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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.

Things You'll Need

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

Instructions

- 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.

Model Railroads