Microengineering bridges

Model Railroader Layouts and layout building
1

I have built several 70 foot Microengineering girder bridges and they look great. My problem is what kind of bridge supports to use with them. The ones from Chooch do not appear to be good fits. I have a section of track where the mainiine and passing side traverse a small stream. I am using two of the 70 foots girder bridges. I like some of the concrete style bridge supports on Allen McClelland’ Virginia and Ohio. I have seen stone bridge supports on other individuals layouts featured in Model Railroader. Where does one find these structures in order to purchase them or how do I build them. Any articles or websites that might help?

2

Does Walthers sell anything of that nature, or Woodland Scenics? If not, would you consider making your own? Maybe use sheet styrene to fashion a mold, and pour hydrocal into it using the usual methods. Later, when it is released, scribe it here and there to provide some concrete-like relief and form markings, stain it, and you are set to go.

-Crandell

3

You can also carve them from extruded foam (pink/blue). You can make them the shape and height you need. For concrete, paint and texture. For stone, scribe in the stone lines, paint and texture, then apply a wash to bring out the lines.

Good luck,

4

I hadn’t thought of extruded foam, and I agree that it would be handy and quick in many instances, cowman. However, I wonder how resistant it would be to impressions from the bottoms of the bridge support frames. It is easy, for example, to dimple the foam, or to crease it/dent it, even with a finger nail. So, I would urge a top layer, say of custom-fit masonite or something, as a cap to the top surface of a foam pylon. Those engines are heavy!!

-Crandell

5

Some suggestions HERE for making your own. [swg]

Wayne

6

I build mine to suit the location using sheet styrene.

Lee

7

Hi Craig,

I had a similar problem. I made a scratch built three track bridge because there were none commercially available to meet my needs. As a result there also were no bridge piers big enough to serve my needs. So I had to fabricate my own. I tried to carve the pink foam but was not happy with the results after several tries. No matter what paint I tried I couldn’t seem to get an authentic looking concrete finish. Thanks to several suggestions from the great people on this forum I tried a couple other approaches.

I built a mold out of corrugated cardboard. I didn’t have any styrene, but I now think the styrene would be a better way to go. The photos below show the results. My first try was with plaster of paris. I was happy with the results but it turned out much heavier than I had anticipated. The next try was with Sculpt-a-mold. I had no previous experience with this product and mixed it way too wet. The results were good but took forever to dry. My next try will be with a styrene mold and hydra-cal, just so I can compare the results.

IMG]http://i95.photobucket.com/albums/l158/jcasey77/Concrete%20Mold/DSCN0932.jpg[/IMG]

8

Hi Craig: Walther’s and Scenic Express sell cut stone abutments and piers. These are Chooch cut stone abutments and home made piers, 1x4s, tapered and covered with a thin mixture of Structolite, applied with a brush. DJ.

9

Great looking scene, as usual, Grampy. [tup] [tup]

Wayne

10

Hey Grampy, who are you trying to fool here? Chooch my butt, that’s a picture you took of a real bridge. We just didn’t all fall off the turnip truck, y’know.

Actually, great shot of some superb modelling.

Don

11

Don,

You took the words out of my mouth. Just as I was about to write the same thing, you beat me to it.

There is no way Grampy modeled that scene. That is an out and out fraud, clearly a photo of an actual scene somewhere in this great country. Come on, Grampy, 'fess up. There is no way you modeled that scene.

Rich

12

Wayne, Those are some fantastic piers. It looks like the exact technique that I have been looking for. I am going to give it a try in about 2 weeks (have to go to business conference this week). Thanks for the help. Will let you know how this turns out.

13

Grampy, Holy Cow!! These abutments look unbelievable!! I am going to give the styrene technique a try but I may give this a try too. If I get half the results that you obtained, I’d be in 7th Heaven.