurred me on - need to get working...

 

Just masked off the 'mating points' for the main span and the sides...

 

PONT250.jpg

 

PONT260.jpg

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I've shaken my Halfords grey primer VIGOUROUSLY and made sure it is nice and warm - I don't want a repeat of what happened with my Jeeps recently...

 

PONT270.jpg

 

...that's better - creamy smooth.

 

PONT280.jpg

 

...off for a bit of tea and toast - whilst these completely dry - boy it's HOT today - especially as my workbench window is south facing - having to keep the blinds down...

 

Back shortly.

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Refreshed and replenished from my snack I'm all set to paint the pontoons - BUT - then I'm off for a quick two hour dash in the car...

...whilst 'troffing' and googling simultaneously - who says men can't multi-task - I have found something on line that I can pick up today and will add more 'realism' to the bridge.

 

Anyway - I'm using 'wood' and a dusting of 'dark earth' for these...

 

PONT290.jpg

 

...catch you in a couple of hours - with my 'mystery addition' :winkgrin:

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1 hour ago, BIG X said:

 

I'm not familiar with the Bronco kit - what scale is it...

 

It's in the Un-gentlemanly scale of 1/35, I'm not sure if it's still in production.

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22 minutes ago, BIG X said:

 

...catch you in a couple of hours - with my 'mystery addition' :winkgrin:

Now you've got me intrigued!

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I'M BACK!!!!!!

 

...more of the 'mystery addition' shortly - but I'm 20 quid lighter in the pocket :mental:

 

Whilst I was out these were drying...

 

PONT300.jpg

 

PONT310.jpg

 

...slight problem though...  EXTENSIVE RESEARCH - ie looking at the newer boxing of the kit shows these would have been metal - not wood :doh:

 

PONT355.jpg

 

Now I know they never even existed in this format and the box art shows an SCC15 looking hull - with planking on the top - where as the 'real thing' was more like a floating tin bath...

 

PONT315.jpg

 

so it looks like I will have to re-paint the sides - back in a bit - oh and maybe I'll show you what 20 quid buys in Widnes...

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I have repainted the sides in a very British SCC15 - after all - Bailey Bridges come from my own childhood town of Stockport - manufactured by Thos Storey...

 

There is a link all about them here - http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/ww2peopleswar/stories/77/a2159877.shtml

 

PONT360.jpg

 

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...and whilst the mood was upon me I've primed the bridge sides too...

 

PONT320.jpg

 

talk about fiddly - there are so many 'angles' to get into - I'm ready for tea...

 

 

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