Can anyone suggest a company that makes trestle kits?
Thanks
Their is a seller on EBAY who does some fantastic looking trestles. Look at this item number: 6015081396
It would seem that he custom builds them all so he would probably custom design one for you.
Check out some of the train shows around southern/eastern Ontario. There is usually a company there that sells trestle kits and they look quite nice. I just don’t know their name.
toneek,
Here is one that I’ve bookmarked for when I get around to building a trestle for my layout. No first hand experience with them yet, just someplace for you to consider.
HD
Campbell makes a nice kit as does Midwest. Both are found in the Walther’s Catalogue.
Saying that you could make one from scratch and believe it or not it’s not hard… honest.
I have a copy of Kalmbach’s Model Railroad Trestles & Bridges and I copied the trestle profile and built a jig around it and this was what I landed up with.
Fergie
Micro Engineering is one brand to consider. Lot of details, very realistic.
Martin
Québec City
toneek,
If your looking for a plastic trestle, Heljan has a kit listed in Walthers. The list price is about $25.00.
The Campbell and Midwest wood trestles that Fergie mentioned list from about $25.00 to $65.00. These are also listed in Walthers.
Any of these can be built into nice HO scale models.
Although Fergie’s scratch built trestle looks really great!! [:0][:0][:0]
Well, my trestle is not anything like Fergies, but it’s still a scratch built for less than $15.00…Supplies were bass wood from Micro-Mark, Gap filling CA, alcohol mixed with black ink for stain, a packet of T-pins to hold the bent pieces in place and a “bridge track” kit from Micro-Mark. The track kit is flex track and uses the larger ties you will find in the diagrams of trestles. Regular flex track will work, but does not look very good on open trestles like this. This trestle had to be scratch built as not only does it have a gentle curve to it, but the trestle rises from right to left in this picture:
I slaved over this thing, mainly because I measured incorrectly the first time I assembled the bents and they were all too tall. Boy, am I glad they weren’t too short!!!
Measure twice…cut once!! A good thing to remember when scratch building. [2c]
I have been searching the net for scratchbuilding info. after reading an article in Model Railroader (June 2004 pg. 68) titled “Light-duty pile trestle”.
The best site that I’ve stumbled across is:
“http://www.all-model-railroading.co.uk/amr/index.htm”.
This site (by Paul Templar) has some unique pictures of log bridges and, what looks to be, a really well designed and easy to build jig made from 1/16 paper card stock. I’m thinking of trying the jig with 1/8" foam core board that I have laying around.
Good Luck
A possible alternatve for foam core board, if you aren’t bending too many radiused pieces of wood.
I bought my kids a play rug with roads and pictures of building roofs on it, but it was stiff, scratchy, and they never played on it, so I flipped it over and it now is the work surface of my desk in the workshop.
It holds pins well, doesn’t scratch paint, is non-slip, and I don’t care if I get stain, paint or glue on it. Oner thing to watch for, if you accidently glue something to it, you will end up with carpet foam attached to your model. I do my heavy gluing and painting elsewhere.
Great site…thanks for sharing! [8D]
Fergie,
I like the Jig. I saved the picture.
BR,
I love Paul Templar’s site. Plus his forum is good as well.
BRNelson-THANKS for that link! That’s a great site!
These fellows make great kits. I have purchased from them and love thier kits. http://www.hunterline.com/