Suggestions Wanted For Components For An O Scale Curved Deck Girder Bridge And Supports

Plastruct comes to mind if you're looking for structural steel shapes like I-beams, H columns, angle iron, etc. I use them when I need that. I have used McMaster Carr in the past for thin metal rods. Then I head to the local hardware or craft store for square dowel rods when I need square wood pieces.

Ross Custom Switches has some nice girders and supports.  Saw them in person at the factory and they are solidly built.  Remember too, bridge girders themselves are not curved, especially from the era you wish to model.  Your bridge book hopefully points that out.

I built my girder bridges from this great tutorial from @Jim Policastro.  Very straightforward and turned out great.

https://ogrforum.com/topic/677...37#67736898054209337

The metal deck supports are harder to find. There are some real nice (but super salty) from Ross.  I kit bashed some MTH metal girder supports - they’re okay, but I would have loved to have found some of the options in O that exist in HO.

Many thanks, BillYo414, Formal-Joe and Rider Sandman. I will use all of your suggestions.

Take a look at the curved deck bridge sections made by Sedgwick models and available through Mr. Muffins.  Kris Keeler is a member of our Muncie and Western Model RR club and is a gret guy!

Thanks, Brian. I’ll do that. Happy Holidays

A curved deck girder bridge is actually one or more straight girder spans with a curved deck.

Side pieces of girder are available from Scenic Express.  They are flexible, and easy to cut off the angled ends if you’re piecing together more than one.  (I painted these rust color - rustoleum ultra cover flat red primer spray can)

I've used flexible girder side pieces that can also be used on curved sections of track as well.  Just cut some plywood to the size length or curvature that you need, you can even stack the plywood to get the depth/height of the wood you want and glue on the girder sections. I then use cut sections of 2X4s for piers and cover them with fake stone as seen here.

This is a timely thread for me... I set a goal for this winter to add girders to my entire 2nd level reverse loop. For girders, I'm going to use 1/8 hardboard and mimic @Jim Policastro's design.

I'd like also to replace the 3/4" wood supports with something that looks better. Central Valley Model Works has a cool HO-scale Laced Girder but it is only 3/8" wide. I would love to replace or skin my supports with something similar. Is there anything like Central Valley Model Works girders in O-scale? Maybe I need to go buy a 3D printer and make my own?

High steel trestle made from Central Valley HO girder components, Scenic Express plate girder sections, Plastruct railings, and plywood "concrete" deck.  The girder was cut into short straight sections to make the curves.

Low steel trestle made from plate girder sections from K-Line K41814 Girder Bridge (ends were cut off and sections were inverted) and cast metal elevated bridge supports I picked up somewhere.  Lionel or Marx graduated bridge supports could be substituted.

Bob