g scale turntables

[Anonymous]

How much would you pay for a g scale turntable?

[Anonymous]

Hi railrdmatt
I wouldn't pay for a G turntable no matter the cost.
A turning triangle will allways be cheaper to build the cost of the 3 points (switches) and flex track just like in the small scales will allways be cheaper
regards John

[toenailridgesl]

Why pay? There were plans in GR mag to make your own. Go but a $5 Lazy susan from the local cheap-junk Asian shop and build your own gallows on top of it.

[bman36]

Hey there,
Interesting question...but I'm with Phil on this. I checked the 0-499 box since my only cost would be materials. Scratcbuilding has become so much fun for me that buying anything in the way of structures is pretty much out of the question. Saw a really nice turntable at an open house in St. Paul las weekend. Very cool. Later eh...Brian.

[vsmith]

railrdmatt

I think you priced yourself out of the market with question. Pola offered a really nice turntable for indoor use but the $900 price tag essentially priced itself out of production. No one was will to spend that much, no matter how nice it was, for it.

One of the biggest hinderence to the promotion of large scale is the perception that it is very expensive, and it can be very much so. Thats why so many scratchbuild, not only because they like to, but because sometimes its the only way to get something specific to your needs or to save money when the only manufactured products are too high a price. Example: plastic Pola Coaling Tower based on the prototype in Silverton or Chama is $200+ , wood stock and other materials to scratchbuild the same thing $60. Plans for almost any structure are available in HO and O and xerox enlargements are easy to do.

You listes a price range from 0-499, then went up all the way to $4K You should have set your cap at $500, beyond that I dont think anyone would pay $4K for a turntable unless it fixed breakfast and did the window at the same time.

a better poll might be

0-199
200-299
300-399
400-499
500-999
1000+

I think you get a far more realistic feedback from forum members about what they would be willing to pay for a RTR weatherproof turnetable.

[Anonymous]

I could not vote.
Seen some very nice, company made motor driven, gear rotation all weatherproof. Not cheap though.
Now what you are thinking I am nutz? Nope remember it goes with a computerized system.
I just can not vote because it would have to go with a computer controlled system.

[Anonymous]

I said 0 to whatever,They are just to easy to build. I would most likely build one with a manual crank that could be operated while standing a few feet away from the turntable.

[Anonymous]

I AGREE WITH CARPENTER MATT . BEN

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by toenailridgesl

Why pay? There were plans in GR mag to make your own. Go but a $5 Lazy susan from the local cheap-junk Asian shop and build your own gallows on top of it.

Hi Phil
Fair point though looking at the Atlas HO scale one I have the whole ting could just be planked and a shed put on the edge of the covered pit.
no embarasing incidents if front of visitors.
Have generaly avoided TT's (the Atlas one was free).on the grounds of cost.
and at 1000+ it would want to be able to serve a good Chinese feed with plenty of fresh coffee along with some nice Margret River or Barosa Valley wine
without any prompting or human intervension.
regards John

[grandpopswalt]

I'd pay $200 -$300 for a GOOD and totally weatherproof TT that was designed for ACCURATE indexing. However, I doubt that such a thing could be made for the sum I stated. Therefore I guess I have to vote, $0.

Walt

[Anonymous]

The only space I have for a turntable is inside my garage so weather is not a problem. As others have said, scratch building a turntable is not that hard. Plus, our railway is far to modern (late 50s) for a gallows style table so would have a plate girder bridge instead making it even easier to build.
If all goes well I'll build a turntable this winter.

OLD DAD

[vsmith]

I have seen a really cool turntable on MLS thats perfect for the guys with lots of room and very big engines. The guy used a 4' dia circle of track in a pit, a girder type bridge and two A/C powered trucks to operate it. I beleive it was pivoted in the center to keep the alignment correct but I thought the powered trucks were an inovative idea. This means the turntable was 4' long but with A/C's DASH-9 being over 3' long and Aristos new Mallet isnt exactly short either it would accomodate any loco you threw at it.

Phil do you remember this turntable ?

[Anonymous]

Found this.

http://www.dallee.com/Turntable.htm

[Anonymous]

I had to vote zero as I build my own from photo's sent to me by the caretaker at the Cheyenne museum who looks after the grounds there. I built mine from those photos and it was a snack. Lazy suzzane came in real handy as well. in 1;32 scale it is 54 inches long. Hope the Big Boy fits when it gets here, Challenger does with a bit to spare at each end
Grant

[Anonymous]

SoundGK,

You have a 3 way turn out. Left, Stright, Right that you make? But I would need it in code 250 or just send me plans.