James River Branch: Mirror Road Bridge

Mirror Road Bridge

Mirror Road is named for the fact that it hides the top edge of the mirror used to extend the river. The bridge itself was kitbashed, starting with N scale truss bridge parts from Peco (#NB-38). These kits provide no cross-bracing, so they more or less constitute a pony truss; they're also a bit lightweight for a railroad bridge. But they're ideal for a Z scale highway bridge!

The first step was to shorten the bridge just slightly. This was easily accomplished by removing the center panel with the X-brace; I used a fine-tooth razor saw in a miter box. Then I bonded the two parts together with MEK (methyl ethyl keytone, a cheap paint thinner) with a small brush.

Next, I cut the road from a piece of .030-inch thick sheet styrene, which fit perfectly into channels molded into the sides of the Peco girders.

For the top cross-bracing, I used a Chopper to cut the two dozen pieces of strip styrene required; I also cut 18 gussets from .010-inch thick sheet styrene. I assembled all of these parts on strips of masking tape attached to a work surface upside-down to hold the parts in position as I applied MEK.

Two more steps completed the bridge. In order to give it appropriate depth (it otherwise has no decking), I simply attached a piece of 1/4-inch Evergreen I-beam to the bottom of the road surface part. Then I attached two pieces of etched brass railing from a 1:330 ship detailing kit.

I wanted the bridge to have a lighter color so that it appeared a little more distant to the eye, so I first sprayed it with flat silver Krylon paint. Then I gave it several liberal applications of Rust-All. The road surface was painted with cheap off-white acrylic paint, then weathered with powdered chalk.

Peco N scale truss girders are modified by removing the center panel.

The truss parts are bonded to a sheet styrene road surface.

Cross-bracing is added to the top to complete the bridge.

A piece of styrene I-bean gives the bridge deck the depth it needs.