Arch Suspension Bridge

[legoman666]

Span is 128 studs (I think. It's a little over 3') I'll be making a few small modifications soon. I want to add a walkway, put ties on the tracks, reduce the arch on the trackbed, and try to stiffen it a little more. Luckily my wife is very crafty and so had some nice dark red thick crocheting thread for me to use for the cables. I might also modify it some time down the road to have 2 tracks instead of just 1. My heavy freight train and the horizon express zip right across it :)

There's a 10 stud wide space for trains, which only causes problems with the cab of my steam locomotive whose trim over the windows is exactly 10 studs wide. I might have to modify it a little....

Edited July 14, 2014 by legoman666

[imvanya]

It's really surprising how much of a curve those Technic bricks provide. I hope there's no permanent damage to the bricks, though. Anyway, it's a extremely good looking bridge and for some reason, that slightly unorthodox treatment of the bricks makes it look and feel more realistic. Great job, 'legoman666'!

[legoman666]

It's really surprising how much of a curve those Technic bricks provide. I hope there's no permanent damage to the bricks, though. Anyway, it's a extremely good looking bridge and for some reason, that slightly unorthodox treatment of the bricks makes it look and feel more realistic. Great job, 'legoman666'!

Thanks for the kind words. The bricks themselves are not bending but rather the gap between bricks (about .1mm if I recall) is what allows for the curve. The arches are made from 1x4 technic bricks and the straight supports under the track are 1x16 technic bricks. I can even get a little more curve out of the arches, there's some "slack."

[raven1280]

Amazing!

[KringlesBricks]

I really like how you made those technic pieces into a curve; very slick looking!!

On a side note, I'm working on a train bridge myself.

[ronenson]

Very nice train bridge you made. I finished my train bridge last month. It's rather plain, but it does contain two tracks.

I like yours even more than mine.

[codefox421]

Wow, your bridge looks great! I was very surprised when the images first loaded. I've always thought of the rigidity of technic bricks, but the flex is much more expressive!

[Jorrith]

That's a nice bridge.... Wonderfull curve, and seeing the video, its pretty darn rigid too!

[legoman666]

Thanks for the compliments everyone! Seeing other people's bridges on here is what inspired me to make one myself (or rather, two...). Here's a few more crappy shots

The suspension bridge supplanted my truss bridge and finally let me run two trains at once on my new layout.

I'll probably replace the truss bridge with something more interesting or maybe just widen the suspension bridge. At the very least, I'll replace the random colors with something uniform... The plan is to add 1 or 2 more tables at the far end and fill them with a big train yard. The city area will be fleshed out with a few more buildings too. I'm also waiting on my wide radius curves from MeModels. Right now I'm working on final touches on a bluetooth motor controller for the freight train before Brickfair, VA.

[Man with a hat]

That's a great suspension bridge. The curve is well executed, it gives it a really nice shape. It makes me want to hurry up building my own bridge.

[JopieK]

very nice job indeed! that is why it is important for LEGO to also keep studded technic bricks :)

[rogul]

amazing job love it!

[LEGO Train 12 Volts]

I'm really impressed by the radius of curvature of those technic bricks!

Great MOC!

[imvanya]

Thanks for the kind words. The bricks themselves are not bending but rather the gap between bricks (about .1mm if I recall) is what allows for the curve. The arches are made from 1x4 technic bricks and the straight supports under the track are 1x16 technic bricks. I can even get a little more curve out of the arches, there's some "slack."

Well, that explains it, I suspected it had something to dod with the gaps, but didn't realize those were 1x4's.

It is always great to see something that is considered a fault in one build then turned into the main feature in another one. And isn't that what LEGO is about?

[grum64]

Great Job

The use of the studded Technic bricks gives it a sense of realism.

[AussieJimbo]

Great stuff, legoman666.

Very creative and original design. Clearly a very effective structure as I can barely see any deformation when the HE runs across it. I like your freight train and rolling stock too.

:classic:

[zephyr1934]

that's a great bridge those are great bridges