tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376057412116187041.post2545729142889958827..comments2024-02-14T03:57:08.734-08:00Comments on The Valley Local: Should I Stay or Should I Go? - Bridging the ChasmChris Adamshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/18052818057825432279noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376057412116187041.post-15986513758880395182015-08-12T07:04:24.172-07:002015-08-12T07:04:24.172-07:00It really depends on whether you intend to have mi...It really depends on whether you intend to have mire than just ground cover. Any permanant scenery beyond that will protrude into the room regardless. So hinging it up protects the scenery. In my case there will be a small shelf an inch or two wide to provide the hinge point. It will be scenicked with basic groundcover, so that's all the clearance I'll need. The hinge I'd on the long side which avoids the alignment issues that somebody mentioned below.<br /><br />However, in your case a lift-out may be more practical. The section that attaches to the wall side can be narrow enough to go between the studs which will help alignment there. You can solder the end sections of the rail to a piece of pc-board to maintain proper gauge and location of the track. Bill's lift-out for the wye alays worked well.<br /><br />In fact, I'll bet we could design it on 1" or 2" foam to save weight and eliminate expansion/contraction issues.<br /><br />You probably have enough space that the lift out could hang under the wye, with the scenery side facing away from the aisle.Randyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18392489035115793196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376057412116187041.post-21487221496885011392015-08-12T06:11:01.216-07:002015-08-12T06:11:01.216-07:00Good point - and a good reminder to try and make t...Good point - and a good reminder to try and make the bridge section as light as possible (while maintaining rigidity - should be a fun challenge %^) Thanks for this reminder!Chris Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18052818057825432279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376057412116187041.post-70373750904956971662015-08-12T04:18:27.303-07:002015-08-12T04:18:27.303-07:00My only thought with that hinge is to make sure th...My only thought with that hinge is to make sure the weight on the far end, where it will not be perpendicular to the hinge is as light as possible, otherwise you're going to eventually pull the hinge out of alignment.Geof Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14116332697708271493noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376057412116187041.post-40796121936351437632015-08-11T07:58:30.170-07:002015-08-11T07:58:30.170-07:00I'm not sure that'll work - the studs are ...I'm not sure that'll work - the studs are probably on 16" centers and the door frame is right there too. With a curved track, the section needs to be much wider than 16". And either swinging up or down, it would obstruct the doorway. Nice idea though for a straight & narrow section!Chris Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18052818057825432279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376057412116187041.post-48269816177689076512015-08-11T07:55:50.382-07:002015-08-11T07:55:50.382-07:00I'm not sure that'll work - if I swing it ...I'm not sure that'll work - if I swing it up instead of down and have the hinge be on the wall side, it'll squish any scenery I have on it (beyond ground cover) and obstruct the doorway. Heh - in fact it may be right in line with folks' heads(!) Maybe I'm missing something? Chris Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18052818057825432279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376057412116187041.post-39203183448490334942015-08-11T07:53:31.420-07:002015-08-11T07:53:31.420-07:00Thanks Jim! I'd be interested in seeing your s...Thanks Jim! I'd be interested in seeing your situation and how you're addressing it. Good point about pulling things back beyond 90 degrees. I don't know if I have the room to do that, but I'll definitely see.Chris Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18052818057825432279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376057412116187041.post-47452056947448120572015-08-11T07:52:32.090-07:002015-08-11T07:52:32.090-07:00Hi Rhett and thanks for weighing in! I wasn't ...Hi Rhett and thanks for weighing in! I wasn't considering having scenery on this section - well, nothing other than ground cover and ballast. Certainly no trees or structures. Although those *would* be nice.... if I decide to include them, you're definitely right - a lift out would be much better.Chris Adamshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18052818057825432279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376057412116187041.post-39778226583877963302015-08-11T06:53:22.821-07:002015-08-11T06:53:22.821-07:00Also, if you attach it to the wall side (hinged up...Also, if you attach it to the wall side (hinged up or down) you could recess it between the studs and it won't even protrude into the hallway.Randyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18392489035115793196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376057412116187041.post-82125778299454770432015-08-11T06:51:09.361-07:002015-08-11T06:51:09.361-07:00If you swing it up and attach the hinge to the wal...If you swing it up and attach the hinge to the wall side instead of the wye you'll protect the scenery and not obstruct line of sight. Not that the line of sight thing should be a problem if the default state is down.<br />Randyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18392489035115793196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376057412116187041.post-18334906696894003632015-08-11T05:46:44.582-07:002015-08-11T05:46:44.582-07:00I've always thought that the dropdown is the e...I've always thought that the dropdown is the easiest to build and operate while being the least temperamental in these situations, especially if the bridge is simply track with little or no scenery... although the curve is slightly more awkward than a straight run, it should be no big deal and perhaps can be pulled back beyond 90 degrees as it hangs to provide a little more protection... I have a similar situation that I am looking at, but am considering the use of two drawer glides used in a vertical fashion against each door jamb... good luck!Jim Fawcetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12935428828185096743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5376057412116187041.post-26043939017805090362015-08-11T03:41:51.201-07:002015-08-11T03:41:51.201-07:00While there's nothing "wrong" with a...While there's nothing "wrong" with a drop-down, you may find that the scenery gets scraped by passers-by. The other designs avoid this. Rhetthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10859842186861843961noreply@blogger.com