Turntable indexing & control

[Anonymous]

I'm looking for a moderate cost method to index an HO turntable. I'm familiar with the concept of using the Atlas turntable below the layout, but don't want the stop-n-go motion. I'm also familiar with the PTC III from New York Railway Supply Co. , but its a bit pricey for my budget.

Any suggestions?

Thanks!

Jim

[ereimer]

depends on
a) what do you consider moderate cost ?
b) how much do-it-yourself are you interested is / capable of ?

check out dallee.com $70 and some work will get you and indexing turntable

personally i like http://www.2guyzandsumtrains.com/Content/pa=showpage/pid=11.html

[dinwitty]

cmon, the trick to turntables is sight alignment of the rails, will you depend on automated means to see if the rails are correctly aligned?

no sorry , even tho I know of various means of auto alignment, its more work to do and install than to have fun aligning the tracks yourself.

[chateauricher]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ereimer
personally i like http://www.2guyzandsumtrains.com/Content/pa=showpage/pid=11.html

ereimer,

That is one amazing turntable kitbashing they show there !!! [^] [wow]

I'd love to have one like theirs; but I'm not sure my modelling skills are up to par. [sigh]

I wonder if they take orders... [%-)]

[selector]

I am with dinwitty on this one. My Walther's 90'er was a bi*ch to get working, but once I bashed the kit (as opposed to kitbashing), it has worked quite well. I have become reasonably adept, in the short time it has worked reliably, at getting the rails aligned using the Mk I eyeball. I reason that for the $70 saved and a few more added, I could get a nice loco on e-bay.

[ereimer]

QUOTE: Originally posted by dinwitty

cmon, the trick to turntables is sight alignment of the rails, will you depend on automated means to see if the rails are correctly aligned?

no sorry , even tho I know of various means of auto alignment, its more work to do and install than to have fun aligning the tracks yourself.

i'm sure you're right , but there are some of us who have to have the high-tech way of doing things even if there is an easier , less expensive method [:)]
plus it doesn't hurt to know all the options

[Anonymous]

Wow that Dallee indexer lokks way simpler than the Diamond scale one I have.
Wish I would have found that one.
I still havent gotten my indexing system in not sure if I am going to try either
just seems like a real pain in the rear. I am thinking a rod of steel and a crank handle would be a lot easier.

[dinwitty]

ways of indexing ar simply a microswitch which shuts ooff the motor when an indentation is reached, it rides the turntable and you place/cut notches wherever needed.

A microswitch is not expensive.
then you could have LED emitter/detector with a transistor switch when it sees the light it shuts off.


people have to be such lazybones...

the club layout I was in had no automatic indexing and could turn bigboys.

[Anonymous]

Gee, I didn't plan on raising an "index vs. eyeball" debate... but since its here...

How many of us would want to eyeball the stock rail alignment on a three-way stub turnout leading to an enginehouse? Wouldn't the preferred method be a switch machine that would click to three precise route selections? So why is a turntable different?

Then again... how come the rest of the model railroading world isn't wild about old-time camelbacks like me?!? Hmmm... never mind Officer... I'll leave quietly! [(-D]

Thanks to all for the indexing sources!!

Jim

[dinwitty]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jnkbritz

Gee, I didn't plan on raising an "index vs. eyeball" debate... but since its here...

How many of us would want to eyeball the stock rail alignment on a three-way stub turnout leading to an enginehouse? Wouldn't the preferred method be a switch machine that would click to three precise route selections? So why is a turntable different?

Then again... how come the rest of the model railroading world isn't wild about old-time camelbacks like me?!? Hmmm... never mind Officer... I'll leave quietly! [(-D]

Thanks to all for the indexing sources!!

Jim

MannMade products made a 3 position turnout switch machine, good for use on a semaphore as well, I made one.
so a 3 way stub is still accurately aligned, when you the modeler work it out right....
prototype stub turnouts had latching positions so the turnout wouldnt go out of alignment. Generally all Armstrong types...
not many powered stub turnouts...I dont presume...

[jwar]

This post made me die-gress a bit LOL We use to bet coffee on how many times a new hosler helper had to jog the turntable before he ligned up the turntable at the Oroville roundhouse. Due to the momentum of two GP 40s weight, the table it would still move a few feet after turning of the turntable motor, therefore it was a hand eyeball cordination thing to get it to stop at the proper alignment, to lock it securly to the pit track, sometimes taking four or more shots at it.
Im building the roundhouse now and have no intention of indexing, still like to wager a bit, and the coffee pot is always on...LOL..John

[selector]

At's my boy, John. If I want to do it anything like they did back then, and go to all the bother of making it look like what I am modeling, why not eyeball it, over-shoot, run it back, swear, and run it back again until you get 'er lined up. It's all paid time anyway, isn't it? [:D]

Jim, I do not decry at all your interest in indexing. Believe me, when I was fussing and cursing over my Walther's kit, I wished very much for one that did it all out of the box, but I can't afford it. My hat is off to you for doing the customized approach, and I am sure you will enjoy it immensely. How about some pix when you get it all set up?

[dinwitty]

to me its more work to work out an indexing thingamabob and then pray it too aligns correctly, suppose its alignment falls off....
another reason to curse the great gods...

I'd rather do it the way the prototype did it.

[dehusman]

One fellow I know had a turntable next to the edge of the layout. He cut a slot in the fascia and screwed an old 33 1/3 record to the bottom of the truntable shaft so the edge just poked through the slot. You just turn the edge of the record to turn the turntable.

Dave H.

[dinwitty]

I recall a radio show prank, years ago, a radio show host called a railroad roundhouse and said he wanted to play a 78 rpm record on his turntable...

the conversations were quite fun and saying things like "You'd be lucky if you got 1/3 revolutions per hour..."