Help on making a Arch Bridge for O Scale train

[Anonymous]

Hi

I am building a scene around my sons room near the ceiling that will have a double track on it .

There will be only one shelf but the back train is going to be elevated 3 inches with sterofoam so you can see the back train to and i want to add extra things through out the set for scenes and all and i thought since i am alittle handy at making things i would put a arch bridge on the upper train and i do not have a clue on making one ..if someone knows what to do and material that i would need and can tell me or show me pictures that would be great so me and my son can work together on something and be more closer....also i wanted to build a in the one corner a mountian that the trains will go through around the curve what materials will i need for that and whats the best way to do so...thanks everyone you have all been a great help on all my other questions...If anybody also knows what else i can do to really make it look good please share the info with me.....thankyou Brandon

[csxt30]

Hi Brandon & to the forum here !!  Here is a site that will give you a little background on arch bridges, just scroll down.  This will probably have to be scratchbuilt of course & the Hobby shops may carry a book on building bridges & trestles by Kalmback. Here is the one site :   http://www.pghbridges.com/basics.htm  I will look for more.

Now on your mountain, one way is to create a form with cardboard or wood. Scenic Express sells a roll of plaster that you wet & lay out on your form. Go here :  http://www.sceneryexpress.com/departments.asp?dept=1060  This will explain it all better than I can, plus they have a lot of foam products to use. Also here is another site to help you ! http://www.woodlandscenics.com/

Hope this helps !!

Thanks, John

 

[fifedog]

brandon412 --->

If you are building a shelf style layout, that means you are working in tight radii.  It will mean scratchbuilding some structures to accommodate your passing trains, just remember, you only have to decorate one side.  With your railroad being situated near a ceiling, you may want to build a viaduct style bridge (easily jigsawed out of thin plywood).

If you need inspiration, check out some of the past postings of Frank53, on Sunday Photo Fun  (you may need to scroll back a couple months but it's worth it).  Frank is a master of modeling in tight spaces.

[fifedog]

HEY BRANDON! Hurry up and check out Help!! Ceiling tile scenery!! posted by csxt30.  Frank53 is giving a clinic with lots of photos.  Great stuff.

[chuck]

Do you mean an "under" arch like the New River Gorge bridge? or an "over" arch like the Hell Gate bridge?  Does in need to actually support weight or just look pretty?  Both Lionel and MTH have ready made out of the box units (Lionel's under (6-12770) and MTH's over(40-1031)) and both make rather large replicas of Hell Gate.

[John Busby]

Hi Brandon

Are we talking steel arch bridge or masonry or a poured concrete viaduct like the one the Hogwarts Express crosses in the movie.

For you mountain I would roughly shape it in polystyrene foam packaging foam is good enough for this then cover it with paper towels or similar dipped your favorite plaster to get the final land form.

Then paint and flock to finish it off.

If your mountain is to be a tunnel forgive me stating the obvious make sure you have adequate access to retrieve derailments, borrow a car larger than you own and use that to set clearances you never know what you will buy later.

regards John