Truss bridge kitbash

On the High Line, the train runs just before Silverton over a Pratt Truss steel truss bridge.

With some modifications I kitbashed it from on a Central Valley #1810 150’ Truss Bridge injection-molded styrene kit. Shorten the bridge from 5 to 4 trusses and customise the shape of the end portals as in the prototype.

The beams and sleepers

• Shorten the joist to 4/5
• Shorten the sleeper casting to fit

Custom End Portals

• Raise the top half of the truss of each final portal
• Make two rounded panels of styrene strip

Assembly

• Place the joists on a flat worktop
• Glue the 4 trusses to the joists, checking they are square
• Position the sleeper deck and glue in place

• Place the end portals and glue them in place
• Place the bridge on one side and stick the lower pull rod and the diagonals from thin styrene strip
• Reverse the bridge and complete the other side

Painting

-

• Spray a coat of primer on the whole bridge using an airbrush
• Let dry well
• Spray with matte gray and rusty brown where you expect rust: horizontal parts, rivets, everywhere!

• Place the bridge on your track
• Glue low-profile flex rails on it (check the width with an N-scale gauge)