I have asked this question before but did not print it out and now I cannot find the answer that was given to me, I was told to look in the lay outs section of the forum but could not find it.
I have an Atlas turntable that I would like to expand to take bigger locomotives(ON30),and I think I know how to do it but would like some advice, any body out there?
Also what is the proper weight for ON 30 freight and passengers cars, they seem awful light
Bill Webb
here is one idea
http://pages.sbcglobal.net/sgratke/sgrr/trains/matt/index.htm
Many have built a tt on top of the Atlas unit, painting the Atlas deck to look like the pit floor…
Proper weight, see http://www.nmra.org/standards/consist.html#standards and scroll down to RP20.1 For On30, use On3 or HO standards, or somewhere in between.
The ATLAS turntable is a Surface mount circlular disk that has track on it and turms.
This simulates a circular pit and bridge only by turning and running locomotives on it. Modifying it in any way except scenicing.would be problematical at best.
ACCEPT it for what it is - an inexpensive imitation of a complicated device. - electrically and mechanically.
Don…
Many people have used the Atlas TT as a basis of an entirely different turntable. A bridge is added on top of the TT, raising the rails approximately 1/2" above the rails of the stock turntable. This bridge can be any reasonable length, realistically 12" is probably the max. The reason for doing this is the low cost and reliability of the Atlas TT.
Don, you have not seen all of the modified Atlas TT’s that drive a larger bridge or another turntable. I am currently adding a 12" turntable to my layout and an Atlas 15 degree roundhouse. I have a modified Walthers 90’ turntable with a new ball bearing, and under it is a good old Atlas turntable driving the entire thing via some plumbing fittings! The result is quiet, indexes every 15 degrees for the roundhouse, and is rock solid. Search around the Atlas Forum and you will see the entire conversion. The Atlas TT may be small and a model of a limited prototype, but mechanically/electrically it beats most other offerings off the starting line. BTW, is Walthers ever going to get that $300 monster TT up and running?
Jim Bernier
Jim,
Do you have any photos of your conversion of the Atlas/Walthers 90’ T/T that you would be willing to share ? It would certainly be a Godsend for me if you did…
Thanks, Bob H. (IronGoat)
Many thanks for the replies that I received for my enquiry about Atlas turntables, I think I will give it a go.
Bill Webb
Iron Goat,
Go over to the Atlas Forums, search on ‘I have a WORKING Modification for Walthers 90’ TT’ - This should take you to the text/pictures of how this is done. In this case, a Walthers 90’ turntable was used, but other have built their own bridge/pit. My installation uses 2 pieces of 1/2" plywood. One for the base that the Atlas TT is attached to, and a second one 3" higher with the Walther pit inserted in it. The upper one is attached to the lower one with 4 2’x2" risers. The entire thing(16" square) will be dropped into the layout. It took me a Saturday morning trip to an ACE hardware store and Home Depot for parts, and some ‘handy panels’ of sanded 1/2" plywood. I had it running that afternoon. Total cost was as follows:
o -Atlas TT/motor drive - got it on a special through Caboose Hobbies last year for something like $22.95, plus shipping.
o - Walthers 90’ TT kit - on sale right now for under $30 direct from Walthers or participating dealer.
o - Atlas roundhouse kit - $22 at a train show last month
o - bearing - $3.35 from ACE hardware
o - plunbing fittings/2’x4’ sanded handy panel - Home Depot - Under $10…
o - My Time - Priceless!
Jim Bernier
Thanks, Jim… I am certainly going to give it a “go”.
Thank you again… Bob Hollowell / Iron Goat
I had a site bookmarked showing how to mount a Walthers turntable for appearance, on top of the Atlas unit for mechanical reliability. However, the site is no longer in existance for the URL I have. Does anyone know of it’s new location if it has moved, or of another, similar site online if it hasn’t?
Thanks . . .
Jim Bernier,
I found the Atlas forum article you referenced and have a question about the mods.
How did you get track power to the Walthers bridge rails? In the mod article on the Atlas forun, it looks like the author did not use the brass bushings/wipers method stock in the Walthers kit because he doesn’t have the housing for the Walthers drive motor shown on the bottom of the pit. That housing would contain the wipers that Walthers calls for.
How did you handle the track power?
Thanks,
Doug