Hi there
Just about ready to start construction and was wondering if any of you here have built one and can share some tips.
For example, does the turntable just drop into the hole you cut in your table top and is supported just by the lip ??
Appreciate any advice given
regards
I believe most of them are done thike that. If it really concerns you, you could use maybe two 1x2’s (Which is probably overkill, but I’m not sure dimensional lumber goes any smaller than that) on each side of the center so you have room for a motor, if you are using one.
And also, please tell me how these are! I have been thinking of getting some 11" ones custom made in HOn3.
Good luck! -Jake
If you cut a large circle in your plywood tabletop, and expect to build a turntable in the hole, think again. Don’t ask me how I know this. At the very least, you have lost the center of the hole unless you drew references that extend outside the turntable pit prior to cutting.
While a commercial turntable may drop into a hole and be supported by the lip, you need to have the turntable on hand, measure carefully, and ensure that’s how it is intended to be mounted prior to cutting.
In most cases, a turntable is supported by a base under it rather than it’s lip. To get an appropriately deep pit, the base is commonly installed under the table top, with spacers as needed. The center of the base must be marked either before or during (but not after!) cutting of the table top so that the bearing or bearing mount will be centered in the pit. Again, these lessons were pounded into me by my frustration in trying to locate the exact center of my already cut pit hole.
Always eager to learn the hard way - not!
Fred W
I believe he was talking about supporting the turntable as a whole, with the pit. Not the bridge. CMR turntable pits are one solid piece of plastic (Look: www.cmrtrain.com/turntable.html) that look to only need support via the lip. And it looks to me that they are supposed to be builtat the bench, dropped into the hole, and wired. Either way, try E-mailing CMR, they have been very helpful
Since I have a turntable that I want to install (in a year or two),[:I] I’m going to follow this thread closely.[^] Actually I think I’ll read the instructions that come with the turntable![:-^]
Spoke with Jeff at CMR this afternoon.
Very helpfull guy and had a couple of funny stories about doing business with Rod Stewart.
Suffice to say he was very helpfull.
Suggested that the 3/16th “lip” is all that is needed to support their turntable. He has never heard of any complaints back from customers re installing.
He added to make sure the hole that is cut is not any larger that the dimensions mentioned on their web site. A slightly tight fit would assist.
I may well add some bracing under the table top to ease my mind.
And yes, they have to be built at the workbench before installing. Looks like quite a challenging kit. I can already see some minor modifications happening
cheers
Good! Be sure to keep us posted on the progress!
P.S. Will you be using a matching CMR roundhouse?
I have used both the Walthers 90’ kit and the Built-up indexed turntables by Walthers. In both cases I have had no issues whatsoever mounting the turntables in a hole and resting it on the lip. The plastic is plenty strong.
Sure will.
No I do not intend to use the matching roundhouse.
Mike Dodd who operates the Virginian Railway tells me he found the lip to be more than sufficient to hold the turntable and an engine.
Following Mike’s tips I intend the customize the turntable bridge using some Central Valley plate girders.
cheers