Where can I buy long grider sections that wont break the bank. Scenic Express has some in 26 inch sections but I need several feet and that would be to expensive for me. I thought about building my own out of plywood and thin strips of plexiglass then paint it. I work at a glass company so i can get thin strips of 1/8 inch plexiglass. Has anyone ever built their own or know anywhere to get some cheap?
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why not get 2 nice straight 1x2's and make your own? that is if you have a table saw and a dado blade you can dado the area out to create a I-beam look and use 1/8" balsa wood to create the metal uprights. you can use another 1x2 for the roadbed in between the I-beams it would make it I think about 3" wide. however do not use the new mdf as I tried it on a 5' girder bridge and its sagging in the middle cuts nice looks nice but not strong for this particular application. hope this gives you some idea's.
I have made some girder panels with plastic for gantry cranes I build but have thought about hardboard (mansonite). I am thinking 1/8 inch panels. You can cut all pieces from the same panel (top and bottom chords, panel, panel strips etc). Hardboard should be better than plywood mainly from a painting point of view. I routinely use hardboard for 'concrete; bases so know that it takes paint well.
I made a few of these for our club layout, all from wood.
Two hardwood 1 X 3's vertical with top and bottom pieces with some overhang. Filled in with basswood strips. Very strong for a long span without any other support needed.
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