Zak's Turntable

[eZAK]

Click on this shutterfly link to view more pics of my scratch built turtable.

http://share.shutterfly.com/action/share/view?i=EeANmbVu4cMnDho&open=1&x=1&sm=1&sl=0

Thanks for viewing.

[Dr. John]

Very nice turntable and photos, Pat! How about telling us a little about how you constructed it?

[Anonymous]

Very nice, how much was scratchbuilt, and how much was kit based?

Did you use the HO powered truck to turn it, or is it turned by the DC motor?

and again, nice job.

[FJ and G]

Zak,

Very interesting.

Is that an HO track in the pit.

Where'd you get the motor and what did it cost?

How do you index it?

Does it operate in 2 directions?

[eZAK]

Whooops!

In my haste I forgot to include some quick facts.

The pit was cut out from the table top using a RotoZip & a motified circular attachment.

The 'cutout' then became the the pit floor.

The pit walls were made from a single piece of thin flexable plastic.
The edges were joined using opposing 45* angles.

The track inside the pit is HO flex and is used mainly for electrical pick-up.

The DC gear motor was from http://www.surpluscenter.com/ and its intended use was for rotating a sat. dish. It has a special mounting plate that made it ideal.
( I do not think this exact same item is still in stock, but there was a post over at OGR where some one had found one. I'll get back to you on where to purchase.)

The motor is controlled by a HO power pack making for some real slow action.

The bridge is made from (2) Lionel kits. I threw the boxes out so I can't give you a number but I think they were a pedestrian walk way. Maybe someone can help out here.
The shanty on the bridge is from a Lionel/MPC draw bridge.

I had planned on using an idexing system at first, But once I installed it I found out how slow it moves in either direction I quickly determined in was not needed.
It is actually more fun lining it up with just an eye!

Thanks!
And keep the questions coming.

[Anonymous]

great Pat, thanks.

So, have you hooked it up to TMCC yet?

[selector]

I'm in HO, and used the Walther's 90 footer. I have had several problems, but have ironed them out. One problem that I did NOT have was how to control the speed and alignment of the bridge and radial tracks. With a DC analog controller wired to the kit motor, I get all of the control I need. Just reduce voltage as the rails approach each other, to near-dead-slow, and ...Bob's yer uncle!

P.S. (edited)- My apologies, Zak. I neglected to mention that I really like what you have done. Good show. Have you found it to be trouble-free when actually turning locos?

[1688torpedo]

Hello Pat ! That is a swell job you did on that turntable! There sure is plenty of talent here on this forum from scratchbuilding Turntables,Bridges,Tunnels,To complete countryside scenes on layouts. My Hats off to everyone with these talents.............Keith

[FJ and G]

Zak,

Does the motor reverse? Does it go slow enough so that you can eyeball when the rails line up?

If it overshoots, can you reverse the unit, and if so, do you use the HO power pak reverser switch?

I believe you can get some good slow cheap motors from Jameco online as well. Some go as slow as a few revolutions per minute. Think they're called stepper motors, and operate by relatively low DC voltage.

They have lots of other useful functions for animantions as well.

[eZAK]

David,
Yes, The motor does go in both directions.
The small Lionel HO power pack I have has a dial in the center. Turn it one way and it goes in one direction, turn it the other way and it goes in reverse.

The motor was rated at 3 rpms top speed.
With the power pack at its lowest setting, I timed it at 8 min for 1 revolution.

[eZAK]

Update

Here are a few more points I'd like to make.

A jig saw and a steady hand will also work for cutting the hole.


Another smaller hole was then cut into the pit 'floor' to mount the motor.

I chose HO flex track for electrical pick-up b/c of the ease of use and the looks.

The motor I used is no longer available from Surplus Center.
A suitable one maybe found but the key is the mounting plate.
Consider how you will mount the motor before purchase.

The bridge is 28" and can handle a Lionel Lionmaster Challenger.
I have not yet found the numbers to the kits I used.
The center core of the bridge is white plastic molding found at home centers. I used this instead of the cross members supplied with the kits for added strength.

The cost of material for this project was about $100

[Roger Bielen]

I know of someone who has used an old B&D powered screwdriver for the turntable drive with a DC powerpack to enable control. Don't know any more details nor have I seen his work other than a couple of photos.

[Anonymous]

Great turntable ezak. I think it is very similar to mine.



Mine is 32" in length and will hold 2 Williams trainmasters, with the couplers overhanging.It sits on a section of 027 track and some old Lionel trucks.
I do like your motor system better. I looked for something similar but everything I found was too fast, too bulky, etc. What I used was an arm attached below, with a 24" all thread connected to a dc geared motor. It runs in forward and reverse and very slow so no need for indexing. It takes about 45 seconds to go from one track to another. The down side is I cannot do a 360. It only turns about 160 degrees , but that allows me to access all tracks. I do have access underneath if the right motor ever presents itself to rebuild it.
I plan on adding a small house to the side of the rotating part and removing the center rail on the track. Adding ballast and paint when I get to that phase.
The next project before closing in the round house is putting electric door closers on each of the 5 doors, and a light that comes on when each door is open. I am working on that now, but cant decide whether to open all at once or have 5 individual dc motors.
Anyways thanks for the pics and all you guys don't be afraid to post some pics of your scratchbuilt stuff. I think some people may be embarassed if they are not master builders, but thats the only way to become better by getting suggestions from others here, so post away........Tim

[FJ and G]

Pigseye,

That's a real classy job you did on that, as well.

[eZAK]

Good one Tim!

How was your pit made?

"All you need now is some camo paint (flat brown).
The next project before closing in the round house is putting electric door closers on each of the 5 doors, and a light that comes on when each door is open. I am working on that now, but cant decide whether to open all at once or have 5 individual dc motors."

Keep me posted! I'd love to see how that comes out!