I’m going to add a concrete arch bridge to my layout and I’m looking for suggestions as to what material to use. I’m leaning towards styrene simply because I enjoy working with it. However, plaster and wood are not out of the question.
Also, as it is going to be an older structure dating from the early 1900s - still in use on my 1980s era layout), suggestions on weathering would also be helpful.
This is the bridge I’m modeling and the look I’m trying to duplicate.
Thanks in advance,
George
I would cast it in plaster.
But that’s just my opinion.
wood could be easier to fashion.
I’m not so fond of styrene.
Try Scenic Express
Go to this link and select Ho and O masonary systems. They have a large selection including flexiwalls that can be cut to fit your project.
You could also carve it from 2" foam insullation board. The 2" width should be wide enough, if not you can laminate it together. I have seen some nice stone bridge piers carved from it. A cement finish would be easier, as it is smoother than carving in the individual stones. You can paint it a cement color, sprinkle on some real cement for texture, then finish weathering.
Good luck,
Is a train going to be running over the bridge? (The proto picture looks like a road bridge). If you’re going to have a train run over it, you might want something stable and that doesn’t crack. I’d say styrene and have the piers be Hydrocal plaster.
If it’s just going to be a road bridge like the proto pic, then Hydrocal plaster all the way.
I’d carve the piers from basswood and build the bridge in styrene. Be sure to seal and prime the piers and you’ll get a good looking bridge. BILL
Granted, this isn’t a great picture of my bridge, but it shows the texture:
I made it from MDF (Medium density fiberboard) and painted it with Floquil “aged concrete.”
I use MDF for a lot of concrete stuff (bridge abutments, tunnel portals, etc.) and I like the way it looks crisp like cast concrete and it’s pretty easy to work with. Small pieces are available at Lowe’s.
Howard Zane uses styrene to build concrete structures, and they are quite nice.
George,
If it were me building this bridge, I would choose extruded polystyrene building foam (EPS), the pink or blue foam at Lowe’s or Home depot. Lowes has some green stuff that I do not care much for. I like the pink and blue. I actually build foam model bridges, and have built many, over the years. I am an O gauge (and S) primarily. I realize that your bridge would be roughly half the size of what I might build for the above project, but foam is strong, don’t be intimidated by it’s light weight. After a good coat of acrylic paint (don’t use oil base, it will eat the foam), your bridge will become very strong, even strong enough to withstand dropping from almost any height. As to its ability to carry the weight of your trains across the arches, I would expect no problems, although on a span such as the one above, I would probably err on the side of caution since it i s1/2 the size that I am experienced with, therefore I would add a stiffener of sorts (perhaps a T imbedded in the deck for the length of the bridge, that would be concealed after laying track. As to the workability of the extruded foam, it is very workable. You can sand it, fill it with caulk where necessary, carve it, melt it, etc. It accepts paint very nicely, and can provide you with something that is very deceiving to the eye, as it really can take on the appearance of real concrete or stone.
Hope this information helps you in some way.
best regards,
Tim