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Diamond Scale turntables?

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  • Member since
    May 2023
  • 2 posts
Posted by Manofsteele on Friday, May 12, 2023 9:16 AM

BigDaddy

Welcome to the forum Jerry.  Your posts will be delayed in moderation for a while.

You have waded into a thread from 13 years ago.  Steve hasn't posted in the forum since 2010.  Doctor Wayne's info you can take to the bank.

 Thank You !

BigDaddy

Welcome to the forum Jerry.  Your posts will be delayed in moderation for a while.

You have waded into a thread from 13 years ago.  Steve hasn't posted in the forum since 2010.  Doctor Wayne's info you can take to the bank.

 

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Posted by BigDaddy on Thursday, May 11, 2023 8:05 AM

Welcome to the forum Jerry.  Your posts will be delayed in moderation for a while.

You have waded into a thread from 13 years ago.  Steve hasn't posted in the forum since 2010.  Doctor Wayne's info you can take to the bank.

Henry

COB Potomac & Northern

Shenandoah Valley

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Posted by doctorwayne on Wednesday, May 10, 2023 8:42 PM

Steve40
I'm interested, but my emails and phone messages have gone unanswered---has anyone purchased recently?

Definitely not recently, but 30 years ago (or-so), a friend bought one, and asked if I could build it for him.

After reading the instructions, I agreed to give it a try, and as far as I'm aware, it's still working perfectly.  Were it not for the very good instructions, I wouldn't have even attempted to try it.

I have a scratchbuilt one (an 89'-er) on my layout (not motorised, nor indexed), and a 90'-er from Walthers, also non-motorised and with no indexing.

Wayne

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Posted by Manofsteele on Tuesday, May 9, 2023 6:39 PM

Hi Steve , I have two Diamond Scale Turntables on Order. ( Larry Olson is great to work with. You mentioned that your Hobby Shop owner had some tips on building the kits.  Did you get some good tips from him that you can share ? 

Thank You ! 

Jerry

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  • From: S.E. Adirondacks, NY
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Posted by modelmaker51 on Monday, September 13, 2010 6:11 AM

You can use the superior PTC Model III Programmable Turntable Indexing System from New York Railway Supply, Inc. with a Diamond Scale or CMR TT.  http://www.nyrs.com/docs/ptc_overview.pdf

Jay 

C-415 Build: https://imageshack.com/a/tShC/1 

Other builds: https://imageshack.com/my/albums 

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Posted by Allegheny2-6-6-6 on Sunday, September 12, 2010 12:41 AM

Steve

Let me warn you Diamond Scale turntables are not for the armature builder and by far are not he best choice when it comes to turn tables. They are inferior in many ways, for starters the pits are constructed of Hydrocal no the most durable of materials and as heavy as a brick. The need to be supported extremely well, if your bench work expands or contracts the T/T will shift causing it to bind or worse crack, that why they come mounted on a large piece of MDF or at least used to. The second downfall of theirs was/is the indexing system.The third is/was that the rail that you have to install is not one piece and comes in four sections and has to be soldered and glued in place there is no mechanical connection between the pit ties and the rail. a poor design.

A fair analogy would be between A Bi plane and an F18 fighter jet both can fly but what which one is a better choice. Their indexing system is not only expensive but antiquated in design. Modern indexing systems such as used in the Walthers built up t/t are far superior and are now dcc controlled if one wishes to.  If your looking for something custom that the Walthers can't fill the bill there is also CMR  Custom Model Railroading out of Baltimore Maryland. A fantastic company who make a variety of turntable kits as well as round houses and other structure and bridge kits.

The Walthers built up T/T is the best bang for your buck these days no question,.I have built 14 turntables and round house kits to date so I speak with some knowledge behind what i say ,but the choice is yours.

Diamond Scale was the choice back in the day because it was the only choice,other then maybe a few foreign manufactures such as Heljan and perhaps Marklin and Rivarossi there were no other manufactures of American style turntables.

The original owner passed away some years a go his company was purchased by a few individuals if i recall but to what extent they are into making new products or just selling off his old stock or re popping his old designs i can not say for sure. i did purchase a lot of his pieces to detail and kit bash other brands of turntables. As others who own the Walthers t/t can a test to the most difficult part of the installation is cutting the hole in your bench work.the rest is a piece of cake. Same can not be said for the Diamond Scale disaster.

 

 

http://www.custommodelrailroads.com/ho.aspx?page=5

Just my 2 cents worth, I spent the rest on trains. If you choked a Smurf what color would he turn?
  • Member since
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  • From: N.E. Ohio
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Posted by leadpirate on Friday, September 10, 2010 2:19 PM

Hello

Was at Diamond Scale today and passed on these postings.  They are a small, but well run company and are quite busy.      Steve

leadpirate
  • Member since
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Posted by swede_44109 on Friday, September 10, 2010 1:48 PM

Diamond scale Products is my first and only choice for turntables. There quality is unmatched at any price. I have nothing but good things to say! The products will give you many years of trouble free fun!

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Posted by Steve40 on Friday, September 10, 2010 7:26 AM

Thanks Guys!

That's just what I was hoping to hear---my reason for getting in touch with them was to be sure the TT that I wanted was in stock, before sending the check. So I'll try in the late afternoon.

I really want to have a go at one of their TT's; my local hobby shop owner has built several for customers, and says he can show me a couple tricks to assure success. I've heard they can be fussy.

Thanks again,

Steve

  • Member since
    May 2009
  • 127 posts
Posted by Flynn on Thursday, September 9, 2010 7:39 PM

I actually just ordered some parts from them last Thursday for the first time.  Called about 5:05 p.m. EST and a nice gentleman answered the phone, took the order and said the order would be shipped by "next Thursday."  True to his word, it arrived this afternoon well-packed and complete.  As far as I know, I'd say they're in business but it's probably a small business.  Keep trying.

  • Member since
    July 2006
  • From: Coastal Massachusetts
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Posted by Voyager on Thursday, September 9, 2010 4:54 PM

Steve,

Diamond Scale is very much alive and well despite some recent forum remarks to the contrary. I know because I just purchased a turntable from the firm a few weeks ago. Like you I had some difficulty placing an order, because the current  owner runs several business and apparently lacks the time to answer emails and telephone messages. So you just have to keep calling on the phone until you reach him in person.  Once I talked with him, all went well, and I received my merchandise as promised.

Frank

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    July 2003
  • From: Sierra Vista, Arizona
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Posted by cacole on Thursday, September 9, 2010 6:02 AM

If you look at the Diamond Scale web site, the last time it was updated is January 2009 --

http://www.diamond-scale.com/ 

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Posted by LooseClu on Thursday, September 9, 2010 5:08 AM

I bought one on ebay about two years ago and tried to contact them about their electrical indexing stuff.  Like you, no responce to either phone or email.  It's a nice TT (but I'm still hand cranking it).

Roy

Roy         Onward into the fog                 http://s1014.photobucket.com/albums/af269/looseclu/

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Posted by willpick on Wednesday, September 8, 2010 8:33 PM

I may be mistaken, but I believe that Diamond scale may have gone out of the TT business---If my memory is working tonite. I know Bowser did stop making TT's in just the past year. I looked at the website, it has not been updated since 2007.  If they don't answer your email or phone messages, then I'd look for another company's product.

A Day Without Trains is a Day Wasted

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    February 2010
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Diamond Scale turntables?
Posted by Steve40 on Wednesday, September 8, 2010 7:34 PM

Hi,

I'm interested, but my emails and phone messages have gone unanswered---has anyone purchased recently?

Thanks,

Steve

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