Building model of Cooper River Bridge

I'm not familiar with the bridge thus I can't get a handle on what you're looking for.

Bill Banaszak, MFE

crotalus, I put "cooper river bridge" in google search and came up with this one. Is this the one you're talking about?

lol where the hell is the cooper river bridge...............is it a significant architectural structure......does it have any historical significance....and why are u building it ........ Arc

Cliick on the link above you that Mike G. sent. Historicaly. just opened. Im building it just to build it. That is kind of a stupid question to ask on a model builing forum. Why do people build model cars, plane and tanks?To build something from scratch is a real challange and anyone who does not like this bridge pretty much does not have a pulse.

Can you reinforce the base/column joints with something such as A&B Putty (or similar two-part clay-like epoxy putty)? If your base is hollow, you should be able to keep the putty "invisible", and it will definitely reinforce the joints, while also giving you time to "scooch" them around, to get the alignment the way you want it. Plus, it will keep you from having to drill "perfect" holes.

You might want to post the question over on rec.models.railroad. Model Railroaders build a good number of bridges. My suggestion would be to attach the columns to the bridge deck and then attach everyting to the base. That way every thing can folat from the deck and you can shim to the base and cover the shims with scenery. It's the exact opposite of the way you would build the protoype, but it works for models.

I just did. Wow! I'm quite sure my little bit of knowledge about bridges isn't of any help here.

It's breathtaking but I don't think I'd feel comfortable driving across it. I believe my pulse would make its presence too obvious. :]

Bill Banaszak, MFE

Hey Greg that is a good idea. I will try this, maybe instead of ripping the bottom off to fill i could drill two holes and inject it. I was even thinking of casting the parts.

Hey Bill, I drove on it opening day. We tried to go across at 3 pm but traffic did not die down till 11pm. I can till you I was slightly disapointed because most bridges I cross will make me just slightly rushed from the anxiety of being that high up over water, on this bridge no rush. It is so wide, 8 lanes and the 4% grade is so slight that you dont even feel like you are on a bridge. Quite a bridge!

You will probably have to drill holes, big enough for your fingers. You will need to be able to poke around in there, to squish the putty where you need it, and squish it back into place, one you get the columns aligned.