The Lock Down
Picture this: April 2020, India in lockdown mode because of the pandemic. Like many families, we were cooped up at home, trying to keep ourselves entertained. But let me tell you, we weren't just twiddling our thumbs!
My dad, who's a young-at-heart 85-year-old, was going full throttle with his Meccano sets. He's always had a thing for tinkering with them, and boy, was he on fire during lockdown! As for me, I've always been fascinated by construction toys—give me Meccano, Lego, or K'Nex, and I'm in my element. Our house is practically a treasure trove of these toys, thanks to our background of manufacturing toys.
One day, while surfing the web, I stumbled upon some jaw-dropping pictures of Mumbai. The city was eerily deserted, but what really caught my eye was a snapshot of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. It had this surreal, almost spooky vibe to it. Suddenly, inspiration struck—I remembered the Howrah Bridge model I'd built before, and I thought, why not tackle the sea link next?
I pitched the idea to my dad, and you should've seen his eyes light up! He was all in, and we dove headfirst into the project with infectious enthusiasm. So there we were, armed with Meccano sets and a whole lot of excitement, ready to turn our living room into a mini Mumbai skyline. It was a wild ride, but man, was it worth it!The planning.
We carved out a dedicated time slot during the day for our model-building sessions, ensuring that all three kids, myself, and my father could gather together and dive into construction mode.
As we geared up for this exciting project, I took on the role of chief planner. Determining the scale of our construction was no small feat, especially considering the immense size of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link. Stretching over 5.6 kilometers, even at a scaled-down ratio of 1:100, it was clear that squeezing the entire bridge into our humble abode was out of the question.
sEnter my trusty calculator and a bit of brainstorming. I meticulously calculated the proportions and made a comprehensive list of the components we'd need to get started. It was like mapping out a grand adventure, one bolt and beam at a time.
In my quest for precision, I stumbled upon a goldmine: mycoordinates.org. This website emerged as our guiding star, offering a wealth of information and tools for planning and scaling our ambitious project. With its invaluable resources at our fingertips, we were ready to turn our vision into reality.
We made the bold decision to tackle the construction of the two main sections of the iconic Bandra-Worli Sea Link: the Bandra Cable Stay Bridge and the Worli Cable Stay Bridge. Together, these colossal structures would span an awe-inspiring 3.5 kilometers in length, towering 126 meters tall, with two lanes each measuring 20 meters—making the bridge a whopping 40 meters wide.
As we delved deeper into the logistics of scaling down this engineering marvel, we found ourselves navigating the intricate world of proportions. After much calculation and deliberation, we settled on a scale of approximately 1/640. This meant that our miniature masterpiece would measure around 580 centimeters in length, 40 centimeters in height, and less than 30 centimeters in width. These figures were our starting point, albeit rough estimates, knowing full well that the actual dimensions would be subject to the constraints and compatibility of the available Meccano components.
With our sights set on this ambitious endeavor, we prepared to embark on a journey of creativity and precision, armed with nothing but our passion and determination to bring the grandeur of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link to life in miniature form.The 1st Attempt.
In the third week of April 2020, we enthusiastically embarked on constructing the first section of the bridge—the Bandra Cable Stayed Bridge. However, our excitement quickly turned to realisation within just 2-3 days. While we were able to achieve a good scale for the bridge, it became apparent that its overall appearance would suffer due to the lack of uniformity in colour among the components in our inventory.
Our initial attempt at building the bridge served as a valuable learning experience, providing us with insights into the necessary modifications for our second attempt. As we were manufacturing kits similar to Meccano, we were fortunate to have a solution within reach. I took matters into my own hands, navigating through the maze of lockdown restrictions to make a visit to our factory. There, I gathered the specific parts we needed, ensuring that our next endeavour would be met with the cohesion and uniformity required to truly capture the essence of the Bandra-Worli Sea Link.
The 2nd Attempt
As soon as the parts arrived, we started recreating the bridge section that we had made earlier with all the corrections needed. Some of the pictures captured during the final construction.
The Bandra Cable Stayed Section
The Worli Cable Stayed Section
The cables, for which we utilised the commonly available cobblers' thread, proved to be the most challenging aspect of the entire project, consuming more than three days of effort. Each thread had to be meticulously tied to the mast before being carefully secured to the bridge structure. Any deviation in length or tension could result in an uneven road surface, underscoring the importance of precision in this crucial stage of construction.
The Final Bridge with both the sections connected.
The Labours
As the sun set on our model, we felt a sense of achievement. Building the Bandra-Worli Sea Link during lockdown was no easy feat. With each cable and bolt, we overcame challenges. The project brought us together, creating lasting memories. Our model stands as a testament to our resilience and creativity. As we wrapped up, we felt optimistic about future projects. This was just the start of our Meccano adventures.
