I think real stone arch bridges are just incredible, especially multi arch stone bridges and curved stone arch bridges. They are magnificent structures that age with such grace and beauty. I have made a few models in my day, and here is probably my most treasured one.
It is made almost entirely of extruded polystyrene building foam, with some wood inside, although it didn't really need any wood at all, as it is one strong bridge, foam alone.
The bridge has a 1/2" foam "veneer" that I hand carved. Each of the foam components are hot glued together, but the basic 5 arch section is all one continuous length. The abutments were added on to each end, as were the piers underneath the spandrels. I carved all the stone work by hand, sanded and filed it with a wood rasp, using a little latex caulk here and there to fill in any noticeable gaps. The bridge was then primed by hand, using acrylic paints, and then hand painted using oil pastels. On this particular stone arch bridge, I did not carve the arch barrels, although I now do on all of my bridges. It measures about 5' long, and is about 8" to track height, with another 1 1/2" inches to the top of the parapet wall/pilasters. I installed brackets on each side at the spandrels for future electrification towers.
If you are are going to the York meet, look for this bridge and another of my bridges on display at JT'S Mega Steam Smoke Fluid tables.
I also make this bridge in shorter versions, I can make 1,2,3, or 4 arch versions, (or even longer than 5), as well. Email me, and we can work out the details. TimW ilovebridges.tw@gmail.com
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