Curved Bridge

[Anonymous]

I am looking for an 18 radius Bridge. I would like it to look like a Plate girder bridge or a corded bridge. Does anyone make such a bridge or can you halp me with plans for one ?

Andy
New to the hobby

Andy's Nascar Fantasy Camp 2004
Andy Piasecki League Director
Owner: Blazin Speed
www.geocities.com/firedude310
[e-mail]
[e-mail]

[cacole]

You're probably going to have to scratch build it yourself -- I know of no commercially manufactured bridge that meets your desires. Fabricating one is really not that difficult. I started with a piece of masonite cut into the desired shape and length. I carefully bent 1/4" square balsa wood strips and glued them along the bottom outer edges so I would have something to hold the sides in place. For the sides, I used thin balsa cut to the desired width, and glued them to the edges of the masonite and balsa runners. Square match sticks were cut with diagonal ends and glued on the sides to represent the girder posts. Everything was painted a dark gray color with rust spots to represent aged steel plate.

[Anonymous]

Any pictures of you bridge cacole?

[STONECOAL]

Andy,
An article titled "Kitbashing a curved viaduct" appeared in the September 2000 Railroad Model Craftsman magazine. You can order a photo copy from RMC. Also, on page 70 of the June 1985 MR, you will find "how-to" information on building a curved viaduct. Both methods use Central Valley and Atlas bridge parts. Other articles exist; I would do a search. The procedure usually entails Deck Gerder sections (sometimes N scale gerders are used in conjuction with HO scale gerders when modeling in HO) that are laid out to form your radius and are cut like you would cut a hexagon frame for a picture - in this case looking more like half of a hexagon. The ties you glue to the tops of the gerders form the actual curve (you don't curve the sides of the gerders). Where the gerders meet and are attached to each other, they are supported by bents or concrete, stone, etc. supports. An 18" radius for a curved viaduct is pretty severe, not recommended but not impossible to do. Hope this helps.
Jim

[Anonymous]

Andy:

As was mentioned, girder bridges aren't usually curved. As was also mentioned, 18" inch radius is pretty tight. I suggest you consider an open deck arrangement or a timber-bent bridge, where prototype bridges were commonly curved, as an alternative.

Good Luck

Randy

[Hudsonmike]

I guess Randy never seen the New York subway system
When the trains are above ground we call them the EL
They are all girder bridges . To make a beam try this
I use 40 thousand thick stryene 7 scale feet high by what ever lenght you'll need with L chanel spaced about 4 feet apart as up right supports and 40 tho by 18 inch stryene frame completely around the perimiter.
make two sections than use stryene across members on the
bottom and top on the insides to join them together keeping the the girders you made 5 scale feet apart
You'll have to make the girders about 5 inches long use a piece of curved track section
to help keep the rails over the beams. For Bents (A frames) I use brass 1/8 L chanel
you will need a bent for every section to hold up the bridge.
Now you made a actual real bridge and It will work fine I have a 4 foot one on my layout
good Luck
Mike

[EL PARRo]

If it helps any, Micro Engineering makes bridge flex track. I'll see if I can find you a link to it on Walthers' website.

[EL PARRo]

Here it is:

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/255-11101

The picture there shows it on a deck bridge, but you could use it with just about any type of bride, and since it's flexible, you can get your 18" radius with it.