Have any of you built the Walthers single track truss bridge? This was the first kit that I built of Walthers & I hope that they are not all as confusing as this kit was to me.First off some of the sprue numbers did not match the pieces that they were meant for, then instead of 4 end portal caps I only could find 2 . The kit recommended using Walthers C83 truss bridge track. Well the track is not as long as the bridge kit so the track would have to start inside the bridge. I thought the instructions were limited at best. But the question that I`d like to get an answer on is how do you attach the longigudinal girders and the cross girders to the side girders (outside framework) of the bridge.
I have two that I built several years ago to span a large dry-bed canyon on my Yuba River Sub. As I recall, they went together quite easily. I’d originally planned on building a couple of Central Valley truss bridges instead, but the two Walthers fit the space better.
As to the cross-girders fitting into the outside trusses, though the trusses look identical from either side, one side of the truss actually has slots near the bottom where the cross girders fit in and lock. At least I remember my kits having them.
I used Sinohara Code 100 bridge track on the bridge, but my main line is all Code 100, so I can’t help you on the length of the Code 83. Does Walters/sinohara make the track in a 3’ length? If so, you could cut and trim, then bend the guard rails in at the appropriate angle at one end.
I will grant you that I don’t remember the instructions being particularly detailed. As I remember, I did a lot of ‘eyballing’ as I built the bridges.
I purchased a Walthers single track truss and the long outside sections were extremely warped. I packed it up and thought I would work on it later. After a few years and few lost parts, the bridge went into the circular file. I then bought a Central Valley Pratt Truss Bridge and that was worse that the Walthers in respect to “tiny parts”. This one I sent back for a refund. Going forward, I will probably purchase a pre-built completed bridge if the need arises.