New N scale Tie System from Central Valley Model Works

[wcfn100]

Since I don't have access currently to my modeling space, I just wanted to update this thread with a couple tidbits since no one else seems to have bought this product.

First, there's quite a bit of flash cleanup that needed.

Second, this probably isn't going to work with c43 ME rail (not that it was supposed to).  I haven't been able to go the whole nine yards yet on installing it but there's way too much slop in the c43 rail to keep a consistent gauge.  Maybe next week I can give it a try (and start a new thread).

As for c55 rail, I don't own any.     But maybe I can acquire some in the next few days to compare.

Jason

[Sokramiketes]

The ME rail's nominal dimension is Code 40.  There is a manufacturing tolerance on it that could push it taller or shorter, but there's no reason to call it Code 43 because a few pieces measured that.

[wcfn100]

The ME rail's nominal dimension is Code 40.  There is a manufacturing tolerance on it that could push it taller or shorter, but there's no reason to call it Code 43 because a few pieces measured that.

I don't know what to tell you Mike, every piece I've measured over the last 2-3 years has been .043-.0435".  It's not just one or two or three or four pieces.    I'll concede that maybe I bought all of mine at one time from the same batch, but no one has refuted what the measurement is for new ME rail.  Old Rail Craft and early ME rail could have been .040".

You can say it's just a nominal dimension, but people do know that c40 is supposed to mean .040" and do think that's the actual dimension and make posts and claims based on it.

Jason

[GaryHinshaw]

My rail stock must be from the same batch as Jason's: it's all consistently .043".

I ordered a 6' sample of the CVT ties with my last MBK order, and it should be here in a few days.  (MBK has a big stock again.)  I don't really have a need for wood tie, code 55 track, so it's mainly to satisfy my curiosity.  Hopefully they can be convinced to expand the line to code 40, and - dare I say - to turnout kits.

[Chris333]

I had no idea this stuff was even back in stock. Sooo is it at least better looking than ME flex?

[wcfn100]

So I was able to pick up a piece of ME c55 weathered rail and while the fit is very nice, it's well under gauge measuring close to 4' 6". 

Maybe bending the 'spikes' into the rail will do something, but I don't see how. 

With that, there is enough slop for the c43 rail to be in gauge so maybe there's a workable solution in there somewhere.


Jason

[railnerd]

Got the 6' sampler pack to play with over the weekend— thinking of using it to fill gaps in PCB tie track.

Ties are definitely more random than ME or Atlas.  Some pieces have a small amount of flash and there are some injection molding gates that could use trimming.The

Will take photos once I get some spare cycles.

-Dave

[GaryHinshaw]

Sooo is it at least better looking than ME flex?

Well, I hope it at least looks better than the ME flex I currently have, with its offset ties. 

[mark.hinds]

Well, I hope it at least looks better than the ME flex I currently have, with its offset ties. 

I just received some ME code 55, non-weathered, wood tie flex track directly from them, so presumably it's recent production.  Each 36" piece of flex seems to have four 9" plastic tie strips threaded on it.  Each tie strip has a slight degree of randomness in tie length and positioning, and it just so happens that the last tie is slightly offset to the right.  However, this is barely noticeable, and nowhere near as noticeable as in your image, so they seem to have corrected this problem since you bought yours. 

Sorry if this is off-topic. 

MH

[wcfn100]

Okay, some crappy cell phone pics that still don't warrant a new thread. 













Code 55 is the weathered rail.

Jason

[ednadolski]

Ties look very closely spaced to me.

Ed

[wcfn100]

Ties look very closely spaced to me.

Ed

Yeah, that's something I think I forgot to mention the first time around in this thread.  The ties are listed as being 19 ties for every 30' which equates to ~ 19" centers.  Once again, I don't get why HO companies can't just reproduce what they do in HO in N without screwing with it.  Their HO mainline ties are spaced at 21".

Jason

[mark.hinds]

Yeah, that's something I think I forgot to mention the first time around in this thread.  The ties are listed as being 19 ties for every 30' which equates to ~ 19" centers.  Once again, I don't get why HO companies can't just reproduce what they do in HO in N without screwing with it.  Their HO mainline ties are spaced at 21".

Jason

FWIW, I am looking right now at a copy of Southern Pacific Common Standard CS 1900, revised Dec 1, 1967.  It shows for "primary main track" 19.5" on-center spacing for 7" x 9" x 9'-0" ties.  OTOH, they are all drawn aligned and of the same length.  Perhaps this product should do the same, and allow modelers to cut off the odd tie end if irregularity is desired. 

MH

[Sokramiketes]

I don't know what to tell you Mike, every piece I've measured over the last 2-3 years has been .043-.0435".  It's not just one or two or three or four pieces.    I'll concede that maybe I bought all of mine at one time from the same batch, but no one has refuted what the measurement is for new ME rail.  Old Rail Craft and early ME rail could have been .040".

You can say it's just a nominal dimension, but people do know that c40 is supposed to mean .040" and do think that's the actual dimension and make posts and claims based on it.

Jason

Judging from the last pile I saw at ME, your samples are probably from the same batch!  I've seen the proprietary drawing of the Code 40 rail profile, including the manufacturing tolerances noted for a production run to be acceptable.

So, do your pieces measure more than .040"? Sure.  But the nominal design dimension is definitely .040".  With a manufacturing tolerance above and below the .040". Same goes for the width of the rail. 

Just a bit of trivia for you...

[Catt]

I've been thinking about trying this product and using the PECO code 60 rail.The plan is to make a photo diorama.Only I don't have a clue as whether the code 60 would work in these tie strips.

Anybody have any thoughts on the idea?