Trains.com

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Atlas Turntable Improvements

3389 views
14 replies
1 rating 2 rating 3 rating 4 rating 5 rating
  • Member since
    June 2005
  • From: Phoenixville, PA
  • 3,495 posts
Atlas Turntable Improvements
Posted by nbrodar on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 8:10 AM

 I've also been working on improving the appearance of my Atlas turntable, by painting the deck and shed covering the motor, and filling in the extra track slots:

Nick

 

Take a Ride on the Reading with the: Reading Company Technical & Historical Society http://www.readingrailroad.org/

  • Member since
    January 2008
  • From: Big Blackfoot River
  • 2,788 posts
Posted by Geared Steam on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 9:17 AM

Nick, great job, what did you use to cover the extra slots? It looks great. I also improving the looks on my Atlas, obviously a different era and railroad, I have a ways to go since I haven't worked on the layout all summer, winter is in the way so it;s about time to get going.

 

"The true sign of intelligence is not knowledge but imagination."-Albert Einstein

http://gearedsteam.blogspot.com/

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • 1,089 posts
Posted by BlueHillsCPR on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 11:25 AM

Nice weathering on the shed too.

As already asked, how did you fill in the extra slots?

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: College Station, TX
  • 675 posts
Posted by Arjay1969 on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 11:50 AM

 It looks like he didn't so mich fill them in as cover them with a "shroud" of styrene.  Either way, it looks a lot better!

Robert Beaty

The Laughing Hippie

-----------------------------------------------------------------

The CF-7...a waste of a perfectly good F-unit!

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the

end of your tunnel, Was just a freight train coming

your way.          -Metallica, No Leaf Clover

-----------------------------------------------------------------

  • Member since
    November 2007
  • 1,089 posts
Posted by BlueHillsCPR on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 12:42 PM

Arjay1969
It looks like he didn't so mich fill them in as cover them with a "shroud" of styrene.

 

Yes, looking at the photo again it looks like that is what has been done.  Like you say, it is an improvement.

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Amish country Tenn.
  • 10,027 posts
Posted by loathar on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 3:10 PM

Looking good! I always hated all the slots they put around it. What concrete color did you use? (the outer rim color)

  • Member since
    June 2005
  • From: Phoenixville, PA
  • 3,495 posts
Posted by nbrodar on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 6:38 PM

 Thanks guys.

 Styrene is your friend.  Cool I used styrene to make a cover for the slots.  It stands a bit proud of the table deck, but it's hardly noticable.  The concrete color is a 50/50ish mix of Creamcoat Trail Tan and Rain Gray.

Nick

Take a Ride on the Reading with the: Reading Company Technical & Historical Society http://www.readingrailroad.org/

  • Member since
    August 2004
  • From: Amish country Tenn.
  • 10,027 posts
Posted by loathar on Tuesday, November 4, 2008 6:52 PM

I'm really torn on my set up. I'm using the Walthers 90' tt and the Atlas round house. The Atlas RH is raised up to meet with the taller Atlas TT. I can't decide if I should raise my TT or do away with the Atlas RH foundation so it's in line with the TT. I like the look of the taller RH, but I hate the look of a raised TT.ConfusedBanged Head

  • Member since
    June 2005
  • From: Phoenixville, PA
  • 3,495 posts
Posted by nbrodar on Thursday, November 6, 2008 9:03 AM

 Lothar,

Could you not use the Atlas foundation, and construct a new one from styrene?

Nick

Take a Ride on the Reading with the: Reading Company Technical & Historical Society http://www.readingrailroad.org/

  • Member since
    March 2007
  • From: College Station, TX
  • 675 posts
Posted by Arjay1969 on Thursday, November 6, 2008 11:10 AM

 Loathar,

I seem to recall that the Atlas TT was raised so that the tracks could be laid on cork roadbed and still line up with the TT.  I'm going on the assumption that they did the same for the roundhouse.  If that's the case, then all you'd have to do is lay cork sheets around the Walthers turntable to raise it to the correct level, and cut a hole in the cork that the roundhouse would fit into, and then everything would line up nicely and look like it was all on the same level. Smile

Robert Beaty

The Laughing Hippie

-----------------------------------------------------------------

The CF-7...a waste of a perfectly good F-unit!

-----------------------------------------------------------------

Then it comes to be that the soothing light at the

end of your tunnel, Was just a freight train coming

your way.          -Metallica, No Leaf Clover

-----------------------------------------------------------------

  • Member since
    June 2005
  • From: Phoenixville, PA
  • 3,495 posts
Posted by nbrodar on Thursday, November 6, 2008 5:39 PM

 Here's the nearly finished project.  I added some weathering around the rails, I think I need to feather it a little better, and put down some scenery.

 

Nick

Take a Ride on the Reading with the: Reading Company Technical & Historical Society http://www.readingrailroad.org/

  • Member since
    October 2015
  • 163 posts
Posted by Butlerhawk on Saturday, November 8, 2008 1:47 PM
I had the same situation - Atlas roundhouse and Walther's 90' TT - I took the foundation off the roundhouse; I thinks it looks good; I am not too pleased with the 90' TT kit, but iI did get it working
  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Martinez, CA
  • 5,440 posts
Posted by markpierce on Saturday, November 8, 2008 3:14 PM

BlueHillsCPR

Nice weathering on the shed too.

 

??

Mark

  • Member since
    June 2005
  • From: Phoenixville, PA
  • 3,495 posts
Posted by nbrodar on Saturday, November 8, 2008 7:18 PM

 Kevin's referring to the shed in the upper left that covers the turntable motor.  That, IIRC (it's almost 20 years old), is Testors Steel drybrushed with Testors Rust.

Nick

Take a Ride on the Reading with the: Reading Company Technical & Historical Society http://www.readingrailroad.org/

  • Member since
    April 2003
  • From: Martinez, CA
  • 5,440 posts
Posted by markpierce on Saturday, November 8, 2008 11:41 PM

nbrodar

 Kevin's referring to the shed in the upper left that covers the turntable motor.  That, IIRC (it's almost 20 years old), is Testors Steel drybrushed with Testors Rust.

I recognize the structure.  There was no confusion.

Mark

Subscriber & Member Login

Login, or register today to interact in our online community, comment on articles, receive our newsletter, manage your account online and more!

Users Online

There are no community member online

Search the Community

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Model Railroader Newsletter See all
Sign up for our FREE e-newsletter and get model railroad news in your inbox!