N Scale Scratch Built Trestle Bridge

[LooVille]

Good Morning All.....

I was looking for a nice Trestle Bridge for my new extension layout, but they are either way to expensive or it only get's made in HO.
So I decided why not scratch build !!!!

Here goes.....

I searched on the Internet and found building plans for a nice Trestle Bridge, and they give the dimensions for HO, N and the real life size.
So I downloaded the PDF docs. Pictures 1 and 2.
Then I redrew the structure over on my PC so that I could have a template to work from. Picture 3

Then the building started.
I needed to find 1.5mm and 2mm square wooden strips..... Mmmmm, that was another problem. I can't saw that myself as it is way to small, so I went shopping and there is a company called Evergreen Scale Models, they sell any size plastic. Square, Round, I, U, L shape even hollow tube. So I bought a packet of 1.5mm and 2mm. Picture 4

Next post more......

[LooVille]

...... Next Step......

I worked out the height I have to work with and the length I have. So about 70mm in height and about 200mm long.
Then I started to make the trestles, 3 big ones and 2 small ones either side with a brick retaining wall either side of that.

Picture one - all 3 trestles built, I have to start to paint because I will not get every ware if it is all built.
Because the plastic is smooth I ran a piece of sanding paper over the strips before assembly just to give it some texture.
Then I painted dark brown and dry-brush a lighter one over that. Think it looks quite cool. Picture 2

Picture 3 shows the cross bracing. I used the 1.5mm for that. 2mm was for the mail trestle.

After all the trestle is built, painted and dry I have to assemble them all together.
My dad suggested to do it upside down as the top sections are all the same.

So I taped them all in-line and spaced it and started to fit the connection strips. Pictures 4 and 5.

Next step is to fit the cross braces - will post again once I have completed that.

Cheers, and speak again.
Evert

[capeklr]

Wow, that is going to be another masterpiece. 
Refer sanding the plastic to give it some texture, I have read about modellers using a wire brush to achieve this as well. I have not tried it myself yet.
Cheers.

[LooVille]

Thank you Jörg.
Yea, I have also hear about the wire brush. It might work for HO better I think.
With N you can see the texture, but it is so small and with the dry-brushing of the paint it actually pics up the texture nicely.

Cheers,
Evert

[BigEd]

Very, very nice!

[ColWer]

Nicely done Evert! 

[LooVille]

Hi All.....

Small update 
I fitted all the cross braces last night. More difficult than I expected, but it worked.

Bottom 2 frames must still be done and then paint again.

Then it is the big task of the rail, all the sleepers needs to be almost against each other. They are much closer over a trestle bridge than for normal track.

Will post some more pix later in the week.

Cheers,
Evert

[wesley]

Wonderful stuff.

I use a wire brush to texture my wood on my O scale structures, but doubt it would work in N scale.

Look forward to more.

[Steve Smith]

Nice looking work, Evert.

Using styrene for scratchbuilding is a hell of a lot easier than wood, and is way more flexible.

Regarding applying texture to styrene, the easiest solution is sandpaper.  Try different grits to see what works best for you; I use mainly 320 to 600 grit.   I hold the sandpaper down on the work surface and while applying light finger pressure to the piece of styrene, drag it across the sandpaper in the direction of the grain only, repeating if necessary to get the desired texture.

Micromark (www.micromark.com) sell a tool which is used for giving styrene wood grain, but sandpaper works just as well.

Steve

[LooVille]

Good Morning All,

Thank you for all the good comments and ideas, really appreciate it.
I finished painting over the weekend and I have also added the cross bracing in the bottom section.

Next step is to cut a section of brick work wall I bought over the weekend and then to fit the bridge on the layout and lay the track.

I have added 2 updated pictures.
I'll post again once the bridge is fitted

Cheers,
Evert.

[wesley]

Very nice Evert.

This is moving along quickly.