Answers.Body: <p>If you also want them to be aware of the solidity of their bridge, you may want to have a look at this <a href="http://www.philohome.com/bridge/bridge.htm">contest</a>.</p>
  
  <p>Note that bridges made of stacked plates are much more solid than Technic ones.</p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-31T23:21:29.503Z
Answers.Text: To prevent the stack-of-plate loophole, most Lego bridge contest now have a weight limit.
Answers.UserDisplayName: pcantin
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2011-10-29T05:48:43.857Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2011-10-29T05:48:43.857Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: Joubarc
Answers.Body: <p>Since you mention an engineering class, I assume you probably mean a functional bridge that can be tested for capacity.</p>
  
  <p>This bridge may not withstand a great deal of weight, but it appears in a 1964 LEGO Idea Book and is created only from basic bricks available at that time. (LEGO did issue a more detailed Tower Bridge set a few years ago)</p>
  
  <p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/8KjD2.jpg" alt="LEGO Tower Bridge"></p>
  
Answers.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Answers.CreationDate: 2012-03-11T01:30:06.503Z
Answers.LastActivityDate: 2012-03-11T01:30:06.503Z
Answers.UserDisplayName: 62Bricks
Body: <p>I teach an after-school engineering class using LEGO bricks, one of our classes has the students build a bridge.  Each student gets a custom set of about 150 2x4 bricks, about 300 2x2 bricks, and, if I'm feeling generous, about 15 2x8 plates.  Although I've seen many fancy bridges made with technic parts, I've never seen an awesome bridge made with just basic bricks.  I'm looking for a reference bridge to show the kids, after the build their own, what is possible.  So, show me the best bridge (either a link to someone else's bridge , or a photo of your own) that can be made with just basic bricks!</p>
  
  <p>Scope note: Most people don't have this custom set of bricks, so links or pictures of any bridge that uses almost no rare parts and use almost no technics would be cool.</p>
  
  <p>Background: </p>
  
  <p>LEGO Bridge Page: <a href="http://lego.sparre-andersen.dk//Transport/Broer/" rel="noreferrer">http://lego.sparre-andersen.dk//Transport/Broer/</a></p>
  
  <p>Arch from <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20071014143559/http://www.weirdrichard.com/images/arches1.jpg" rel="noreferrer">archive</a><br>
  <img src="https://i.sstatic.net/HOroG.jpg" alt="arch">  </p>
  
  <p>Cantilever from <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20071014143404/http://www.weirdrichard.com/images/canta.jpg" rel="noreferrer">archive</a><br>
  <img src="https://i.sstatic.net/DWQCN.jpg" alt="cantilever"></p>
  
  <p>Big:  from <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070220113147/http://weirdrichard.com:80/images/ruffes.jpg" rel="noreferrer">archive</a><br>
  <img src="https://i.sstatic.net/SbD3B.jpg" alt="big lego thing"></p>
  
  <p>Sort of basic arch: from <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/doctorsinister/5047678593/" rel="noreferrer">flickr</a><br>
  <a href="https://i.sstatic.net/W1IAy.jpg" rel="noreferrer"><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/W1IAy.jpg" alt="large arched bridge"></a></p>
  
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-29T03:13:46.077Z
Comments.Text: From the FAQ:
  
  You should only ask practical, answerable questions based on actual problems that you face. Chatty, open-ended questions diminish the usefulness of our site and push other questions off the front page.
  
  Your questions should be reasonably scoped. If you can imagine an entire book that answers your question, you’re asking too much.
  
  If your motivation for asking the question is “I would like to participate in a discussion about __”, then you should not be asking here.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Lee DeLapp
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-29T08:09:58.563Z
Comments.Text: I don't think "off-topic" is the right close vote here...
Comments.UserDisplayName: LegoSonicBoy
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-29T08:56:30.483Z
Comments.Text: I think a better question would have been: How do we make [this bridge - with picture] more robust? With a picture of the bridge in question, or something like "How would you go about about building a functional Cantilever bridge using the following components?" and then tag it [tag:technique] or similar
Comments.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-29T17:02:31.510Z
Comments.Text: I disagree that this is off topic.  I think Joubarc's answer is perfect.  The question is practical - I face this problem.  And although it is open ended, it is not inherently open ended, any more than any 'what is the best'  type of question, which are often asked and answer, for example, on stack overflow.  I do like Zhaph - Ben Duguid's suggestion as being significantly more constructive and less discouraging than simply closing this.
Comments.UserDisplayName: ascendlyJJ
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-29T17:29:37.517Z
Comments.Text: Pubby8 asked this http://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/273/what-is-a-good-ratio-to-buy-bricks-in I feel that either these should both be closed, or neither should be.
Comments.UserDisplayName: ascendlyJJ
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-29T18:29:24.173Z
Comments.Text: I think Lee DeLapp was just plain wrong. This question should not have been closed.
Comments.UserDisplayName: Erik Olson
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-29T19:18:28.653Z
Comments.Text: @ErikOlson and AscendlyJJ: At this stage (private beta), both of you should be able to vote to reopen this (I have done), or vote to close the others. Oezi's question as originally asked was even more off topic, being related specifically to programming mindstorms. Just commenting doesn't really help ;)
Comments.UserDisplayName: Zhaph - Ben Duguid
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-29T21:28:16.960Z
Comments.Text: I've added this as a meta topic for discussion http://meta.bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/59/will-all-open-ended-questions-be-closed-i-certainly-hope-not
Comments.UserDisplayName: ascendlyJJ
Comments.ContentLicense: CC BY-SA 3.0
Comments.CreationDate: 2011-10-29T23:50:32.010Z
Comments.Text: Ok, I never saw a reopen on stackexcange before!
Comments.UserDisplayName: Erik Olson
Tags: <building><bridge>
Title: Bridge from just basic bricks?
UserDisplayName: ascendlyJJ
ThreadText: # Bridge from just basic bricks?
  
  (Asked by: username_0 on 2011-10-29)
  
  I teach an after-school engineering class using LEGO bricks, one of our classes has the students build a bridge. Each student gets a custom set of about 150 2x4 bricks, about 300 2x2 bricks, and, if I'm feeling generous, about 15 2x8 plates. Although I've seen many fancy bridges made with technic parts, I've never seen an awesome bridge made with just basic bricks. I'm looking for a reference bridge to show the kids, after the build their own, what is possible. So, show me the best bridge (either a link to someone else's bridge , or a photo of your own) that can be made with just basic bricks!
  
  Scope note: Most people don't have this custom set of bricks, so links or pictures of any bridge that uses almost no rare parts and use almost no technics would be cool.
  
  Background:
  
  LEGO Bridge Page: <http://lego.sparre-andersen.dk//Transport/Broer/>
  
  Arch from [archive](https://web.archive.org/web/20071014143559/http://www.weirdrichard.com/images/arches1.jpg)  
  ![arch](https://i.sstatic.net/HOroG.jpg)
  
  Cantilever from [archive](https://web.archive.org/web/20071014143404/http://www.weirdrichard.com/images/canta.jpg)  
  ![cantilever](https://i.sstatic.net/DWQCN.jpg)
  
  Big: from [archive](https://web.archive.org/web/20070220113147/http://weirdrichard.com:80/images/ruffes.jpg)  
  ![big lego thing](https://i.sstatic.net/SbD3B.jpg)
  
  Sort of basic arch: from [flickr](http://www.flickr.com/photos/doctorsinister/5047678593/)  
  [![large arched bridge](https://i.sstatic.net/W1IAy.jpg)](https://i.sstatic.net/W1IAy.jpg)
  
  **Tags:** building, bridge
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_1**: From the FAQ:  You should only ask practical, answerable questions based on actual problems that you face. Chatty, open-ended questions diminish the usefulness of our site and push other questions off the front page.  Your questions should be reasonably scoped. If you can imagine an entire book that answers your question, you’re asking too much.  If your motivation for asking the question is “I would like to participate in a discussion about __”, then you should not be asking here.  
  > **username_2**: I don't think "off-topic" is the right close vote here...  
  > **username_3**: I think a better question would have been: How do we make [this bridge - with picture] more robust? With a picture of the bridge in question, or something like "How would you go about about building a functional Cantilever bridge using the following components?" and then tag it [tag:technique] or similar  
  > **username_0**: I disagree that this is off topic.  I think username_5's answer is perfect.  The question is practical - I face this problem.  And although it is open ended, it is not inherently open ended, any more than any 'what is the best'  type of question, which are often asked and answer, for example, on stack overflow.  I do like username_3's suggestion as being significantly more constructive and less discouraging than simply closing this.  
  > **username_0**: Pubby8 asked this http://bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/273/what-is-a-good-ratio-to-buy-bricks-in I feel that either these should both be closed, or neither should be.  
  > **username_4**: I think username_1 was just plain wrong. This question should not have been closed.  
  > **username_3**: @username_4 and AscendlyJJ: At this stage (private beta), both of you should be able to vote to reopen this (I have done), or vote to close the others. Oezi's question as originally asked was even more off topic, being related specifically to programming mindstorms. Just commenting doesn't really help ;)  
  > **username_0**: I've added this as a meta topic for discussion http://meta.bricks.stackexchange.com/questions/59/will-all-open-ended-questions-be-closed-i-certainly-hope-not  
  > **username_4**: Ok, I never saw a reopen on stackexcange before!  
  
  ---
  
  ## 2 answers
  
  ### Answer by username_5 on 2011-10-29. Score: 6 | Accepted answer
  
  If you also want them to be aware of the solidity of their bridge, you may want to have a look at this [contest](http://www.philohome.com/bridge/bridge.htm).
  
  Note that bridges made of stacked plates are much more solid than Technic ones.
  
  > **Comments:**
  > **username_6**: To prevent the stack-of-plate loophole, most Lego bridge contest now have a weight limit.  
  
  ---
  
  ### Answer by username_7 on 2012-03-11. Score: 5
  
  Since you mention an engineering class, I assume you probably mean a functional bridge that can be tested for capacity.
  
  This bridge may not withstand a great deal of weight, but it appears in a 1964 LEGO Idea Book and is created only from basic bricks available at that time. (LEGO did issue a more detailed Tower Bridge set a few years ago)
  
  ![LEGO Tower Bridge](https://i.sstatic.net/8KjD2.jpg)
  
  
  ---
  
  