Kato Truss Bridge conversion article?

[Pennsy]

I thought I had seen an article converting a Kato flat top truss bridge to a turtle or curved top truss some where some time ago. Maybe in N-scale magazine? But I cannot find the article now.

Anyone have any ideas?

Jim

Karo > Kato in title. -gfh

[Catt]

I thought it was in N Scale Railroading.

[jimmo]

It was in N-scale Railroading. July-August 2005.

[Pennsy]

I found it! After a suggestion by Walt at N-Scale Magazine. A Google search of Kato Truss Bridge modifications (images) turned up.

http://www.ghqmodels.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=3325

An article on the GHQ Model Forums citing the July-August 2005 “N Scale Railroading” had an article titled “Modifying a Kato Unitrack Single Truss Bridge.” By Russell Straw. And then goes on to show the GHQ admin’s process of following the article.

If anyone knows how I can get a copy (preferably electronic) of that article I would really appreciate it.

Jim

[jimmo]

I don't know if an individual digital version is available through the publisher. All I saw on their website was the actual printed back issue. I can scan the article and send it as a .PDF or other format if you like.

Let men know.

[wm3798]

Gee, all that work to make a beautiful bridge, and he leaves that lead-foot Unitrack in place...  I left the bridge alone and fixed the track on mine by cutting down the countless nubs and replacing it with ME bridge track in c55.





Lee

[jimmo]

I may find myself tar and feathered for saying this about such a popular item, but I've always felt that the Kato bridge looked too horizontally compressed to be a convincing North American prototype. Most of the Warren truss (as well as other types of) bridges I've seen in this country have much wider panels and consequently less angle to the diagonals.

Plus I never liked the way the end post connected to the bottom chord as if the bottom chord was carrying most of the load. Take a look at a prototype truss bridge and you'll see that the end post transfers the load into the bridge shoes and the bottom chord attaches to the end post--not the other way around.

The newer Atlas curved-chord bridge looks more like a North American prototype to me.

[TrainCat2]

Although nothing wrong what was done and the article showed good modeling skills, I agree that the original model is not a great starting point for a Parker type Truss Bridge. I like the Upper Sway Brace detail he added and the Portal does have more character.

An actual bridge of this design would have most of the load being supported by the Top Chord and the Bridge Shoes on the Diagonal Post at the ends. The Bottom Chord is really to keep the Top Chord in tension at the Shoes and provide stabilization and vertical alignment for the Floorbeam / Post juncture. The other thing that actually destroys the profile is the flat Top Chord. Parker Trusses ALWAYS have different angles on the Top Chord between panels to be able to support the loads. Just think of an arch. Example is the PRR Whitford Bridge:







Being a novice bridge builder, just my $.02.

[jimmo]

Well said Bob.

[nsbob]

The Kato bridge painted black would be a close stand in model for the Norfolk Southern black truss bridge over the Roanoke River in Roanoke, Virginia.   If you want views:  Google Maps; enter-1858 South Jefferson Street, Roanoke, Virginia, and scan the street view to the right a few degrees, then you can look at it from different angles.  I don't know how to upload pictures from google maps, so take a look if you like. I have always thought of this bridge when seeing the kato model.

[jimmo]

The bridge

The Kato bridge painted black would be a close stand in model for the Norfolk Southern black truss bridge over the Roanoke River in Roanoke, Virginia.

The bridge you pointed out is a beautiful example of the point I was trying to make earlier. The Kato model is a 10-panel 130' Warren truss, whereas the bridge over the Roanoke River appears to be about the same length but it is only a 6-panel Warren truss. The end posts and diagonals are at 45 degree angles--very typical for a North American prototype. Kato's diagonals are around 75-80 degrees.