Have started building a 1/150 scale model of the Bridge on the River Kwai. It is the movie bridge and not the real one. It is a scratch build, and a work in progress. The model will be set in a small diorama, depicting the conditions in which the Prisoners Of War (POWs) were in at that time.



Rough Plan to get idea of the overall build.


Width is 160 mm

to be continued . . .

“Madness….madness”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zpl4wkWMJtE


fantastic project, very best of luck (& if you need any help with demolition I’m not too far away)

WOW!! What a challenge, and definitely worth following your progress. Will you have figures as well?

Thanks Tim Martin for encouragement.

"Luck often enough, will save a man, if his courage holds" - Buliwyf (13th Warrior)

;-)

Awesome concept for a dio. This movie fascinated me when I was a kid and saw it on TV.
Good luck and post pics please.
J

Amazing project. Looking forward to this one. Curiosity asks if you intend to build the full span?

I tried building that bridge using toothpicks. I think the old Magnum P.I. TV series in the '80's, the Higgins character was building one.

Cheer

Yes.

If you mean, do I intend to build as per above drawing, my answer is yes.

Some other model builder built the bridge for the TV set. I think he built three versions. One was blown up.

There was also two manufacturers (as far as I know) that made a 10 piece kit at similar scale. However, I prefer to do a scratch-build version.

Because this model is a tribute to the POWs who were on the Thai-Burma Death Railway, this WIP will also include links and images for historic reasons.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burma_Railway
https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/history/conflicts/thaiburma-railway-and-hellfire-pass



I have to tell you that my research into this build has revealed many constant images of savage enslavement and death. It is depressing. So, to counteract this, I have introduced some lighter entertainment into the build images, by using one of the 1/150 plastic figures. He is called 'Minder'. He keeps my mind on even ground, minds what I am building (like a foreman), reminds me of scale size, and the tribute.
_____________

Experimented with these plastic figurines. They all look too healthy for POWs so I tried to whittle them down to size.



Came across other plastic figurines at 1/150 scale, on eBay, that looks a lot thinner. Have ordered them in.

To start with a base, I used 12 mm scrap plywood. Went to hardware store and bought 4 and 6 mm dowel wood (Tasmanian Oak).



Here Minder is telling me to get the dowels off the base so I can start drilling holes for the piers. Also started cutting the piers sizes too (according to an improved drawing of the bridge).

Happy with 'my work'? Yes.
Happy with 'the work'? No.
Honoured? Yes.

The piers are tapered to represent tree trunks.



Minder got buried in his work.



Kept sanding dust, to be used as sawdust in diorama scene.

All they got for food was one scoop of rice and water per day. That's it!

The original base has a bow in it. To counteract it I added another base, of same source, with opposing bow. So, the base is now called a platform, and the new (larger) base will become the display case base.

Glued the boards together. Later, I added screws too.
Minder, with poor safety sense, is guiding my saw cut.



Display case will include 3 mm clear Perspex surround. Used scrap Perspex, plus thin card, to gauge a gap for the surrounding frame. Don't have a saw angle jig, so I made a few errors in getting the correct side for a 45 degree cut.



Minder noticed I drilled extra column of holes at both ends of bridge.



On applying wood putty, the relatively new spatula broke. Lucky I still kept my old one.



After some sanding.

Nice project and dedication Peter, Im following!
Regards
Dave

Thank you Dave (strongarden) for visiting this build and following,

Figuring out how this bridge was put together. Quickly realized that it was a slapped together in a round about way. After all, the whole movie bridge was meant to hold the weight of a train and carriages, and then blow it all up.





Looking for an appropriate construction method, with available materials, for this model. Below, the drawing got altered later on (improved).





Re-drilled the outer holes at a slight angle to assist in the lean-in of the piers. Used a dressed piece of timber as a template for aligning outer piers.



Top left: the improved drawing, as mentioned earlier.



To assist in leaning the piers inward, I had to whittle part of the dowel portion that goes into the platform. The shavings got saved for other parts of the diorama.





One step back to far.

Nice so far, a big undertaking.

Will keep looking in.


Cheers

Jeff

Awesome! Looking forward to this!

Thanks Jeff for visiting this build.

Thanks Frederick Boucher for kind words.

last week, Jack, an old friend, was telling me his father was one of the Australian POW along the Burma Railway. One of the stories was how he witnessed five POWs fight tooth and nail over a dead rat.

This is amazing, love it. I have been there 3 years ago... The rebuilt steel one is still standing after the reconstruction in the later 40s.
/Stefan