In order to prepare for the next operation session, I set myself the goal to arrange for some operations. So this time there will be no new waggon, but a loading ramp and some cargo.
The ramp’s design is inspired by Scott Perry’s Blog, who has published a very nice and extensive series. If you look for a step-by-step guide, you can find it there.
This time I choose a mix of my trusted red cedar and some material from the hardware store, namely some beech rods from which I cut the posts. The cross cut sled pays for itself once more.
![Posts are cut to length from beech.](https://zamit.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Laderampe-Pfeiler-1-1024x576.jpg)
The posts are spaced in prototypical 4 ft. by 6 ft. which roughly amounts to 60 mm by 90 mm. The projected total length of 26 ft. will enable the ramp to serve a single waggon. That keeps the project at a reasonable size and the finished ramp will be almost universally usable to add an industry to small spurs.
![The posts will stand 6 cm resp. 9 cm apart, modelling 4' and 6'.](https://zamit.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Laderampe-Pfeiler-2-1024x576.jpg)
Three posts at a time are joined into one bent. The original knack is to build the bent torsionally stiff by using two transversal timbers which give the whole ramp a stability that one would never presume in such a flimsy wooden structure. Since even this small ramp will need five bents, I’m going to construct a template to facilitate the work.
![The template for the bents is in the making.](https://zamit.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Laderampe-Schablone-1-1024x576.jpg)
One needs to keep an eye on aligning the posts exactly in parallel. The template’s frame is made from old skyrockets’ guide sticks, which are informally hot-glued to a piece of textured coated board.
![Spacers for the cross timbers are hot-glued in place.](https://zamit.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Laderampe-Schablone-2-1024x576.jpg)
The finished template helps to keep the cross timbers in place while they are drilled together with the posts. Pay attention to make the posts a tight fit in the template, they mustn’t rotate any more from here on!
![The cross timbers and posts are drilled.](https://zamit.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Laderampe-Schablone-3-1024x576.jpg)
For the next thing to do is placing and drilling the transversal timbers. If the posts twist within the template during this process, the construction won’t fit anymore.
![The transverse timbers are drilled, too.](https://zamit.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Laderampe-Schablone-4-1024x576.jpg)
As one can see, both transverse timbers lie on top of each other at the start. That’s important in order to align the central hole. Afterwards they are placed in cross-shape and the remaining holes are drilled. The whole affair gets a lot easier by fixating the timbers to the posts with small pins.
![Pins prevent the posts and timbers to slip while being drilled.](https://zamit.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Laderampe-Bent-2-1024x576.jpg)
The cross timbers and the middle of the transverse timbers have to be secured with rods threaded at both ends. For this I choose my trusted pasture fence, which I’ve already used for the trusses of my flatcar.
![Steel rod is cut to length for the threaded rods.](https://zamit.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Laderampe-Bent-1-1024x576.jpg)
The rods are cut to length, tapped with a thread and then it’s on! Well, not quite since the traverse timbers need to be fastened at their edges with a threaded rod, with a rivet head at one end. These I make out of steel pins of 1.6 mm diameter. All one has to do is clamp the pin into a multi tool so that one can get the pin’s head into shape with a key file. Cut it to length, tap the thread, done!
![A complete set of posts and timbers, fittings in the background.](https://zamit.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Laderampe-Bent-3-1024x576.jpg)
Altogether one bent consists of three posts, two cross and traverse timbers each, four threaded rods and four rivet-headed threaded rods. For five bents that’s 20 rivet heads to file and the total sum of 60 threads to tap. A somewhat meditative task and one gets some routine, like it or not…
![Working the batch.](https://zamit.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Laderampe-Bent-4-1024x576.jpg)
Here’s one bent under construction. The cross timbers are already fastened with washers and four-sided nuts (at least, I didn’t have to make them by hand as well…). The next step is to put the rivet-headed rods into place and fasten them.
![Nuts, bolts and washers are put in place.](https://zamit.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Laderampe-Bent-5-1024x576.jpg)
This is the result of the first afternoon of tinkering. Two bents are finished, three to go. The wood is stained with off-the-shelve outdoor protective, walnut-coloured stain, since I’m looking for an unobstruive, yet weather-proof finish.
![Two bents finished and varnished, three to go.](https://zamit.eu/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Laderampe-Bent-6-1024x576.jpg)
Up next (omitting the missing bents) is constructing the platform.