Re: SAMRA and New Ideas

["Steve Wise" <swise@aoot.com>]

===
Also I have a thought with the proposed bridge module allowing easier people
access in & out. I do welding mostly TIG (also involving, precision, small
size, & exotic metals) as a side income source. I could do a "ALL METAL"
span bridge that is completely open under it and open for as wide a space as
you want. I think for this, metal would be better than wood for both
strength and the proper scale look. What do you all think?
===

I think this sounds good.  I've been trying to come up with a good design on
how to keep the A-E tracks aligned with the bridge track.  Maybe we should
define the requirements of such a device.  Like:

- will it look like a real bridge?  Or simply a section of sceniced straight
that can be removed?

- metal or wood construction?

- will it need special modules on either side to allow the device to be
self-aligning when in place?  I think it has to span an entire module's
width to avoid having any framework underneath, right?  I guess it could be
less than 4' if we made another module the same length to match this one on
the other side of the layout...

- will it lift out entirely?  Or be hinged on one side?

- if hinged, will it lift up or down?  (My home layout has a device like
this the drops down (see http://www.aoot.com/trains/mylayout/ for some pics
of my drop-down design).

If we all talk about and agree on answers to these questions, we should be
able to then proceed with a design.

Stevo.