Central Valley has been a name of quality since the late 1950 or early 1960's and put out superior car trucks, cars, which of course are still quality today. Now Central Valley puts out superior Bridge kits made of plastic injection that is not only strong but accurately portrays the steel used in the bridges. Central Valley is easy to work with and I extended my bridge 3 center sections to make it a total of 36 inches long.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Here's the good: This bridge is highly detailed, very realistic, and will surely be a centerpiece for any layout. Here's the bad: The kit is not designed very well. The girders, which make up the bulk of the bridge, are not manufactured to size. You need to assemble each half, let them dry overnight and then cut each one to a template, and it's very difficult to get it all square. Many pieces, including the main girders should have been manufactured to the exact size, with ends that are made to interlock rather than the blunt ends that result from cutting that don't fit well into the adjoining piece. Because many pieces are cut, only small steps can be done at one time, then everything has to sit for hours or overnight until you can go back and work on it again. Some pieces, especially the small angled girders are so tiny you need small fingers or you need to be very steady with tweezers, and I wouldn't even attempt it without a head mounted magnifier so you can see how the pieces interlock. Many pieces are attached to the plastic molds with way too many tabs that have to be painstakingly filed down- this was probably the most work of the entire assembly. 2 steps are missing in the instructions and one section relating to girder assembly is so confusing I just skipped it and assembled them on the template without following the steps in the instructions. The instructions are written with several grammatical errors and several pieces are stamped "in memory of Jack" which is just weird. So if you want a really nice bridge and don't mind spending over $100 and investing a couple of weeks worth of evenings into it you'll probably be satisfied in the end. But when I say this is the most complicated and difficult model I've ever assembled in my entire life, it's an understatement. Read full review
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
I am in the process of building this bridge, it is pretty straight forward if you follow the directions, it also helps to view youtube for more defined directions and also to see where others have made mistakes. I believe with a little patience you can build a bridge to be proud of. Practice makes perfect.
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Nicely cut and ready parts with great instructions. Quit accurate. Will be very nice addition to layout. Thanks!
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
Thus is a craftsman kit. It is not for a beginner as there's a lot to be done during construction. Would buy more if I needed them build up very nicely just take your time be patient and you can have a great looking bridge also
Verified purchase: Yes | Condition: New
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