Many bridges around the world become the most amazing monuments on earth because of their beautiful and stunning architecture. Unfortunately, you can't display these amazing bridges in your living room. Luckily, with a few construction techniques, some ice cream sticks, creative ideas, and some household items, you can build a beautiful bridge to decorate your home with.
Step
Part 1 of 4: Planning the Bridge
Step 1. Determine the length of the bridge
You should think about the length of the bridge before going to buy materials. There are various sizes of ice cream sticks sold in supermarkets or art stores. You can start with:
- Put a wood meter in the work area.
- Take into account the approximate length of the bridge.
- Place a wooden tape measure crosswise to record the width of the bridge.
- Estimate the number of ice cream sticks based on these dimensions and the size of the sticks that will be used.
Step 2. Gather the required materials
You can buy materials for making ice cream stick bridges at your local convenience store, retail store, or art store. The type of ice cream sticks to use will depend on the image of the bridge you have in mind, but make sure you buy enough so you don't run out of them in the middle of the manufacturing process. Here are the materials you will need:
- Ice cream stick
- Hot glue (and regular glue)
- A large piece of cardboard or construction paper
- Paper (for design)
- Pencil
- Scissors or large scissors (for cutting ice cream sticks)
- Wood meter or ruler
Step 3. Prepare the work area
Place a piece of cardboard or construction paper on a table or other smooth, flat, and non-tilted surface. Make sure the surface of the work area is large enough to contain the bridge to be made by comparing the rough dimensions of the bridge to the work area.
Step 4. Determine the type of bridge to be made
There are several types of bridges to choose from, such as suspension bridges, drawbridges, and truss bridges. Ice cream sticks are ideal for making truss bridges because they use triangles in their frames to support and strengthen their structural integrity.
To provide guidance, the bridge model that will be built in this article will follow the classic Warren truss bridge structure
Step 5. Draw a blueprint for the bridge
Blueprints are drawings that serve as plans for the design of the structure. Truss bridges can have varying degrees of difficulty and you should research several designs before creating your own. In general, truss bridges have the following characteristics:
- Floor beams and struts are crossed.
- The deck, which forms a footbridge or walkway on a bridge.
- Cross beams (stringers) extend below the deck.
- External frame, consisting of squares divided into triangles for better integrity.
- Cross bracing forming an X along the top of the bridge.
- Sway bracing under the transverse strut at the top.
Step 6. Draw the blueprint of the bridge
Now that you have an overview of the structure you want to build and the important parts of the truss bridge, you are ready to use your imagination. Take a little time to draw the design. You do not need to create a design that is similar to the original. A blueprint is a plan, not a perfect representation.
Part 2 of 4: Building Skeleton Blocks
Step 1. Make the arrangement of the bridge beams in more complete detail
Use the blueprints to guide you, but now you have to start crafting the ice cream sticks to make the actual construction. The framework consists of four beams that run across the top and bottom of the bridge. Then, you will add triangles to strengthen the support. Here's how to build the outline:
- Arrange four rows of ice cream sticks and each row consists of three sticks placed crosswise. Each row must be the same length.
- Cut four sticks into two halves. Place each piece at each end of the truss beam, in the center of the three pre-arranged ice cream sticks.
- You'll be sticking three ice cream sticks arranged crosswise to form the skeleton.
Step 2. Glue the frame blocks together
Take the sticks from each ice cream stick arranged in four rows and, while keeping them aligned, glue the frame blocks together. This step will result in four blocks formed from three ice cream sticks.
- Glue dries really fast! For best results, press and/or pinch the ice cream sticks together as you apply the glue.
- Put the ice cream sticks together and press firmly so that the skeletons stick to each other.
Step 3. Assemble the frame and let the glue harden for a while
If you use hot glue, you don't have to wait long. Make sure the glue is completely dry to prevent you (or someone else) from bumping into the frame and causing the ice cream stick to come off. If you are using another type of glue, such as wood glue or all-purpose glue, wait 10-15 minutes for the glue to harden.
If you touch the frame and the joints feel weak, wobbly or loose, wait another 15 minutes
Step 4. Measure the cross supports for the frame
Use a pencil and tape measure or ruler to measure the regular intervals at which you support and connect the truss with the transverse restraints. For the model you are going to create here, you will use 2 sticks arranged in a W scheme.
- You can also think of it this way: each row W that will connect the 2 skeletons together represents two ice cream sticks placed next to each other.
- The more restraints you put on, the stronger the bridge will be. However, if you install too much, it will be difficult to see what is moving across the bridge deck.
Step 5. Join the frame blocks
After marking the W schematic, you should be able to determine how many ice cream sticks you need. Calculate the appropriate amount to prepare it. Proceed with the following steps:
- Position the ice cream sticks along the beams of the skeleton before applying glue to check the final structure of the skeleton.
- Use hot glue, or other suitable glue, to glue the ice cream sticks from the restraints to the frame blocks.
- Wait a while for the glue to dry.
Part 3 of 4: Building a Deck
Step 1. Assemble the bridge deck
Place the two frames horizontally over the work area so that they are parallel to each other. Then, take an ice cream stick and arrange it crosswise between the two frames. These ice cream sticks will form a deck, or walkway, that runs along the bridge between the skeletal walls. Arrange the ice cream sticks until they form a deck that runs along the entire length of the frame
- The width of the ice cream sticks placed crosswise will be the width of the bridge deck.
- Make sure you place the ice cream sticks parallel. Otherwise, the bridge deck will look messy.
Step 2. Install transverse supports to support the deck in a staggering formation (lined in two rows)
Large ice cream sticks will provide better stability. If you don't have one, you can also use a smaller stick. Arrange the sticks in an elongated staggering formation so that the bridge deck forms one complete piece.
- Once the deck supports are assembled, use a hot glue gun or other suitable glue to secure the supports in place.
- If you're using wood glue or all-purpose glue, wait a few moments for the glue to dry before continuing.
Step 3. Measure the support beams for the deck and frame connections
Take a tape measure or ruler and measure the length of the deck. You must create a connection medium to lay the deck on. This medium will also connect the frame walls to each other. Take the deck size and thickness of each frame.
Step 4. Cut the supporting and connecting elements
If you have ice cream sticks of various sizes, you may be able to use them, as long as they are the same length as or longer than the total width of the deck and the two frames. If you're using a tape measure or ruler and measuring your deck plus a frame, here's what to do:
- Multiply the width of the frame by two to calculate the width of the two frames, then add the width of the deck.
- Cut three or four ice cream sticks to these lengths.
- If the ice cream stick is too short, make a longer one. Cut two ice cream sticks and stick them together by attaching another stick to the bottom to hold them in place.
Part 4 of 4: Assembling the Bridge
Step 1. Join the skeleton walls
You can ask a friend for help with this step or use a book to support the frame so it stands up to make it easier for you to glue it together. Here's what you should do:
- Install the first two deck girders in the transverse restraints of the frame at either end of the bridge.
- Use glue to attach the girders to the truss beams. Press firmly until the glue dries and the block sticks well.
Step 2. Install additional deck girders if necessary
The more restraints you add and the more triangles you make, the stronger the bridge will be. Use glue to attach additional deck girders to support the frame walls.
Step 3. Install the deck if you want
You may choose to leave the deck unglued so that it can show every aspect of the bridge construction. However, if you want to attach the deck to the truss, all you have to do is apply glue to the truss and stick the deck on top.
Try to do it quickly, especially if you use hot glue. It can be a problem if the glue dries before you have time to glue the deck in place
Step 4. Add support beams at the top
If you have long ice cream sticks available, you can slide them across the strut and then attach them with glue. However, if the ice cream stick isn't long enough, you can make a longer one. Cut a few ice cream sticks and join them to a longer stick with glue to the bottom for support.
If you place the support beams evenly spaced, the bridge will look more realistic
Tips
- There are two different sizes of ice cream sticks used for the construction of this bridge. However, you can make it if you only have one size of ice cream stick.
- If you're having trouble drying the glue, you may be able to use a paper clip to apply pressure between the two ice cream sticks until the glue is completely dry.
- When sticking ice cream sticks, a process sometimes called "lamination," you can make them stronger by arranging them in a staggering formation.
- Be careful not to touch the hot glue gun or the area near it until the glue looks almost clear or translucent!
