In particular the “(TJK-5LHO) HO Scale, 5 Leg Trestle Kit” model.
It comes with the plans, the jig and the materials. It looks like it is in the right price range for me as well.
My question is this: Have any of you out there tried this kit? I have seen pictures of one a fellow modeler put together and the results were fantastic.
Also, is this the right way to go or is there a better method?
i haven’t built one of these kits but they sure look nice . most of the cost seems to be the jig they include with the kit . there have been many articles in the magazines and on the web about building trestles including making your own jigs , but the blackbear kits make it proetty easy and are reasonably priced
If you want that bridge and want a pre-made jig, its the way to go. If you are going to have to alter or modify it, why not make your own jig, by the scale lumber and save a bundle of money and have a scratch built to your credit.
I did not build this kit. I built a cheap plastic trestle to get the feel and to fill a gap quickly. I bought the bridge and trestle book, and will scratch build the major trestle when I get to it.
Art, having another scratch built under my belt is not a concern of mine… I just want it to look good. And it has to be affordable.
I agree that I could create a jig myself and buy the wood but but in the end I would end up with a trestle just like this one (if I did it correctly). I guess I am more apt to buy a good solution to the prolbem than create one from scratch as long as it is affordable.
ereimer, thanks for the links. Did you get all of those trestles in that picture for just $19?
I think buying the kit is that way to go for me. It is atleast a place to start and If I need a modified trestle I’ll know where to turn and have more experience at that time.
Another thing to keep in mind is that after you build the kit, you still have the jig. You could easily build another for the price of the scale lumber.
While you could make your own fixture (jig), it might be more trouble than it is worth if you are going to use it only once. Ask some of your train buddies. Fixtures (jigs) float around all the time amongst modelers. I have used Black Bear’s fixtures for two box truss bridges. They work great and are much quciker than trying to keep stuff straight by hand. The bridge in the photo is made with the Black Bear fixture.
Thanks Trainnut1250,
That is another great example. [wow] I don’t think it would be worth joining the local RR club just to see if someone there has a jig for this so I should probably just go a head and order my own.
And as fiatfan pointed out I can use it over and over again. I think that is what I will do.
I have built the timber deck truss bridge and a wooden trestle before Black Bear came out with these kits. I built the bridge from a plan by Jack Work that was featured in the April 1968 issue of MR. I built the trestle based on a series of articles in MR. I made my own jigs and supplied my own stripwood and NBWs. I believe their truss bridge kit is based on that plan that was featured in MR. Although building your own jigs and supplying your own materials is much cheaper, more versitile, and not difficult, I believe ordering their kits would be worth it - especially if you don’t plan to modify the bridge. As far as plans go, there are plenty of them in past issues of MR and other modeling magazines.
If you are modeling a specific railroad, that jig may not match prototype designs. Many Colorado rail trestles set the bent components dead vertical directly under the rails, with only the outside members canted to resist lateral loads.
If you need to modify the jig to match the prototype design, it may be easier to build your own jig from the start.
I am not modeling a prototype so that is not a concern of mine either. But, for few dollars more Black Bear has a jig similar to the one you described. It is certainly worth looking at.
Thanks on30francisco, I beginning to believe "ordering their kits would be worth it " too.
