Making a turntable for vehicles: Any ideas?

[Anonymous]

Hi everyone! I need a few turntables for some O scale vehicles to turn slowly on--You know, the kind of thing you see in car showrooms? I know I need to scratch build something, but what and how? I have a rubbermaid "lazy Susan" which turns but when I motorized it, it spun too quickly. I need some sort of gearing to bring down the RPMs. Any thoughts. Just having fun, so don't worry about suggesting some crazy ideas.

[rlplionel]

Hey AJ, here are some commercially available turntables:

http://www.sportcraftcars.com/display_turntables.htm

[yellowducky]

Ok, you could go several different ways on this project. The obvious idea is buy one. I just saw one advertized. I went to hunt for that, but found a bag of candy I forgot about, so I'm forgetting about hunting anymore. Good candy. Oh, I think Lionel (2004 cat.) or maybe Historic Rails offers a car dealership with 3 turntables. I might try cutting wood, or using old Erector Set parts, or a combo of both. Rubber bands, duct tape, or even string can be used for a drive belt (or belts). Nails make nice shafts. Old tape players and old record players yeild many interesting parts. You already got a "table" turing, slow it down by reducing the voltage or adding intermediate gears or pulleys. Radio Shack is a good store to look for parts. You say crazy ideas, how about hooking up an exercise bike for the drive (ride!) unit. Or maybe a treadmill? Happy TRAINing. FDM

(this is my edit here-) See LIONEL 2004 TRAIN CATALO, Vol. 1, pg.140, Lionelville Ford Dealership, price $399.99 Ouch!

[Anonymous]

Thanks guys! Now I know why I love this forum! You are great! I think the time it takes me to rig something up would out weigh spending the $12.95. I didn't know they made them! WOW!! Just what I need!

[lionelsoni]

Most record turntables used synchronous motors. If you reduce the voltage, they will overheat, but will not slow down until they stall.

[Anonymous]

Dear Amtrak Jack,

Instead of using a turntable, why not just hold the cars still and have the world revolve around them [:)]? If you need help, there are a lot of drivers here in southern California who think that the world revolves around them [:)][:D][8D]. But seriously....

Forget gears! Use a system of different-sized wheels with connecting belts--it will be a lot easier. If noone's going to see it, you might use some of that K'NEX stuff at toy stores, which has wheels and neat things to put between them, and rubber bands are sublime for use as belts!

DON'T TEAR UP AN OLD RECORD PLAYER!!!! Those things are very often of the same era as the J3a--we got rid of one, let's not do it to the other.

Go to an electronics store and by a motor and rheostat, and have fun! (An old "mom and pop" operation is better--the major chains seem to be all about computers and stereos that use more electricity than a PCC car [:)].)

Good Luck,
Daniel

[Anonymous]

Thanks Dan. I like your idea of having the world revolve around the cars! COOL! But I think I'll just buy the ones on the web site mentioned above. They cost like $15 or less and have two speeds. Saves me the time of building them.

[Anonymous]

Dear Amtrak Jack,
You're quite welcome. I'm always glad to ruin the seriousness of a topic. Unless of course it's "How Great Alco Diesels Are [:)]."

See you around the slightly less serious forums,
Daniel

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by trainjunky29

Dear Amtrak Jack,
You're quite welcome. I'm always glad to ruin the seriousness of a topic. Unless of course it's "How Great Alco Diesels Are [:)]."

See you around the slightly less serious forums,
Daniel

Yeah, I don't want to take things too seriously here, either. It's a fun hobby and should stay that way. :)

[Anonymous]

A good cheap low speed and variable speed motor gear box is a junk battery powered electric screwdriver made by Skill or Black and Decker. I get them at garage sales or you probably have an old one that the batteries are shot and it is not worth buying new ones. Use a cheapo HO dc power pack transformer for a $1 or 2.

For more power, use batteryt powered drills. Some model boaters use these to power model boats.

You can buy lazy susan bearing at hardware stores if you need to make a custom turntable. I used one on my railroad turntable I will post building instructions when I get time.

Charlie Bee