How to Build a Large Model-Railroad Bridge

Building a large model-railroad bridge can be a complex undertaking, but it's really not hard. First you need to come up with a design. A typical long bridge will be some kind of truss structure, since trusses are both lightweight and strong.

Difficulty: Moderately challenging

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Hobby Paintbrushes
• Hobby Paints
• Wood For Jigs
• Glues
• Pushpins
• Rubber Bands
• Rubber Bands
• X-Acto Knives
• Miter Saws
• Mitre Boxes
• Sandpaper
• Sandpaper
• Rubber bands

1. Design the bridge.

2. Assemble the parts you need. Generally, real railroads use steel for their truss bridges, but tiny steel beams (with tiny rivets or arc welders) aren't practical.

3. Use brass, wood or plastic structural parts for your model railroad bridge. Plastruct makes a whole range of structural parts out of styrene or ABS.

4. Get a good miter box set so that you can cut the beams accurately and squarely.

5. Make one or more assembly jigs if you can, because most truss bridges consist of repeated floor and truss "panels."

6. Get a supply of pushpins - these are good for holding things down.

7. Trim and sand off burrs and other cut remnants.

8. Paint your bridge and "weather" it (make it look old) after it's built.

9. Add the finishing touch by modeling the river flowing under the bridge.

Tips & Warnings

• This is an overview of how to build a large model-railroad bridge. See Related Sites for a detailed write-up on the construction of a large H0 model bridge.
• Be sure you have good ventilation when working with plastic glues. They tend to give off dangerous fumes.
• Adult supervision is recommended. Be careful when using sharp tools and hazardous materials such as paints and glues.

on 8/8/2006 Dust a little baking soda where you want a strong CA glue joint.
But, be careful, it acts fast.

CA loves moisture, so spritzing the powder is even faster.

I use this for "welding" corners of structures together. Believe me, they "weld."

on 3/11/2006 Dust a little baking soda where you want a strong CA (cyanoacrylates) glue joint. But, be careful, it acts fast. CA glue loves moisture, so spritzing the powder is even faster. I use this for welding corners of structures together. Believe me, they weld.

on 2/21/2006 Plastic cloths pins act as small clamps-- larger clamps for the big sections. CA Glue with a zip kicker will set up the joint very fast. Paint with airbrush and poly paints or acrylic paints, diluted when using plastistruct materials.

on 2/12/2007 Visit http://vis-www.cs.umass.edu/~heller/Workshop/Bridge/
for a detailed writeup on building a large model railroad bridge.