Designing and 3D printing a large RC crawler trestle bridge one section at a time.
Build Status:In Progress
What Is the Trestle of Doom?
The Trestle of Doom is a custom bridge project being built for the TECH1RC backyard crawler course. Instead of buying a finished bridge, we are building this one piece by piece using 3D printed components.
This page will follow the entire project from the first printed parts through assembly, installation, testing, failures, redesigns, and eventually the first RC crawler crossing.
Project Setup
Printer
Bambu Lab A1
Material
PETG filament
Purpose
RC crawler course bridge
Construction
Modular 3D printed sections
Current Stage
Final sections, obstacles, and course connection
Build Style
Designed, tested, revised, and documented as we go
3D Printing the Build
The Trestle of Doom is being printed on a Bambu Lab A1 using PETG. This is also a learning project, so we will document the settings, successful prints, failed prints, assembly problems, and fixes along the way.
As the project grows, these lessons will become part of a new TECH1RC 3D Printing for RC resource designed for hobbyists who want to start printing their own RC parts, accessories, and course components.
Build Log
UPDATE #2Episode 2
The Trestle Takes Shape
The Trestle of Doom has moved well beyond the test-fit stage. The wooden stations are mounted along the fence, major sections of the multicolor PETG track are installed, and the first real vehicle testing exposed an important problem: the longer spans flexed too much under heavier 1/18-scale trucks.
The fix turned out to be simple and inexpensive. Electrical conduit was mounted beneath the tracks and secured to the modular joiners with zip ties. The reinforcement transformed the long sections from flexible spans into a surprisingly rigid track system.
With the structural problem solved, work moved on to obstacles, including the seesaw, and full driving tests across the installed sections.
What's Next
The final section is being built as a downhill serpentine run using multiple curved track sections. From there, the course will sweep through a curve onto a station, make a short run to the final station, and descend back to ground level at the beginning of Liberty Trail. The goal is one continuous route from the Trestle of Doom directly into the crawler trail.
UPDATE #1Printing Begins
From Concept to Real Parts
The Trestle of Doom has officially moved from an idea into physical construction. The first modular rail and truss sections are being produced, laid out, and checked against the crawler course so we can establish the final span and placement before full assembly begins.
The future home of the Trestle of Doom along the TECH1RC backyard crawler course.
Initial side sections laid out to check overall length, alignment, and spacing.
A real-world test fit beside the crawler course gives the first clear look at the scale of the project.
A closer look at one of the modular truss sections that will make up the finished bridge structure.
Production is underway, with batches of PETG bridge components printed and waiting for assembly.
The Project Begins
The Trestle of Doom concept is officially underway. Initial measurements have been taken, the modular structure is being planned, and the first components are being printed for test fitting.
Current Construction Plan
Each trestle section will use multiple printed components on both sides of the bridge. Parts will be produced in batches, assembled into sections, and tested before the full structure is installed on the crawler course.
Coming Next
The final downhill serpentine, curve, last station, and ground-level exit are next. When finished, the Trestle of Doom will feed directly into Liberty Trail for one continuous TECH1RC crawler route.
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