Black Bear Construction Co., Inc.  Trestle and Bridge Building Supplies for the Model Railroader

Midwest Products Kits

"I know these kits are great because I designed them myself.  I guarantee that if you follow the instruction, you will build a great looking bridge.  If you have any problem at all with the instructions or materials, please call me immediately."

  - Mike Barrett, President of Black Bear Construction Co., Inc.

Success Series Kits

Midwest Products Success Series Kits are a pleasure to build.  They are dual dimensioned in inches and millimeters.  There are plenty of drawings and textual descriptions.  No matter whether you are a word person or a picture person, these instructions will explain how to build these kits.

Skill Level 1:
These kits can be built without prior building experience, using simple hand tools.  Some parts in Skill Level 1 kits require cutting and fitting.

Skill Level 2:
These kits require slightly more skill and some prior experience using hand tools. Some parts in Skill Level 2 require cutting, fitting and shaping.

Choosing a Timber Bridge

The trestle bridge was always the preferred bridge because it is the cheapest and easiest to build.

The Howe Truss Bridge revolutionized timber bridge construction. It's structural integrity makes efficient use of wood's ability to withstand compressive stress. It is characterized by heavy members that lean inward. These inward leaning members and top chord carry compression. The vertical members (typically iron rods) and bottom chord carry tension. The outward leaning members aren't actually needed in static situations. However, the dynamic loading applied by a moving train makes them necessary. Just about every timber bridge built after the Civil War is a Howe Truss Bridge.

The deck bridge is the best choice if flooding or height makes a trestle impractical. A deck bridge puts all the structure under the rails where it won't get hit by a train.

If the clearance is insufficient (flowing water or track crossing underneath) a truss bridge is required. A pony truss has short side panels and can span up to 80 feet. A through-truss bridge (like Midwest Products' Fox River Bridge, below) can span up to 150 feet.

The Black Bear Arch Bridge is a "back woods" design that might have been common in the 1800's.

HO Scale Price List ACCESSORIES The items can help you build your trestle and add detail to the finished product. MW-3049 Trestle Buddy - 12" - HO scale Trestle construction tool. Black Bear is now the sole supplier of this product. NEW PRICE $9.95 Builds up to 14" trestle. MW-3049B NEW PRODUCT Trestle Buddy - 24" - HO scale Trestle construction tool. 12 Trestle Buddy joints to build a longer trestle. $16.95 Builds up to 26" trestle. MW-3049C NEW PRODUCT Trestle Buddy - 36" - HO scale Trestle construction tool. Holds 18 Trestle Bents in place at one time. $21.95 Builds up to 38" trestle. MW-3049S Trestle Buddy - Single joint $1.95 ST-0102 HO Scale Stringer Stock - One 24" piece - Unfinished $3.95 ST-0202 HO Scale Stringer Stock - Two (2) 24" pieces - Unfinished $6.95 ST-0402 Bulk (3 or more) - HO Stringer Stock -24 in For this product, key in quantity and click "BUY" $3.25 TJN-N N & HO Scale NBW Pack 15 Sprues, 35/Sprue, GL-5066 $6.00 MA-182 Mt. Albert HO Scale Bridge Ties 8" x 8" x 10' Bridge Ties $16.65 500 to a bag. Includes 16 ea. 16' long refuge ties. More HO Scale Ties from Mt. Albert Scale Lumber DR-29 #29 Drill Bit Pilot Drill for 8-32 Tap $2.00 Used to rework jig to accept Leg Cutting Guide How to Use the Leg Cutting Guide. TAP-832 8-32 Tap Taps hole in Jig for Leg Cutting Guide Upgrade $3.95 Used to rework jig to accept Leg Cutting Guide How to Use the Leg Cutting Guide. TRESTLE KITS and JIGS There are a lot of different trestle kits. You may want to use the TRESTLE SELECTION GUIDE to help you sort it out. Part No. Description Price Photos and Drawings TJK-5LHO HO Scale, 5 Leg Trestle Kit $41.98 TJ-5LHO      HO Scale 5 Leg Trestle Jig - Only - Includes Drawings and Instructions $24.51 TJM-5LHO      HO/HOn3 Scale 5 Leg Trestle Materials Pack - Only $17.47 MW-3051 Canyon City Trestle Kit w/ Midwest Jig and Trestle Buddy HO, Skill Level 2 $38.21   COMPARE the BLACK BEAR and MIDWEST PRODUCTS TRESTLE KITS TJK-5LGHO HO Scale, 5 Leg Trestle Kit w/ Leg Guide The jig in this kit comes with the Leg Cutting Guide. $45.13 How to Use the Leg Cutting Guide. TJ-5LGHO      HO Scale 5 Leg Trestle Jig w/ Leg Guide - Only - Includes Drawings and Instructions and Leg Cutting Guide $27.66 TJM-5LHO      HO/HOn3 Scale 5 Leg Trestle Materials Pack - Only $17.47 TJK-5LHON HO/HOn3 Scale, 5 Leg Trestle Kit Builds both Narrow Gauge (HOn3) and Standard Gauge $41.98 OR TJ-5LHON      HO/HOn3 Scale 5 Leg Trestle Jig - Only - Includes Drawings and Instructions $24.51 TJM-5LHO      HO/HOn3 Scale 5 Leg Trestle Materials Pack - Only $17.47 TJK-5LGHON HO/HOn3 Scale, 5 Leg Trestle Kit w/ Leg Cutting Guide Builds both Narrow Gauge (HOn3) and Standard Gauge. Comes with Leg Cutting Guide. $45.13 OR How to Use the Leg Cutting Guide. TJ-5LGHON      HO/HOn3 Scale 5 Leg Trestle Jig w/ Leg Guide - Only - Includes Drawings and Instructions and Leg Cutting Guide $27.66 TJM-5LHO      HO/HOn3 Scale 5 Leg Trestle Materials Pack - Only $17.47 TJK-4RHO HOn3 Scale, RGS Trestle Kit Based on the Gallagher Creek, CO, trestle. $52.67 TJ-4RHO      HOn3 Scale, RGS Trestle Jig - Only - Includes Drawings and Instructions $32.09 TJM-4RHO       HO Scale RGS Trestle Materials Pack - Only $20.58 TJK-4RHOA HOn3 Scale, Alternate RGS Trestle Kit Based on David Bigge's typical RGS bent, the Gazette, Jan/Feb, 1987, p.22. $52.67 TJ-4RHOA      HOn3 Scale, Alternate RGS Trestle Jig - Only - Includes Drawings and Instructions $32.09 TJM-4RHO      TJM-4RHO, HO Scale RGS Trestle Mat'l Pack - Only $20.58 TJK-4DNHO HOn3 Scale, D&RGW Trestle Kit Narrow Gauge trestle kit. $42.62 TJ-4DNHO      HOn3 Scale, D&RGW Trestle Jig - Only - Includes Drawings and Instructions $24.33 TJM-4DHO      HO/HOn3 Scale, D&RGW Trestle Jig Materials Pack - Only $18.29 TJK-4DSHO HO Scale, D&RGW Trestle Kit Standard Gauge trestle kit. $42.62 TJ-4DSHO      HO Scale, D&RGW Trestle Jig - Only - Includes Drawings and Instructions $24.33 TJM-4DHO      HO/HOn3 Scale, D&RGW Trestle Materials Pack - Only $18.29 TJK-4AHO HO Scale, Alamogordo & Sacramento Mtns. Trestle Kit Standard Gauge trestle kit. $54.37 TJ-4AHO       HO Scale, ASM Trestle Trestle Jig - Only - Includes Drawings and Instructions $32.17 TJM-4AHO       HO Scale ASM Trestle Materials Pack - Only $22.20 ARCH BRIDGE KIT and JIG This "back woods" design is appropriate for logging operations or during the mid-1800's. ABK-HO HO/HOn3 Scale, Arch Bridge Kit Standard Gauge or Narrow Gauge. Includes piers to support the bridge. $37.96 Watch the building of this kit in O scale. AB-HO      HO/HOn3 Arch Bridge Jig - Only $28.39 ABM-HO      HO/HOn3 Arch Bridge Materials Pack - Only $9.57 TRUSS BRIDGE KITS and JIGS There is a lot a variety available in the way of truss bridge kits. TBK-HO HO/HOn3 Scale, Truss Bridge Kit Standard or Narrow Gauge. Includes piers for end supports. Can be built in any one of three different designs. $38.96 TB-HO      HO/HOn3 Scale Truss Bridge Jig - Only - Includes all the instructions and drawings you need. $28.39 TBM-HO      HO/HOn3 Scale Truss Bridge Materials Pack - Only - Enough materials to build any one of the three designs. $10.57 MW-3050 Silver Creek Truss Bridge Midwest Products Skill Level 1. HO Scale. You build the jig yourself. Most of the wood is pre-cut. MSRP: $19.95 $16.96 COMPARE the BLACK BEAR and MIDWEST PRODUCTS TRUSS BRIDGE KITS MW-3053 Eagle Pass Truss Bridge Midwest Products Skill Level 2. HO Scale. MSRP: $39.95 This kit is based on prototype Southern Pacific drawings. $33.96 MW-3054 Fox River Thru Truss Bridge Midwest Products Skill Level 2. HO Scale. MSRP: $49.95 This bridge comes as a "zero clearance" so you can use it with integrated roadbed track (like EZ Track). The instructions show you how to build the prototype floor. $42.46 MP-FXHO      Fox River Prototype Floor - HO $9.55 DECK BRIDGE KITS and JIGS Both of these kits make great looking bridges. DBK-HO HO/HOn3 Deck Bridge Kit Extend the bridge out the end of the jig to make it longer. $50.19 DB-HO      HO/HOn3 Scale Deck Bridge Jig - Only $38.73 DBM-HO      HO/HOn3 Scale Deck Bridge Materials Pack - Only $11.46 MW-3052 Boulder Creek Deck Bridge Midwest Products Skill Level 2. HO Scale. MSRP: $39.95 $33.96 COMPARE the BLACK BEAR and MIDWEST PRODUCTS DECK BRIDGE KITS

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Austin, TX 78755-0911
(512) 467-8400 FAX:(512) 985-5110