 Central Valley Model Works
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CVT Q & A's. updated: 10/24/2010Q: Do you soldier the rail joiners and feeder wires to the track before or after gluing the track to the ties? A: No, I do not solder the rail joiners, and I solder the feeder wires to the rails after they are in place and secured to the CVT tie material. Q: How long a section of rail do you normally glue down at a time? A: More often I do 20ft. sections of track per session. When the room ventilation is adequate, at times I have put down over 100ft. in a single afternoon. Q: Do you normally put any weight on the track to hold it down while the glue is drying? A: When I am laying long lengths (6-20 ft.) I use weights to hold the rails down while the drying takes place. Q: Can you tell me the best method for gluing rail to ties? A: I form the rail in my fingers to the approximate radii and fit into the tie plates. While holding the rail in place I apply a small amount of MEK to the rail base and tie. It takes a few seconds for it to set and if I am laying long lengths (6-20 ft.) I use weights to hold the rails down while the drying takes place. Q: Is it best to apply the Barge to the track or the ties? A: Using a "Q-tip", I spread thinned ( 2-1 or 3-1 ) Barge® cement to the rail base and let dry. Q: When curving a CVT switch, what is the minimum radius you would recommend? A: I do not know what the limit for any switch is. I recommend modlers use the least amount of curvature. In other words, the largest radius possible is always the best. Q: Do the switch kit ties come in main and branch thickness? A: The Switch ties are split in thickness between the Branch and Mainline tie thickness (Switch tie: 0.07", Mainline tie: 0.075", Branch Line tie: 0.065") Q: Why do you NOT use a brown color for the ties/do you have any plans for brown? A: Most people end up painting their ties anyway's and we have too many different opinions as what color they should be. Personally I like the black for a base so when I lightly spray them from an angle, the black in the wood grain comes out like creosote in the splits of prototype trackage. Q: I assume your code 81 rail fits the code 83 switch kits? A: Yes the code 81 rail fits very well and is preferred with the CVT track system for mainline use in the late steam to diesel era. Although the modeler will need to file the top surface a bit more to bring the 0.083” (code 83) down to 0.081” (code 81). The kits points, and frogs are actually 0.084 / 0.087 to allow for variations in multiple rail manufactures. With the code 81 rail and RP25 wheel sets the flange-way in the frog may need to be cut deeper with a file or sand paper (240/320) wrapped around a thin metal blade. Q: Considering the rail is glued to the strips, what about expansion and contraction concerns? A: The CVT system should be gapped, for expansion / contraction like normal. We recommend using Barge cement (a shoe and leather industry product) because of its ability to stretch and shrink with out loosing strength over many cycles. Personally we did use spikes at every rail joint (atlas N joiners for code 81 rail) and also along the rail about every 10” (ten inches) or so. We also prefer spiking the closure rails at the frog and point area, we spike next to the throw-bar (to re-enforce machine pressure) and spike the frog point rails that exit the switch. Q: How well does your track and switches work on AMI roadbed? A: Because of the need for the modeler to press downward on the CVT while installing ties, gluing rail, spiking rail, blending rail (with file), and drilling (for wiring) the AMI road bed has proven to be completely unsuitable for both trouble-free installation and operation with CVT or any hand-laid model track project. The AMI roadbed will not maintain a consistence vertical plane for the ties which in result will effectively cause a roller-coaster effect with your trackage. Q: Is the 1604 switch stand kit operational? A: No, the kit is designed to only replicate an early 60’s style. When used with the CVT Switch ties the target can be made to rotate 85 deg. Q: Do you have in the works any crossovers, double slips / or wyes? A: No not at this time, although you can bend the CVT switch into a wye. Q: In the instructions for the Turnout, it gives the average diverging radius, - Does this mean that this radius is the tightest radius that you can use for this switch? A: The turnout can be curved to much tighter radii than your equipment will operate on. This could result in shorting, derailment and damage to your equipment. Other effects include un-desirable distortion of the arc along the stock rails right-of way. Q: When using a 1/2" foam sub base, what rail joiners and spikes should I use? A: Micro Engineering rail joiners work fine but the foam sub base--I just don't know. I we use a much stouter material. Barge and like products sharing similar solvents will dissolve Styrofoam materials. Styrofoam board (foam-core) with paper on both sides will reduce the reaction when glues are applied in modest amounts. Q: When using Micro-Engineering Code 70 and Code 55 rail. Will these properly gauge on your tie strips? A: Micro Engineering Code 70 rail works flawlessly. The 55 may seem loose, but don't get uptight,. because laws of averages and combined tolerances provide excellent operation with only an occasional adjustment during installation.
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