Central Valley N scale Bridge

[babbo_enzo]

Yesterday, positioning an Atlas Through Plate Girder Bridge across a creek .... I decided to short a CV truss kit I've on a shelf (it was too long and I short it by one span).
I want share here some of the considerations I made myself during the construction, and like to hear your mind about. I must say I've read lot of good thinks on this bridge when CV present it and this was the "why" I've!
Well, in summary:
- I've expected a more "rigid" type of plastic for a Bridge. Black styrene is very soft and flexible! It was difficult to position all pieces perfectly squared, specially the long ones.
- Additionally, but can be my old eyes, black plastic don't help to view details and don't help to position pieces immediately.
- There are very few fixed joints( aren't any notches or guides to help line them up) : most parts are just "touching" the counterpart and glue is what take it together. It was very tricky to glue parts that need "3 hands help" to stay together.
- Kit is delivered in a plastic bag: a cartoon box will protect better during shipment and .... help to don't lose any part!
- Instructions are.... my pain: it refer to part #s but no # printed on the plastic parts/sprues nor a drawing listing parts and #s. Pictures are not very clear and not for all construction steps.
- Last but not least... ties supposed to support rails can't hold ME code 55... at the end I've replace ties piece with ME "bridge" flex.
I will expect something better for sure from this kit!
Curious about your experience on this kit.

[noblerot]

I just got one in the mail yesterday but have not started it. I was planning to use ME code #55 as well. There is an excellent article in N Scale Railroading in the March/April 2010 issue by John McCarthy with better instructions and some suggestions for a modification. He used ME code #55 without any problems evidently.

[babbo_enzo]

Just to give justice to CV... result is superb!
My curiosity was only on the "industrial" side.

[inkaneer]

Timely post.  I was considering buying these for inclusion on an Ntrak module.  However, I am wondering about vertical height clearance.  M.B. Klein lists this on their website as 1 1/2 inches or 20' 4".  This seems low especially for double stacks.  For a comparison the Atlas bridge [C55] has a vertical clearance of 1 11/16 inches or 22' 6".  So is the Central Valley bridge okay for double stacks?

[babbo_enzo]

It doesn't quite have the clearance for double stacks.
On code 55 rail the end webs are about 1mm too low to handle a Walthers well car with 2 48' containers. The rest of the bridge has the clearances, it is just the web sections on the angled girders that cause a problem !!!! >
The vertical clearance on the C.V. truss, from the head of the rail to the bottom of the lowest crossmember, is 21'9''. 
To adjust clearance have to do some modifications on the bottom part that sustain the tracks...
I'm at work so can't detail as I've not the bridge on hand.
Hope helps?

[Ian MacMillan]

Is even the new "Modernized" kit having the same issues?

[babbo_enzo]

Is even the new "Modernized" kit having the same issues?

UH ? there is another model , enhanced or ...
http://www.cvmw.com/nscale.htm
clicking on the 1815 I've "page not found"!
Is this ?

I've an idea... use the remaining trusses to modify the Walthers 130' Turntable to an SP Pony like this?
http://www.wx4.org/to/foam/sp/san_fran/turn/tables.html

[wazzou]

Apparently, the modernized version has higher portals to address the double-stack issues.

[Ian MacMillan]

UH ? there is another model , enhanced or ...
http://www.cvmw.com/nscale.htm
clicking on the 1815 I've "page not found"!
Is this ?

Yup the 1815 is marketed as "high portal" so I think it may accommodate double stacks, but I am not sure...I've been meaning to pick up 3 for a project that needs them (ok 5 as the modules need 2) but have not got a chance yet.

1810 "Standard"


1815 "Modernized"

[inkaneer]

Okay, M.B. Klein is showing the same specs for both #1810 and #1815 of 1 1/2 inch [scale 20'4"] vertical clearance.  It might be their mistake or...

[noblerot]

The one I just got yesterday is the 1815, I waited for it because the clearance is supposed to be OK for stacks. I hope to get this built this weekend to check the clearance. The CV website page for it has been like that for a while. The instructions do not list the clearance.

[noblerot]

I took out the parts from my kit and fit them together to measure. I measure 23' 8" H clearance and 17' 6" W. This is the #1815 CV bridge kit. ME Code 55 rail.

[wazzou]

I can certainly see where you might get 3'4" based on the pictures Ian posted.

[Ian MacMillan]

I took out the parts from my kit and fit them together to measure. I measure 23' 8" H clearance and 17' 6" W. This is the #1815 CV bridge kit. ME Code 55 rail.

That's good, I believe the bare min for double stacks is 22'.

[wm3798]

Cripe.  Get some styrene and fabricate webs that fit.  It ain't brain science.

Lee