Still waiting for the rest of my bricklink parts to come in. In the meantime I found enough parts to make a decent one sided mock up.
I still need to add some type of detail parts at an angle to emulate something closer to an arch bar design, but the basic premise works. The design above uses inverted studs to hold the cross bar with the journal boxes.
The design below forgoes the snot technique (studs not on top) but allows for round tiles at the same height as the top of the rest of the assembly. The gray technic pieces would not be sticking out, and of course the crossbar will be black.
I like both options, and will probably try for something more like the lower picture for the final product.
Also I was able to install the Kadee 806 couplers in the lego coupler boxes. They roll freely and couple well enough to lobster claws.
