Keeping with the seaonal theme…
5 for $8 in HO.
I finished the pressure washing and general cleanup this morning, and should be ready to make bents.
I call this weathering method “tasteful algae blending.” 
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Last Sunday I pre-cut the bent pieces, and during the week made the new bent templates, since there was too much redesign to salvage the ones I’d made a few years back. No big deal though. I had some 1/8" plywood leftover from a project, and only needed the two templates.
A bent underway…
… and all main bent structures done.
Tomorrow I’ll hopefully add the diagonals and set up for the deck build.
That’ll be it for at least a week, since Tuesday I leave for Carson City for the annual V&T conference. Gosh I’ve been looking forward to this trip for months…
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Cliff how did you make your jigs?
Bill, the linework came from the 3D model, and was prepped in AutoCAD. Then it went into the laser, which cut / engraved the 1/8" plywood.
his form of Devoning … 
Wow Cliff!
I thought living in Oz, a day ahead of the rest of the world was pretty cool, but you’re living in the future!
I feel like I’m modeling in Ditto Mimiograph era.
Did you cut your bents, caps and footings with the laser as well?
Haha!!
No, Bill, nothing that complicated. The jigs could be done many ways, but I’m lazy.
All the pieces were cut on the little mini table saw.
You do know when you cut your self on that mini saw …. You will need full size bandages 
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Bill, if I’m understanding your arrows, those are the pegs holding the two layers of jig together.
Korm, I’m glad to learn this before the end of season 1.
If we had to wait for season 2 of The Trestle…
that would have been quite a cliff-hanger!
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Can’t argue with you, Korm… 
In my defense, and at the risk of sounding defensive ( ), since the plywood is only 1/8th thick, I stayed with my usual method of pegs (vs. nails).
The pegs are bits of bamboo food skewers, tapped into slightly undersized holes which are lasered along with everything else. That ensures proper registration, and a firm grip without glue in case I needed to alter anything. But I glued it anyway, couldn’t help it.
PS: I’m sure Korm’s jig, and those made by Sean, and others, are just as effective.
I’m in Carson now, all checked in, after having my traditional prime rib kickoff dinner, just $15 hear at the casino. I feel like the python who’s struggling to get back to the forest after eating his monthly pig…
This evening I’m meeting with a few Sutro Tunnel folks to discuss some projects, which may shape my coming winter, not sure.
I’m still hoping that this will be a single-season effort, Bill! We’ll see…
What sort of cost was involved in a laser set up and what else can you do with yours?
I had a long thread on that Bill, but since it was in 2017, maybe it was on the MLS site, not sure… regardless, I can’t find it. But, it started like this:
and sort of ended like this:
Except there was gobs to do for ducting, electrical, and general learning. Back in the day, it was $2k, shipping included. 60 watt. Here’s the equivalent, from what I can tell:
This doesn’t come with a vent system, but those aren’t expensive. Can be a pain to install though.
They claim higher material thicknesses, by I don’t go over 1/4" plywood or acrylic. Those are the main materials. Rubber and styrene are ok, but messy. You cannot cut PVC without producing chlorine gas, so that’s out. There are various lists you can look up.
There are smaller models, and bigger ones, in both wattage and cutting bed. Mine cuts 27"x19", and for larger pieces I’ve spliced parts together. You need one with the motorized “Z” adjustment, so that life doesn’t suck.
Zat good for a first dump? It would be fun to see you jump in, haha!
I hope you weren’t standing near that box when you opened it, Cliff. At 16.4 ft (5000mm) x 9.8 ft (3000mm), that thing had to explode when you took the top off the box 
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