New Project Truss Bridges Completed Pictures

Very nice Alan.  I particularly like your 3 piece approach for the top beams.  Thanks for posting.  I just learned a new technique.  

Alan:

Did you heat bend the top H-column? I noticed it is a different color than the typical black ABS

Joe

Allan, 

Could you build a curved Pratt Truss series? Is that something that actually exists?

Scrappy

Alan that's looking really great. Don't forget to add bridge shoes to complete the look!

lhttp://www.scalecitydesigns.co...-KEIL-LINE_p_88.html

Looking good Alan. What type of glue do you use on your projects?

Joe

The beams are made from gray abs. The flanges are .060 and the web is .030

Eliot,

The customer sent a couple of pictures of bridges with arched tops and a truss frame. I have not seen one like this anywhere in New Jersey.

Don,

i am using bondene. It is supplied by plastruct for gluing similar materials. This bridge will be constructed completley of abs to hopefully avoid a potential failure in the glued connections.

alan graziano

SCRAPIRON SCHER. there is a curved Platt bridge in Massillon Ohio. It is three bridges with a curved track through it. Hopefully this picture might help. If not you can google it. I used the words curved bridge in Massillon Ohio....Paul

Alan,

Glad to see your progress in such a short time. Keep them coming!

Dave

Nice work, Alan.  

I've always had problems making strong glue joints in ABS.

Is Bondene the one which smells like the old Tarzan's Grip?

Max

bondene is a petroleum based product very similar to mek (methyl ethyl ketone). It smells somewhat like rubbing alcohol. It evaporates very quick and really bites into the plastic. The gusset plates and clip angles reinforce the connections to bring up the strength 

alan graziano

Thanks, Alan.

Here are some pictures of the first bridge in construction and completed. This bridge is very strong and will have no problem handling the heaviest trains.

Alan Graziano

That looks excellent, Alan. 

I've managed to source the Bondene from hobbylinc.com.  Thank you.

I see you have some Krylon Fusion paint as well.  I've got some ordered for blacking the wheels on my Galveston Island Trolley drives.  Apparently it sticks to everything.

Cheers

I completed the second bridge and have a photo of the two bridges together. I fabricated the parts for the 54 inch span bridge. I was going to use an 80 inch radius for the curved beams on this bridge but felt there was not enough arch in relation to the two 21 inch bridges. Based on that, I calculated the radius based on the 18 inch radius of the small bridges. I came up with a 45 inch radius. This makes the center of the 54 inch bridge about 15 inches tall. I think it will look much better with a higher arc.

Alan Graziano

Here is another picture showing the first side of the 54 inch bridge completed.

Alan Graziano

Alan

I always enjoy your posts. Thanks for taking the time to post your work!

John Sethian posted:

Alan

I always enjoy your posts. Thanks for taking the time to post your work!

I agree and also enjoy seeing the plastic structural master work his art.

Bob

Alan, looks like its coming together very nicely! one side down and one to go! Wonderful work!

Really nice! What is the clearance

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hzqdDoe8FoM

height of these bridges? hopefully 6"

Thank you gentlemen.

Mark,

The clearance on the small bridges is 6 inches and 7 inches on the long span. Hopefully, I will have completed pictures tomorrow.

Alan Graziano

The Bridges are completed and painted. Here are the pictures.

Alan Graziano

Alan, that is one nice looking combination of bridges. Can't wait to see a pic of a train going across it. ....Paul

Just WOW Alan, that about all I can say WOW!

Awesome work Alan.

-Johan

OUTSTANDING!

Incredible!  I had no ides when this thread started that you were making a triple arch span.

Thank you all for the nice comments. This was a fun project for me.

Alan Graziano

Amazing!

NICE!

And you DON'T need a support Pier in the middle of it either!

Here's a link to my video on youtube where you can see trains running on the bridge. Thanks Alan!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hd5HOydl8G8

Great craftsmanship......

AMCDave posted:

Great craftsmanship......

Yes sir, it will a highlight to the layout.

Alan, what a difference a bridge or bridges make. Those bridges changed the whole look of that area making it even better. Great  focal point and it did not take away from anything behind it. It actually made the area visually more interesting then it already was. Great job.................Paul

Alan, that is one large bridge! LOL Great work and details, the pictures and video show the love you have for the hobby. I know your next project is going to be great, but this one is going to be a tough one to fallow!

Alan: Great job !!!   WELL done !!

Simply amazing craftsmanship Alan.

Thank you all for the nice comments and thank you David for posting the video.

alan graziano

Really, really nice...as is always the case with Alan's work!  Congrats on this great addition to your layout!

Hi Alan

Absolutely outstanding !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Alex