Video: Build A Model Bridge

This is the absolute best video I have seen about building model bridges. Roy Coleman, the founder of the International Bridge Building Contest, gives a very informative presentation in this video. The presentation is over an hour long. He shows how to build a bridge from scratch. He is gearing his video towards the Chicago Regional Contest in particular. The concepts, however, apply to virtually all model bridge building projects. This is a great companion video to my 5 Steps to Building a Model Bridge ebook. There are a lot of sweet little tricks in this video. Highly Recommended.

Here is an outline I made for the presentation:

  • History of Bridges
  • Nature
  • Greek
  • Roman
  • Types of Bridges
  • Arch
  • Da Vinci Bridge
  • Truss Bridge
  • Suspension Bridge
  • Cable Stay Bridge
  • Moveable Bridges
  • Tacoma Narrows Bridge
  • For A Contest
  • Read the Rules!
  • Design Within an Envelope
  • Why use Triangles
  • Compression and Tension
  • Building: Wood and Glue
  • Joints
  • Bending Wood
  • Construction Techniques
  • Check Bridge Against Rules
  • Weigh Bridge
  • Testing a Bridge
  • Different Techniques
  • Safety
  • Efficiency

What do you think about this presentation? Is there anything you disagree with?

9 thoughts on “Video: Build A Model Bridge”

  1. Hey Garrett, how do you respond to his comment on glue and joints?

    He says wood glue = most efficient, and that but joints are better than lap– in direct contradiction to you.

    Reply
    • Interesting claims. It is obvious too that he knows my material, as he almost directly quotes it at some points.

      It is super hard to back up a claim about the most efficient glue. I have done zero scientific tests in this matter, so I can only speak from my experience. I do not think that wood glue (what wood glue is he speaking of) is the most efficient. I think that WeldBond is the most efficient glue for all categories to consider (weight, strength, price, drying time).

      Butt joints are NOT better than lap joints for joints in tension. There is some debate about whether or not a butt joint is better in compression, but you can read my take on it on my joints page.

      Reply
  2. hey garrett this is a really great video were doing a school project on bridges and i’m very happy i found your sight thanks for putting this video on here!!!!!

    Reply

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