It is indeed unfortunate that none of the Z scale manufacturers make a road over rail bridge kit. Oh it's easy to get rail over road, but unless you model in N, HO or bigger, road over rail is non-existant. We could use 4 such bridges on our layout. Three 4 lane major highway, and one 2 lane secondary or country road. Style isn't a huge issue. I'm sure someone will say, scratch build one. That would be good if any of us were scratch builders. But we are not. How difficult can it be to manufacture a kit or fully assembled product? I've seen such bridges in HO and N, but there is no way that they can be adapted for Z scale. The details are just too big. If anyone knows of a company that makes these or if you know where we can get our hands on these already made, please let us know. We only need one highway bridge right now, the other three bridges we won't need for at least a year or two. Perhaps by then someone will come out with them. That would be a shame if we have to wait that long, as one of our modules would remain unfinished until this happens.
Monroe Models used to make a country road bridge but their web site shows it's out of stock and discontinued. I don't have one but someone else might.
Ken, Monroe Models produced a wooden country road bridge that seems to still be available but I'm not aware of much else. I'm am NOT a manufacturer of any Z products, but it seems to me there just isn't that there isn't much demand for highway bridges and the return on investment just isn't there. Perhaps you underestimate your ability to build one. A number of examples of cast concrete bridges have appeared in Model Railroader over the years, constructed out of simple geometric shapes and architectural shapes such as K rails that are available from companies like Plastruct ( http://plastruct.com), so its not like its would be a total scratch build. I'm currently on the road, but if you would like to give it a try, I'd be happy to post more specifics when I get home. I can appreciate concerns about scratch buildings...everything I try to design from scratch it ends up looking like it comes from a Looney Tunes Cartoon. But I've found its not that difficult to take a good HO design article, reduce it by 39.5% and follow the instructions. Mark
I think there is a nice wooden truss bridge that just came out. Sure it is a railroad bridge but I sure could use it to make a country road road bridge. I have also used the Marklin and other german bridges for road bridges in the past. I am sure there are other model railroaders out there that could build you one if you give them the dimensions.. Everyone has to do a little bit of building on a layout, and a highway bridge would be a good place to start. Do some research, browse around the net or look at some books, and you will see it is not too difficult.
Many railroad bridges can be adapted to become road bridges. Also, consider looking at N Scale as a possible source of raw materials; the size difference between N and Z is small enough that some N Scale products can pass for Z. For instance, a small N Scale highway bridge can serve as a large Z Scale bridge.
Check out StonebridgeModels.com as they have a couple really cool covered bridges that might work for you. I have one of the Monroe Models bridges in one of my junk boxes somewhere. It looked like just what I wanted until it showed up in the mail, at which time I scratchbuilt a more suitable highway bridge. Don't be afraid to look at an N Scale bridge to use for Z. You can quickly sand it down to size as desired, and consider yourself a Z Scale kitbasher, well on the road to becoming a scratchbuilder. You should see some of the stuff my 98 year old grandfather scratchbuilds in Z, you CAN do it too!
Hi, I have been considering this product idea for a while. Please contact me directly at asmtrains@juno.com Thanks, Randy Brown
Well I had thought of N scale, but didn't think it would do the job not being in the same scale as Z. Perhaps we need to have another look and maybe we can adapt to suit our needs. Thanks Randy. I'll do just that.
Hi JoeS and all, I appreciate your continued support and kind words. I've been lurking here for a while trying to get a handle on what is needed in Z Scale. I will be releasing a new Mission Revival gas station as soon as I finish the decals. Also, I will be releasing a bunch of detail parts. I'm always looking for ideas for new products. Suggestions are welcome. Thanks a lot, Randy
Hi Randy How about automobiles with Fins? 55-57 chevys,Caddys, studebakers etc I need a heap for Cuyahoga
I think a bridge model intended for N scale would work as a slightly larger bridge for Z, WITH ONE EXCEPTION. The railings for N would be too large for Z. I think Rix sells PARTS of its N scale bridge kits, and youi could buy everything EXCEPT the railings, and use the 1/200 railing stock from Plastruct. I would not call that a real "kitbash" but pretty much just a re-detailing. Good luck.
It is really tough to get a handle on what is needed in Z because many people model in different directions and yet we are still a limited market. What type of detail product are you planning?
