Comments on Turntables?

[rockythegoat]

dkelly: Good to see you could help out one us USAF folks. Us veterans of the real military appreciate it! [(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]

(Man, I haven't had a chance to use that line in years! Thanks!)[:D]

[karle]

Just to affirm another's comment - forget Heljan. Junk. Very difficult to assemble (I consider myself an advanced kit builder and gave up) , cheaply made, oversized detail.

[robengland]

The Walther's 90-footer was just the size I wanted so I went for it anyway. I started out trying to re-use the big gear wheeel to drive it but now the only bits left are the pit and the bridge. Everything underneath is new. So far it isn't working yet but I'm getting there! I bought a Technics beltdrive record-deck from a junkyard for a buck. My neighbour came by just as I was taking to it with an angle grinder - my standing in the community falls another notch.

I've cut the platter down to about 45-size (you youngsters ask an older genration what that means). I cut the middle third out of the chassis with a jigsaw (luckily no neighbour saw that bit). I bet I sell the tone-arm for more than I bought the whole rig for.

The motor is luckily not a stepper motor (I did consider stepper motors for their low speed and controlability - CDROM drives provide an essentially infinite free source of these, but it is too complex and expensive to drive the danged things). It works on DC but at too low a voltage (even at 3V it is still too fast). So my next step is to experiment with DCC decoder drive for it (which is pulsed), and if that fails to replace it with a 12V motor and a gear-box (I have a Tamiya kit).

I have made up a set of "fingers" to go on the platter for optical track alignment according to this excellent design http://www.ida.net/users/tetonsl/railroad/turntabl.htm. I love it: only one pair of LED/detector, and easily adjusted for alignment. I don't like systems with slots/holes for optical alignment - too hard to adjust. And I don't want a dozen detection circuits.

I'm going to use fleshware for turntable control: ie I'll give visual feedback of alignment with LEDs on the fascia (as the turntable is set back about 2 feet from the layout edge) but the operator will drive the turntable with a DCC cab to manually align it, just like the real thing. People build these superb computer-controlled track selecotrs, but there is nothing prototypical about them. If the turntable was close to the edge, I'd push it around by hand, "armstrong" style for maximum realism. In that case I'd have built the bridge mechanism like this http://www.simplytrains.com/pages/hints&tips/turntable/turntable.htm

Last hurdle will be a removable method of attaching the bridge to the platter spindle. I hope my engineering is good enough to drill a cotter-pin with no lash. Else I may tap the top of it for a 2-56 bolt.

The Walthers looks nice enough so I'm still glad I got it. I'll weather the bridge, add some real timber decking, and line the pit with cinders

[fishplate]

Way back in March of 1972, Model Railroader had a article "Build a Turntable" by
Joe Kunzelmann and the MR staff. The text is great and the drawings (plans) are
excellent.[tup][tup] I'm about half way on a 120' turntable based on this article. So far the results have been great[^]. I to looked at the manufactured tables and came away dissapointed[sigh], sticker shocked[:O], or both. Also cost (low) and quality (high) can
be factured into the project. The best part, It will be just the way I want it [:)]. I believe
for pocket change this article can be purchased from MR.

There is so much electronic stuff out there that indexing and table drives can also be built (Scracthed). [wow] Again, cost (low), quality (high). And Remember, when the
chips are down, the buffalo is empty.

[Anonymous]

Fishplate,

I remember that article - although at the time it was way too advanced for my skills. Please post pics when you get the thing done - would love to see it and it may motivate me to try to do the same!

[motordoc427]

The buffalo is empty?[(-D][(-D][(-D][(-D]

[Anonymous]

I recall the article in MR about burying the Atlas turntable and have (and still) considered doing just that. However, I also recall that there are examples of covered turntables - either to prevent employees from falling in, or to keep the pit from filling up with snow... which would certainly slow down any loco dispatching. Does anyone know of specific examples? I know the B&O RR Museum has a covered pit, but I'm not sure it was original.

[BurlingtonJohn]

Any inside information on when Walthers is coming out with their fully assembled, rocket powered 135' turntable? It hit the catalogs in the fall of 2003 with an estimated release of spring 2004. It is currently scheduled to be out on February 16th of this year. The date seems to keep slipping every time I check ....

http://www.walthers.com/exec/productinfo/933-2829

Regards,
Burlington John

[mwalther]

Any easy way to adapt the Atlas TT indexing from its preset 15 degrees to 10 degrees to match the Walthers roundhouse I bought to go with the Walthers TT? I never seen the inner workings of the Atlas and was tempted to buy one and try

[mwalther]

Any easy way to adapt the Atlas TT indexing from its preset 15 degrees to 10 degrees to match the Walthers roundhouse I bought to go with the Walthers TT? I never seen the inner workings of the Atlas and was tempted to buy one and try

[Anonymous]

John,
The new Walthers TT is advertised as 130' and I too have watched with dismay as it's schedule slipped repeatedly. Another thing is that I thought the original ad copy indicated it came with a metal pit but it now says a one piece plastic pit but more indexing positions. I don't know of an older copy of the description to verify my recollection. I have had one on order from Trainworld since last January and I sure hope it's worth the wait. I also bought the Modern roundhouse kit but wish it had a floor option to allow a little more space between the pit and the front doors. My maintenance crew is going to have to be really careful not to get knocked into the pit when someone opens the doors :-).
Charles

[BurlingtonJohn]

Thanks Charles,

Couldn't remember if it was 130' or 135'. I too have bought the modern roundhouse ... gonna have 12 stalls with 4 extended.

I patiently await the arrival of the new turntable ... if there is one thing I have learned in my 35 years in this hobby it is to be patient and that estimated delivery dates are just that ... estimates!

Regards,
Burlington John