I need a couple of bridges for my layout. They have to be 18 inches long, curved slightly and be able to use only one support in the center. They also only need to be single track. I would like to use a plate girder type where the train is on top of the bridge. So.........Do I scratchbuild, combine kits or just buy them? Any help would be appreciated. Travis
If you need a bridge that is a specific lenght then scratch building it is a good way to go. there are some books out there by Kalmbach and others that have plans for different types of bridges. There used to be one "Bridges and Buildings For Model Railroads" that was very good but I don't know if it is still published.
The Kalmbach book on "Bridges and Trestles" will give examples of length to height based on the span length and type of bridge. A nine inch plate girder is pretty long...117 scale feet. It should be a "beefy" one and not a lightweight. If you can, you can make it a deck girder and make the plates below tall. That will make it easier to clean the track.
