Hi All

Iam looking for a bridge for a Civil War Dio,scale 54 m,any help would be great its to represent Burnsides Bridge at the Battle of Antietam..Antietam Creek,or i could build one.
Cheers Chris

Having walked across the original many years ago, it was a stone structure with a layer of compacted soil covering the span. You could recreate this in 54mm by utilizing legos (dont laugh) and covering them with either a plaster veneer or with embossed paper.

A number of years ago Joe Porter did a diorama for MMIR of the final sceen in SPR where Captain Miller is firing his .45 at the Tiger. Miller was sitting up against a damaged motorcycle. Very realistic.

Anyway Porter started with legos and built a roughed out bridge shape and then covered it in sheet plastic and finally embossed paper that looked like stone. for the top of the bridge and some details he used an epoxy putty.

Check this link
http://www.civilwaralbum.com/antietam/index.htm

or here
http://www.civil-war.net/cw_images/files/images/305.jpg

Easy enough to build - styrene or foam interior covered with spackle and carved stones with an al.

Apart from the previous construction methods I would like to suggest you that one can also make with cardboard and cork. first all lla cardboard structure is built and she covers of small rectangular pieces of cork to simulate the stones. Each side of these pieces should be sanded with sandpaper paper. when all the pieces are glued it is stuffed the spaces among the stones with spackle to imitate the cement among the stones
. The final result will be this:



cheers
Carlos

Good idea blockhaus - just to let all know - in the US a good 'backer' material for the cork method is Foam Board found at craft stores for $1.

Hi Frank Scott and Carlos

Many Thanks for the posts and the information and ideas the cork looks great thanks for the link to the bridge when you walked over it how big was the bridge from what i have read it was quite narrow .
Cheers Chris

Hi Tango20,
I'm affraid I can't help you with any building tips but as for the bridge its -self check out this site - there is a couple of photos of a stone build 3 arch bridge.

They are very clear and sharp images.


http://www.sonofthesouth.net/leefoundation/burnside-bridge.htm

good luck with the build - please let us know what technique you decide to use.

A firm I think its plusmodel make 1/35th scale paving slabs of varying shape. Looking at the bridge there appears to be a certain amount of dressed stone in its construction - these slabs might be of use.