New N scale Tie System from Central Valley Model Works

[basementcalling]

Aside from possible other benefits, it prices out to $1.08/ft with ME rail, vs $1.50/ft for Atlas C55 flex.

$46 for 50 scale feet of ties seems pretty outrageous to me, or is that 50 actual feet of ties? Must be the latter.

I agree with @GaryHinshaw that code 40 or the concrete tie might have been better first choices.

[GaryHinshaw]

I have a question about process.  I am used to laying flex track with sweep sticks, especially around joints with curves, and I'm not sure I could get that kind of control with this approach.  Has anyone used this system in HO to lay sweeping curves with smooth joints?

Aside from possible other benefits, it prices out to $1.08/ft with ME rail, vs $1.50/ft for Atlas C55 flex.

I'm getting a different answer...    Here is my calc of MSRP price per (actual) foot, with MBK discounted prices in parentheses.  It's close to a wash:

CVM ties, $46.18/50' + ME weathered rail*, $52.50/99':     $1.99  ($1.63)
ME weathered flex track*, $33.90/18':     $1.88  ($1.51)
Atlas flex, $148.75/62.5':     $2.38  ($1.50)

*Non-weathered rail/track is about 5% cheaper.  (Surprisingly, ME non-weathered track is cheaper per foot than Atlas, even at smaller quantities.)

[TLOC]

I use the HO CVT ties with code 70 ME weathered rail. I have 90' of main and about 100' of siding and spurs. I laid out the turns the same way as any other track method. When laying the ties on cork road bed I just followed the center lines. The ties in HO are 12" long and flexible. I used a combo of MEH and Barge cement (local ACE HARDWARE) to cement the ties together as they have a nice step to join ties together. I soldered 2-3' pieces of rail together, ran the MEH/Barge combo with a Q-tip across the bottom of the rail. I then went to the ties and with a micro brush applied the the MEH/Barge combo to the ties. Then laid one rail into the tie plates on the ties. Then did the other side, I did also use 3 ME  track gauges even though they were seldom needed. I believe my 30" turns flow very nicely and IMO look great. Since I am writing this from a hospital bed, I have no pictures to attach.

I also have 18 turnouts on my layout. 3 are the CVT turnout kits and are very nice, the other 15 are ME and when I start over, I believe they will all be CVT, they have a great choice of sizes versus only # 6 from ME.

Do I recommend? In HO absolutely for N, only if they will be providing various size turn outs. When I started laying track in 11/2014, i figured $.50 per foot less for CVT and ME against ME code 83 and 70 flex. The satisfaction in laying the track was worth it. There are no gaps where the rail ends, its just one nice flowing piece of track work. One other thing, CV returned the next day every email question I ever had as did ME who also replaced a couple warped turnouts. Customer service is a lost art in some companies, not with these 2. I wish them the best for their "n" adventure.

In Horribly Oversized
Tom

[Cajonpassfan]

Thanks to Gary for contacting Central Valley. I will do the same.
I would be just thrilled to see full Code 40/43 turnout kits in N scale.

But, even just turnout bases would be great; it is actually much easier to fabricate rail components in Code 40 then 55 (much less filing). Having ready made bases would make it a snap.
Otto K.

[wazzou]

$46 for 50 scale feet of ties seems pretty outrageous to me, or is that 50 actual feet of ties? Must be the latter.

It's actual feet.

[ednadolski]

The concern with turnouts is, a kit is more than just the tie base.  CV has their own frog/point/throwbar system for their HO kits, but it remains to be seen how that would scale to N.  As I recall, the throwbars in particular were somewhat fragile, so that might need a re-design.  One could probably use the P:87 etched frogs, etc., but that adds to the cost and the fiddle factor.

Ed

Edit:  Interestingly, you can buy the CV turnouts from P87 Stores as a fully built-up and ready-to-lay option (at a slight upcharge, of course).   I wonder if N-scalers would be interested to pay $40 - $50 apiece for a pre-built C40 turnout.

[ednadolski]

But, even just turnout bases would be great

I've done this with metal etchings on wood ties, and while i have been pleased with the results, the cost of the etchings is rather high due to the amount of real estate that it uses up.

Ed

[wcfn100]

I just got an email back from CVMW regarding the ties and it looks like they've gone with mix of ties lengths and spacings to approximate track that's been upgraded over time.  I've never liked the look of 9' ties like ME track has, so I'll be very interested to see what people can make these ties look like.  Since ME track suffers other issues that annoy me, maybe well formed ties without flash will look fine even if they are 9'.

I put in a request for a c40 strip with 8'6" ties slightly offset on 22" centers.   Or, as it always seems to be, just make in N what you make in HO. 

Jason

[wazzou]

9' length ties have been the standard length for the Union Pacific's cross-ties.  To my knowledge, they are the only Class I that specs that length.

[GaryHinshaw]

I got a quick response this morning as well.  Jeff basically directed me to the proto:87 store, so I'm not going to hold my breath.  I responded that turnout ties alone (not a full kit), sized to the proto:87 parts would still be very welcome.  Heck, even just an injection molded throw-bar that reliably attaches to the proto:87 points would be a great help.  If you have similar suggestions, let him know!

Thanks for the notes TLOC.

[sirenwerks]

I have a question about process.  I am used to laying flex track with sweep sticks, especially around joints with curves, and I'm not sure I could get that kind of control with this approach.  Has anyone used this system in HO to lay sweeping curves with smooth joints?

I'm getting a different answer...    Here is my calc of MSRP price per (actual) foot, with MBK discounted prices in parentheses.  It's close to a wash:

CVM ties, $46.18/50' + ME weathered rail*, $52.50/99':     $1.99  ($1.63)

Even with the retail price for ME weathered rail corrected to $52.80, I get $1.46/ft.  retail and $1.12 MBK street price ($1.08 unweathered).  $150 (weathered @ retail) savings if you have 1K feet of rail. 


Doing unweathered from MBK, you're talking $0.42 (where's the cents sign on my keyboard?) a foot savings versus Atlas track. Wow!




Man, I hope ME does switches and a code 40 flex version for sidings.

[GaryHinshaw]

But track needs two rails.   

My bad on the MSRP though: it is $52.80 for 99' of weathered rail.  That makes $0.53 per foot of rail = $1.06 per foot of track.  Add the cost of the ties and it's still $1.99 per foot after rounding.    And it's $1.55 per foot at the MBK price -- I had an error in my discounted rail price, previously.  So even closer to a wash.

[wcfn100]

So who got some?

Jason

[sirenwerks]

But track needs two rails.   

My bad on the MSRP though: it is $52.80 for 99' of weathered rail.  That makes $0.53 per foot of rail = $1.06 per foot of track.  Add the cost of the ties and it's still $1.99 per foot after rounding.    And it's $1.55 per foot at the MBK price -- I had an error in my discounted rail price, previously.  So even closer to a wash.

OK, you got me on that one.  Still, the detail....

[unittrain]

I'm going to give these a try they sold out too fast at MBK, here's a picture they have on Facebook of the weathered N scale ties. https://scontent-lga3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xtf1/t31.0-8/fr/cp0/e15/q65/12496291_10153694689750660_1659675717550788703_o.jpg?efg=eyJpIjoidCJ9