Hi, i was just wondering if any one knows if the diamond scale products are any good, i have a chance to buy one but never really herd about them before. any thoughts? the one i am talking about is the 51 - 60 timber truss turntable
I built one for a friend, many years ago, and was initially disappointed because the pit was out-of round. [:O] However, by adjusting the bridge length to accommodate this, and then accounting for any discrepancies in the approach and fan tracks, it seems to work well. The indexing system, because you assemble it yourself, can be modified to suit pretty-well any roundhouse. If I recall correctly, it’s the 120’ version. Here’s a photo:
Wayne
I’ve built three in the 50 to 70-foot range. Being meticulous keeping things square and centered will result in a dependable turntable. …DS’s wide-variety of turntable lengths and styles will be missed.
Mark Pierce
Two words for you, Good Luck
Mark,
Is Diamond Scale out of business?? Probably it was mentioned somewhere before…must have been sleeping.
RE OP’s original question: I would put these kits in the craftsman category. Building a turntable is careful work to get it to work right and these kits certainly put that theory into practice… I have used their parts to scratchbuild a couple of turntables. If they go out of business, scratchbuilding will be more difficult without their bearings and fittings.
Guy
I hope not. Their website is still up.
http://www.diamond-scale.com/products__turntables.htm
Give’em a call and order some stuff, guys!
I still have a turntable kit on-hand to build sometime.
I have there 120 foot, been using it for many years with no problems. It wasnt dificult to assemble, and it looks nice on my layout.
I have had the 65’ “Laws-style” version in operation for many years and am pleased. This is a craftsman kit, but is relatively straightforward. The place where you need to take extra care is in the actual placement and alignment of the turntable and approach tracks. Everything at that stage needs to be double and triple checked to make sure it is “square”. For example, if one track is a “through” track - the locomotive comes off the turntable lead and directly into a roundhouse stall - you have to make sure that when the turntable is rotated 180 degrees that both ends of track still line up. Sounds easy, but the slightest error in alignment will mess it up and it took me some “tinkering” at that stage to get everything right.
I like the 65’ version as it still has the “backwoods” appearance but can handle some medium-sized locomotives, such as a Ma & Pa 2-8-0. Even a Bachmann “Russian” Decapod will fit… the wheels just fit on the turntable with the couplers overhanging in both directions.
Photobucket was acting strangely just now and wouldn’t let me sign in. I wanted to upload a photo of my turntable for you… I’ll try that again this evening and get it on here if I can.
Bill
Here’s that photo. Winnishiek & Western 2-4-4-2 #126 (leased for testing purposes from the nearby Little River Railroad) rides the turntable:
Again, I like the appearance of the turntable. It has a backwoods look that doesn’t “overpower” a 2-truck Shay or even the 0-4-4 Forney that is the mill switcher. This 65’ version still looks okay with a 4-4-0 or a small 2-8-0. With that superstructure, I do have to be careful when I clean the turntable rails. The Diamond Scale kit is not a “shake-the-box” and will still leave you with some thinking to do on just how best to mount it and wire it, but if you model and older era, it will look good.
Notice that the end of the push pole on the right side in the photo is painted grey. This is to help me keep aware of the track polarity as the turntable is used. The double pole, double throw (DPDT) slide switch on the front of the layout fascia is also painted grey to match. When the grey push pole is to the right and the slide switch is also to the right, then the polarity matches and I don’t have problems as the locomotive enters or leaves the turntable.
Bill
Update. i bought the turntable and have installed it, a bit quirky but otherwise i am very satisfied with it i really like the look of it on my logging layout. my K4 just fits nicely and the shays are perfect. It was tricky to install from underneath the layout, i am a happy camper. Bear.
Rumors of Diamond Scale’s demise are not just much exaggerated. They are false. I just spoke with the current owner on the telephone and placed an order. He did note, however, that he does not answer e-mail–and the website has no provision for online purchasing. So you have to order by phone.
Frank.