School STEPS: Assembly of the elements

The assembly of the elements is straight forward. Blue-tac the bottom piece to the work surface.Apply glue to the side beams of the bottom piece making sure not to glue up the blue-tac.
Stand the side pieces into the wet glue.
Use some sort of support to keep the side pieces standing up straight while the glue dries.

Assemble sides to bottom element

You may need to hold the side pieces for a short while to ensure they sit down straight into the glue. After a few minutes the glue will hold the pieces.
Position the top element over the sides to ensure the sides dry in the correct position. Remember you will want to glue the top element on soon so making sure it is lined up now will save a lot of struggling later.

Position the top element over the sides to get an idea of the final position.

Leave the glue to dry until the side pieces are supporting themselves. Keep the assembly blu-tac'd to the work surface.

The glue is dry enough when the side pieces support themselves.

Check along the side pieces to ensure it has remained square during the gluing.
If all is OK, you can remove the blu-tac.

Check the sides are square.

Lay the top element on the work surface and apply a line of glue along both edge beams.
Position the rest of the bridge, upside-down, on top of the top element.

Position the bridge assembly on top of the top element.

Ensure the sides sit tightly on top of the wet glue. Manipulate by hand as required.

Sit the sides into the wet glue.

Ensure the sides meet the top element along the full length of the glue joint. Press by hand as necessary. treat with care as the assembly is delicate.

Set side pieces into wet glue along full glue joint length.

Hold by hand until glue has gripped the joint. Allow to dry overnight.

finished spaghetti bridge assembly.

Cut a foam decking piece to act as a roadbed. Make sure it is a loose fit and can be easily removed so the full engineered structure can be made visible.