| LATEST NEWS : |
| WELCOME! Hello to everyone who came here via web searches and links. These pages hold the latest and most accurate information. There are a few old cached pages around so please always start with this page. SCIENCE: I have been using yet another new rubber. It is a very hard platinum-based high-quality RTV from Silicones, Inc. that is proving to be excellent. With this new rubber and a change to single-sided molds on the Cimmaron bridge I have a lot more confidence in the longevity of the molds. I am using stereolithography to master most of the parts, multi-level brass etching for the thinner parts and laser cutting for flat parts. THAR'S GOLD IN THEM THAR BRASS: The brass etchings for the Cimarron Bridge worked out very well. They are a two-pass etch that gives more layers of detail and alignment feature possibilities. With that success, I am developing the Lobato Trestle in all brass. Using brass will result in a strong structure- at 25" above the creek bed in 1:48 it needs to be. Even though the Cimmaron castings are very successful, the casting time takes me away from designing and producing other kits. Most of my new projects will feature brass with some new methods applied in shaping and connecting parts. CASTING HOW-TO: If you are curious, I have posted my techniques in the Westlake Publishing Finescale RR forum. Have a look to see the behind the scenes of what it takes to make bridge parts repetitively. Forum link GETTING ONE: In its current state, my bridge model project is a true work in progress. I am spending time to explore and develop techniques to model the various parts of an iron bridge. When I have a completed bridge with parts that look, fit and function well, I make duplicates so I can offer a small number of kits. Right now it is nowhere near a full-time business so progress can seem slow- especially to me. Also, I have to limit the number available because the RTV rubber molds do not last indefinitely and eventually I have to move on to the next prototype. So, I do not take any funds until I have a kit in hand for you. I have an inquiry list for the Cimmaron Bridge in progress right now. The Navajo Truss is not availble for now but it will come back in limited numbers with previous cast parts. The Lobato Trestle design is coming along but I only have a tentative inquiry list right now because of the unknowns in design, time and cost. ASSEMBLY: Once you have one in your hands, I believe you will enjoy assembling the kit and will appreciate the injected-plastic feel and appearance to the resin cast parts. The etched brass is designed with alignment features that make assembly a lot easier. ACC adhesive and simple hand tools are all that are needed to create a great looking bridge. I attempt to make castings with as little flash as possible so clean-up is minimal. It can be a bit repetitive but once you get a system it will go right along. Modelers make all kinds of fixtures to hold parts aligned as they are assembled and then made into a bridge so your imagination and experience is key. I include a CD-ROM with the instructions and additional photos in each kit. Email if you have questions! CURRENT BRIDGE IN PROGRESS: The Lobato Trestle is taking most of my design time currently. NEXT BRIDGE 1: A very active S-scale modeler sent me a file of photos of the through truss bridge in Ridgway. It will be a project in Sn3 and will be a nice all-brass model. I have started the drawings but I am concentrating on the Lobato currently due to some new techniques that will work better in the larger scale at first. NEXT BRIDGE 2: There are about 25 I could start anytime, but my latest find is a small, slight through truss on the ET&WNCRR (the Tweetsie). I have drawings and photos that make me want to start now. The bridge still exists and can be driven over. I thought HO scale would make for a beautiful, dainty bridge model. (Yup I said dainty.) Thanks for your interest in this project. Email me for more info, with comments or to express interest in obtaining a kit. Check back for the latest news! John Palecki |
JOHN PALECKI STRUCTURES 3339 COLLINGWOOD ST NE ROANOKE, VA 24012 email: John [at] jpstructures [dot] com 540-366-6470 (email is better, thanks) site update 2/8/2013 website contents, bridge designs, part designs and instruction manuals are copyright 2005-2013 by John Palecki |
WELCOME TO JOHN PALECKI STRUCTURES! THE PROJECT: CREATE THE MOST REALISTIC MODEL RAILROAD BRIDGES USING ANY APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY AVAILABLE TO ME MY GOAL: SHARE MY LIFE-LONG FASCINATION ABOUT BRIDGES WITH OTHER MODELERS BY OFFERING HIGH-QUALITY BRIDGE KITS MY PHILOSOPHY: THE MODEL RAILROAD HOBBY NEEDS NEW AND ACCURATE BRIDGE MODELS. MY BRIDGES WILL FILL THAT VOID AND SET A NEW STANDARD OF ACCURACY AND COMPLETENESS. THE METHOD: EXPERIMENT AND UPDATE THE MATERIALS AND PROCESSES THAT ALLOW ME TO CREATE A SMALL QUANTITY OF KITS OF EACH BRIDGE LATEST NEWS APPEARS AT THE BOTTOM OF THE PAGE. |
| D&RGW PIN-CONNECTED TRUSS IN 1:48 O-SCALE. (On3, On30 or O Light Branchline) $250, back in retirement again! click for info |
| D&RGW PIN-CONNECTED DECK TRUSS IN 1:48 O-SCALE. (On3, On30) $250, kits are shipping to previously interested modelers with new inquiries welcome click for info |
| D&RGW TRESTLE (LOBATO, CASCADE CREEK) IN 1:48 O-SCALE. (On3, On30) IN DESIGN STAGE click for info |
| MOLD BOX FOR THE LACING ON ONE BEAM OF THE NAVAJO TRUSS |
Dave Adams model & photo
| UPPER CONNECTION OF THE NAVAJO TRUSS |
| UPPER CONNECTION OF THE CIMARRON BRIDGE |
