Pont Roulant at Saint-Malo. This is a pretty model to make. First glue four pieces of stripwood, 3/8" × 1/8" × 4½", together (A A A A in Fig. 507). Nail and glue to the corners of this framework four round rods, 10¼ inches long and ¼ inch in diameter. Dowel rods such as these are somewhat difficult to nail on; however, should the wood of the little frame split, or the hole in the dowel rod be made too large for the nail, and so make the structure unsteady, the discs of cork (C in Fig. 507), which have a hole filed in the middle of them and are glued to the rods and the framework, help to consolidate the whole. Similar discs of cork are placed round the middle of rods, B, and at the tops of the rods. These serve to hold the black yarn which rigs the structure. The pieces of cork at the top have the additional advantage of making a steadier base for the platform to rest on. If the poles are not all cut exactly the same length, the discs of cork can be raised above the shorter poles and the platform on top made perfectly horizontal. These cork discs also give a larger surface to glue the platform to. Instead of dowel rods, iron wire 1/8 inch in diameter can be used. These wire rods must have cork discs on them like the wooden rods, but they must be glued into holes in the lower framework and in the platform.
Having fixed the rods in position, thread is tied underneath a bottom piece of cork (C5 in diagram), passed over the top of rod B3 and kept there by the cork disc at the top, round the bottom of post B4 and under the bottom cork, over the next post and so on, so that the threads cross each other as in the diagram. Thread is also tied round the middle of the rods just above corks C1, C2, C3, and C4. Thread is also tied from C2 to C3, and C1 to C4.
Pieces of stripwood, 3/8" × 1/8" × 4½", are glued across the frame A A A A. Next the platform has to be made; this is a piece of wood 8½ inches square and 1/8 inch in thickness. Before gluing it on to the four posts it is best to make and fasten to it the cabin, railings, etc.
Fig. 507
Fig. 508
The cabin, E, in the middle is 3 inches square and 2 inches high; it is cut out of cardboard. Flanges must be left for gluing it to platform, and for gluing the roof to it. Doors and windows are drawn round it or cut out. The cabin is then glued in the middle of platform D.
The roof is a piece of cardboard 3¼ inches by 8½ inches. Fig. 508 shows how it is cut out, half cuts are made along the dotted lines, and G, K, H, M are bent up to form the ornaments G, K, H, M in Fig. 507.