Now Updated and Expanded
I wrote an ebook, 5 Steps to Building a Model Bridge PDF to answer the most common questions people have about building bridges. In the ebook I show all the steps of building a model bridge, and then walk people through the actual construction of a bridge. The ebook contains many photos and illustrations, as well as 25 bonus tips.
The 2nd edition has been downloaded 18221 times since November, 2008.
Support the Cause
I am giving out this ebook for free. There is no obligation for you to donate, but please consider helping the cause. You can donate as much or as little as you want. Even as little as $1 helps me to know that you find the ebook helpful. Any donations will go to my time making this website better and so I can continue to make updates to this ebook. The payment is processed through PayPal’s secure servers.
Here is a condensed version of the table of contents:
#1: Know the rules!
- Be able to define in your own words what the bridge must accomplish
- Do not get disqualified
#2: Design the bridge
- Design the bridge around the loading points
- Choose a truss to use
- Draw the bridge to scale
#3: Gather Materials
- Wood
- Tools
- Workspace
#4: Build the bridge
- Step One
- Step Two
- Double check for leaning
#5: Testing and Evaluation
- Testing Procedures
- Evaluation Procedures
If what you’re building is a home then general contracting is something to try to learn as much about as possible before hiring new home builders to work on your home. The process of building a home is something that still might involve the use of a remodeling contractor so that’s something to keep in mind.
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Enjoyed reading your e-book. There is a small typo on the trusses page where you use the word “implantation” rather then “implementation.” Thought you might want to know.
I’m wondering if you’ve noticed that there appears to be a ca. 7-8 year cycle in balsa wood strength. This is an observation based on 29-years of balsa bridge contests.
Peter, thanks for the comment and pointing out the typo.
I had not noticed that trend of balsa wood strength that you mention. I have only been working with Balsa for 9 years.
[...] “5 Steps to Building a Model Bridge” is a terrific resource (available as a free PDF, but donations are welcome). He explains everything from choosing wood, glue and tools to drawing [...]
please i also need the cost to build a bridge across seven mile sea and how many engineers i will need and worker just like an estimate
hi i havent read your ebook yet, but this information is really helpful!
Hi Garret
Nice eBook. However, as a structural engineer I can tell you that you are making some fundamental errors in the ebook. Members taking the largest load does not always need to be the bigger member (for efficiency). This is mistake many young engineers make. Increasing the size of your member actually ‘attracts’ more load and so you achieve the opposite. I would suggest you have an engineer have a look at your ebook.
Besides that – good work.
Hello Menno,
Thank you for your comment. Unfortunately I have not had the opportunity to take any engineering classes, and base my ebook on my observations from my time spent building model bridges. The ebook wasn’t really meant to be a manual for learning the in-depth engineering concepts that would be useful for building bridges. However, I would love the chance to chat with an engineer about my ebook, and about bridges in general. I always strive to learn more about how bridges work, so thank you for informing me about this phenomena where making a member larger will increase the load acting on it. Do you have any resources where I could learn more about this? Is this something that always happens, or does it depend on the location of the member in the truss?
Great book and website. I do not agree with the previous comment that the larger members “attract” more load. This would be true if stiffness of members were a factor (moment resistance), but since this is a simple truss your assumptions are basically correct: larger loads should have larger members to reduce the stress (force per unit of cross sectional area) — especially the compression members, due to buckling.
i was buiding a bridge out of toothpicks. i wanted to know if i hould use hot glue or not……should i ?
thanks 4 ur help!! LOL:)
Am I able to buy this in the store as well or simply online?
Emmett, what exactly are you talking about buying?