What are good ways to

[gunkhead]

Model grass,and build turntables.For the grass I'm thinking bits of old green
towel,but I'm clueless about the table.Should I canabalize one of my old E-Z
Track straights?I need something compatible with the rest of My E-Z Track,
though(1/4 inch roadbed).

[Anonymous]

There are a couple of companies that make ground covers in various colors and coarseness, so you could model anything from dirt to a weed-choked field to a full forest. Woodland Scenics (http://www.woodlandscenics.com/) is probably the best known, but there are other companies that make similar products. Check the listing under "Scenery" in the "Links to manufacturers" off the main page here.

As for turntables, it'll probably be less time consuming to buy a kit or modify a turntable than to build your own. Just do a search on "turntable" here for discussions on how folks have modified the Atlas turntable to make it look more realistic, among other options.

[gunkhead]

Well THAT was helpful,NOT!!You didn't answer my question at all.I asked what are good
ways to do it yourself,and you gave me an advertisement.[:(!]

[Anonymous]

Sorry I offended you, but you're not going to get a lot more help around here with that attitude.

[Anonymous]

Joe's right.

Let us know how you make out with the old green towel.

Wayne

(Added: I believe that we are talking to a child here. Still, one that needs a few lessons in politeness.)

[BurlingtonJohn]

You could use a lesson in courtesy. If you want to learn how to do grass and/or put in a turntable, I suggest you do a little reading. At the risk of having this post branded an advertisement, I'll let you do your own homework on what publications to obtain from the sponsor of this forum.

Regards,
Burlington John

[Jetrock]

Actually, gunkhead, you didn't ask how it could be done with things around the house--you asked for "good ways to model grass, and build turntables." And, frankly, most model railroaders use commercial products to model grass and build turntables. There *are* ways to make grass "from scratch" using shredded bits of sponge or felt or sawdust--but WS ground cover is how most folks do it.

If it makes you feel any better, gunkhead, even if you buy Woodland Scenics or other commercial ground cover, you'll still need to "do it yourself", and even a commercial turntable will require building and installation.

Adapting one from a chunk of "E-Z Track" might be possible, but you'd still need to cut out the pit, install pivot and pit rails, fabricate the girders for the turntable itself, and otherwise work out powering the turntable and a method of control (such as a motor and indexing system if you wanted automatic control.)

Oh, and you could even use conventional snap-track or flex-track or even handlaid track set on wooden ties with your E-Z Track: since the turntable is not physically connected to the EZ-track, but rather sits on its own rails and spindle, it can be set at whatever elevation is appropriate for the approach track.

[camarokid]

Originally posted by gunkhead

Model grass,and build turntables.For the grass I'm thinking bits of old green
towel,but I'm clueless about the table.Should I canabalize one of my old E-Z
Track straights?I need something compatible with the rest of My E-Z Track,
though(1/4 inch roadbed).
I believe we would all like to see pictures of that green towel grass. If you really want to build a turntable you need to determine the length of your longest engine and then obtain track(no ballast) about a 1/2 (half) inch longer. Will this be a table top turntable or one you need to cut a hole in the layout? Table top you can use your E-Z Track w/ballast with some way to raise the approach tracks to the turntable height, but that might not look too realistic. If all you want is the table, glue the track to a wooden ruler, center drill a small hole for wires and a hollow tube to spin the table and drill a hole in the tabletop to drop the tube in. Make sure you always turn the table in a way to avoid twisting the feeder wires off. This setup means you will never be able to spin the table because of polarity problems, unless you always want to flip the direction switch. This is the easiest and simplest way I know of. If not to your liking you will be just like the rest of us and have to read alot about turntables. If anyone cares to expand on this diatribe feel free to have at it. There's more here than this person is willing to share.
Archie

Ain't it great!!!

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