This had to catch your attention. I have been thinking about this for a while. My wife had a knee replacement last fall, and she is doing just great. When you have this type of surgery you need all the durable medical aids for transferring. The thing that caught my eye was the “car swivel seat cushion” the swivels 360 degrees and measures 15 1/2” inches wide x 7/16” high with the cushion removed and with a capacity 300 lb....
Building a Model Train Turntable with 300 lb. Capacity!
I think that should work for most model trains, even American Flyer. My only concern was its stability at the outer edge of the turntable. So I went ahead and remove the foam cover. That took a whole 30 seconds. The stability was rock solid, and come to find out the American Flyer rubber roadbed with track meets flush with the top of the turntable. I will just have to hand lay the track on the turntable, but that should not be to much of a problem.
The only modification I will have do on my layout drill a small whole for the nut on the bottom side to set into. Other wise everything sit flat on my layout without cutting any large circular holes.
I will post updates and pics as I build my first turntable. I would like to do this right the first time so any in put would be greatly appreciated. I’ve read most of the posts on turntables and this idea has never showed up. I will be looking for ideas to motorize the turntable, plus detail to realism.
Regards,
Chuck, from sunny Arizona
“Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand.”
AZ-Flyer@American Flyer Cabinet-top Layout (5'x16'): http://az-flyer.blogspot.com/
Hi Chuck!
Sounds like a nice find and good fit for you. I personally do not have any experience with a turntable, but here are a couple links I have that may be of help to you:
1) Dallee Electronics http://dallee.com/Turntable.htm
2) Ross http://www.rossswitches.com/turntables/turntables.html
Unfortunately, Bowser is out of the turntable business.
Good luck with this project,
Timboy, Th S-Gauge Nerd
Today the railroad gang started laying ties on the turntable. Tomorrow they will get at spiking down the track. They said they wanted to put a walkway along the track and do some roadbed upgrades. I'm already paying them overtime, so they better get it right! More pics were added to the the web site. AZ-Flyer
I like it! Very creative!
Becky
Trains, trains, wonderful trains. The more you get, the more you toot!
Today the railroad gang finished the walkway, spiked down the ties, and did the desert sand weathering on the turntable. I gave them the weekend off. Everyone is headed to the TCA meeting tomorrow morning. Next week they will start installing the handrails, and building the control cab. I will be looking into adding an angle power arch before installing the turntable on my layout. All that is left now is the power to the turntable and indexing unit. I have an idea how it may go together, but that is another day.
Have a good weekend,
AZ-Flyer
Building a Turntable with 300 lb. capacity
Here's my 33" homemade motorized turntable....under construction
http://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1dc23b3127ccefc10007ba1af00000030O00IcOGTRy5aswe3nwc/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/
Tim
Tim,
I have a link on my web site to your post and pics.
Great looking turntable. Im waiting to see how you are going to do the motor power?
Az-Flyer
Link doesn't work for me.
Balidas,
Yes, Tim's link he posted to his turntable does have a problem? Like he said maybe it still "under construction". Maybe he will correct his link to his pics.
I have many links on my site under Building a Turntable. If you have other sites you would like to add, please jump in on this post.
Seems that things have changed since I was on this forum a couple of years ago...including posting pics, and getting post appreoved ???
Try this
The railroad gang got a little derailed the last few days on the turntable. They or I have not done much scratch built train projects before in S Gauge. Being in American Flyer makes it that much harder to match up things close to scale. We went to the railroad scarp yard for some usable items, tower and a control cab. We will be adding some railing, and do something more to the top of the tower. Anyone have any ideas to buiding railing or adding to the top of the tower? I added a link to the photo of the turn table and a link to my web page, with the update photos from the start of this project.
http://i1115.photobucket.com/albums/k553/AZ-Flyer/IMG_2353.jpg
AZFlyer:
I really like what you have done! I believe you are keeping the "feel" of American Flyer in your build so far. That's very important, IMHO and what I like about your work it that you seem to get that as well! Railing? How heavy duty? Would Flyer straight rails be too heavy? Also, I've seen some nice fencing made from paper clip parts. Brass rod passing through wooden uprights? Either Ace or True Value usually have a nice assortment of brass & steel tubing, rods, etc. Styrene rods?
Keep up the great work!
Timboy, The American Flyer Nerd
Timboy,
Thank you for your great comments and suggestions. As when you talk about heavy duty, I use JB Weld to attach plastic to metal, or wood. I like things that last, like American Flyer trains!
On you suggestions, I’m thinking more to the paper clip fencing idea, but I will research your other ideas further.
azflyer Timboy, Thank you for your great comments and suggestions. As when you talk about heavy duty, I use JB Weld to attach plastic to metal, or wood. I like things that last, like American Flyer trains! On you suggestions, I’m thinking more to the paper clip fencing idea, but I will research your other ideas further. AZ-Flyer
A comment on JB Weld, of which I am a real fan of this stuff. It is a 2-part epoxy which, when mixed, forms an excellent and reliable bond. My most recent use was to bind some plastic gears to metal rods when the gears were slipping on an HO scale bascule bridge that I am building.
JB Weld sets up after about 30 minutes and then completely hardens within 24 hours. JB Kwik sets up after about 5 minutes, so you have to work faster with smaller amounts, but it completely hardens within 4 hours. Both are excellent products.
Tim's suggestion about the metal rods at Ace Hardware is a good one. They have a pretty good assortment of sizes and diameters. So does Hobby Lobby and Michaels. These brass rods are made by K&S for hobby needs and can be soldered, crazy glued, or epoxied.
Another suggestion for the railings is piano wire, also made by K&S in various sizes and diameters.
Good luck and let us know what you decide to do.
Rich
Alton Junction
azflyer Balidas, Yes, Tim's link he posted to his turntable does have a problem? Like he said maybe it still "under construction". Maybe he will correct his link to his pics. I have many links on my site under Building a Turntable. If you have other sites you would like to add, please jump in on this post. AZ-Flyer
Tim must have fixed that link on his web site. It worked for me.
Hi Guys.
I don't have a link to a turntable on my blog. Never made one; don't have one.
On your suggestion of piano wire, Rich - music stores carry guitar wire as well. A couple of years ago I bought an assortment packet of guitar wires for something like $5! I used it a lot for different projects. All went well with it till I broke my g-string. Budda-bing! Anyway, as Rich & I both suggest, you might find the heavier guitar wire or a suitable size piano wire just the thing for some kind of fencing.
Timboy Hi Guys. I don't have a link to a turntable on my blog. Never made one; don't have one. On your suggestion of piano wire, Rich - music stores carry guitar wire as well. A couple of years ago I bought an assortment packet of guitar wires for something like $5! I used it a lot for different projects. All went well with it till I broke my g-string. Budda-bing! Anyway, as Rich & I both suggest, you might find the heavier guitar wire or a suitable size piano wire just the thing for some kind of fencing. Regards, Timboy, The American Flyer Nerd
Hmmm, I must be confusing something. I was referring to the link on your blog, Tim, titled A-Z Flyer's American Flyer Blog.
Guys,
There is a Tim and a Timboy on this post. I (AZ-Flyer) was referring to Tim's link to his picture of his turntable, not Timboy. Tim's link to his turntable picture is now and up and running.
Great picture of your turntable "Tim". Now everyone is confused.
Confusing? Welcome to MY world.
The railroad gang went back to work after enjoying a few cactus league baseball games here in Scottsdale, Arizona. After the game they went out to the railroad scrap yard looking for something they could use on the top of the tower of the turntable. We were looking for some kind of light that would work as a signal when the track was aligned correctly. The track forman came up with the idea of using the top part of the signal off an American Flyer turnout. After cutting off the light signal part of the turnout, we did some grinding and repainting. We had to do a little fine tuning. They fit like they were made for each other. We found light socket out of a steamer that aligned perfectly inside the housing. We wired the light down the thru inside of the tower, and into track to provide signal for alignment. With the green light going on, would also signal for the train engineer to move ahead onto the American Flyer turntable.
The railroad track gang is planing to work on the guard railing (fencing) this next week.
All pictures of the American Flyer Turntable is available for viewing on this link to this page: http://az-flyer.blogspot.com/p/building-turntable.html
Enjoy your model trains, and have a great weekend.
That's GREAT! Nice idea and so Flyer. Your track crew are to be commended. I advise you to give them the week-end off to party in Vegas. That's where I'll be. Right now I'm between a rock and a hard place.
Timboy, The Charlie Sheen of CTT
AZ-Flyer,
electrically speaking, how did you get the indicator lamp to light when the turntable moves into position? That's such a great idea!
The Forman of the track gang is back to work in Arizona after a well needed vacation to the Grand Canyon, Flagstaff & Sedona. While he was away the track gang completed the guard railing around the American Flyer turntable. They used 1/2” inch galvanized hardware cloth, cutting off the roll using side cutters. Grinding the points smooth was done with a dermal and painting the railing flat black before installing in pre-drilled holes. The paint is now drying while the glue sets up over night. Pictures are being updated as progress continues.
View my photos of American Flyer Turntable in Photobucket
Check out the latest updates of the American Flyer Turn Turntable which is now installed on the 5‘x16’ foot table-top layout. Photos on Photobucket
I plan to turn the American Flyer Turntable with a 6 rpm gear motor unit. I will index the turntable with fingers from AF control unit (e-unit) to make the bridge rotate automatically to a selected track location. With a 1/4” inch clearance between the top and bottom of the turn table the fingers should line up opposite each other with very little adjusting. The light on top of the tower will activate when the fingers touch, and the turntable is aligned correctly.
I was just on eBay looking for train turntables. There sure is a flood of turntables available now, after I built mine from scratch (kit-bashing). Well, I did it my way...that is my satisfaction!
All pictures of the American Flyer Turntable is available for viewing on this link to this page: http://az-flyer.blogspot.com/p/building-turntable.html Enjoy your model trains, and build a turntable.........................
Enjoy your model trains, and build a turntable.........................
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