Hi,
I am interested in building a bridge for the second phase of my layout[^]. I have seen this bridge (http://www.trainweb.org/girr/tips/tips2/howe_truss.html) but I am looking for something a little more modern to go along with my dash and sd’s. I would really like something like this (gscalebridge.com) but I am not willing to shell out $160 even though it looks awsome. Got any suggestions for materials, plans, etc.?
Thanks for your help,
David
Let’s Go Duke!
David,
Try Garden Texture @ http://www.gardentexture.com/
They have several types of Truss Bridges including a Howe Truss. Bob will sell you either the plans or the complete kit. If you want to cut your own wood but don’t want to mess with the truss rods, he will sell you the truss rods seperately. I built his large truss bridge and it will hold 50# with no problems.
He also has plans for compression truss bridges for just about any length that you could want.
Thanks whiterab,
This is a great start and will be great for a few of my bridges, but I am still looking for something made out of metal, something modern like this: gscalebridge.com
Thanks again,
David
Let’s Go Duke! (sorry FSU)
I took a look at the three bridges shown on the website you reference above. The bridges are aluminum, screwed together with stainless steel hardware. (Reminds me a lot of an Erector Set.) Plans are available off the internet. Find one you like and scale it up or down to fit your needs. Aluminum shapes such as angles can be purchased at home centers or ordered off the internet. Check MSC.com or just google for aluminum angles or shapes. This stuff is pretty easy to come by. You can cut it with a hack saw and it drills very easily.
If you feel more comfortable with wood, there’s nothing wrong with constucting the bridge out of wood and giving it a coat of flat black, red oxide or even silver to simulate metal. (The model appears to have a wood deck painted silver, BTW.) If you’re not willing to part with the asking price of the model, you may have to make a compromise or two. HTH and good luck.
Unfortunately, detailed models of modern steel bridges and trestles seem to be rare in large scale, and none are cheap (or even close to cheap). No kits available either, as far as I can tell.
Hi dukebasketballer
There are still many wooden bridges around with modern trains running across them.
But if you want a metal one it should not be that hard to pop rivet a whole load of alluminium to get what you want there are plenty of plans to be found in the variouse model magazines. or you could use welded steel
regards John
I have a friend who works in steel fabrication and he’s cutting a base for me out of 3mm COR 10 stainless - this is the stainless that oxidises then doesn’t rust anymore at all. The beauty of this is that the base will be self supporting over the length I want, 24" or so, and I can then bash it as I want.
Kim
Try these guys. I doubt you’ll find them cheaper, but they definately have a whole lot more variety to choose from.
Mark