Micro-Mark® Laser-Cut Deck Kit for O and S scales
and Bachmann Plasticville Truss Bridge in O scale

Reviewed by George Riley/photos by the author

Most narrow gauge modelers choose narrow gauge due to its quaint and timeless qualities. Narrow gauge in North America is in many ways a perfect time capsule of the golden age of railroading. What many of us seem to forget is that when the roads were constructed, the builders used the latest railroad practices and the era's most advanced technologies.

This is particularly the case in with right of way construction and civil engineering projects. While over looked by most modelers, metal bridges and trestles were well represented on the narrow gauge lines. Sadly, there is a real deficit in offerings for these bridges to narrow gauge modelers.

Micro-Mark’s laser-cut bridge deck offering nicely addresses this shortage. Designed as a retrofit for Bachmann’s classic Plasticville® truss bridge, this quality laser-cut wood and card deck bridge easily converts this common model for use in O scale and O scale narrow gauge. This provides the model builder with a quickly constructed durable metal style truss bridge at an economical price.

The deck kit can be constructed easily in an afternoon including painting. It can be used either with the Bachmann bridge or as a base for other bridge projects by the addition of the modeler’s choice of kitbashed or scratchbuilt super structures. The kit uses finely grained laser-cut aircraft grade plywood for its stringers and cross bearing beams for an amazingly strong structure. Easy to apply laser-cut peel and stick cardstock is used for the girder web and gusset plates. The due to the quality components used for the deck, finishing can be easily accomplished with the addition of a commercially available clear spray sealer coat and a coat of flat spray enamel.

Measuring 17 1/4" long, the end result is a reasonable model of a lightly constructed metal through truss that would have been commonly used on branch lines or narrow gauge roads at the turn of the twentieth century. In addition, this reasonably priced deck kit provides a great starting point for those wishing to construct their own custom bridges as well as adding a new use for a commonly available product.