The complexity of a self indexing turntable requires a very clean pit. My own instructions (Walthers) suggest to cover it but don’t say with what. Is it really necessary?
It sounds like a good idea.
Using a old pot or making something on wood wood be easy. or perhaps just box with an enough diameter.
Magnus
How about an old ( or new ) tupperware bowl?
Rotor
I don’t/haven’t and it is now 15 months old. I just do what they recommend as far as vacuuming often. I also take a good look at it before I use it to make sure it is free and clear of dust and bits of grit. I would be concerned about bashing the plastic servicing ladder atop the cable harp mid-bridge, no matter what I used. I think just keeping it clean is better than risking an oops.
Nope. I try to keep the layout as dust free as possible and do all serious cutting outside.
Mine’s always been covered… it’s still in the box it came in !![:-^]
Seriously though, I plan to have it ( along with the whole layout ) covered when not in use. I,m planning to have “curtains” hanging from the facia to hide the benchwork, and the stuff piled under it, and make removable frames to place over the layout to drape the curtains over when not in use. Hopefully this will minimise dust and debris on the layout as it’s going to be in a shed seperate to the house. I’m not a city dweller, I live on property in the bush, so wind and dust is a major problem.
Has anyone else tried this method or something else to keep dust off the layout ?
Cheers,
Warren
My Atlas has been on the layout for over 5 yrs. now, and it’s never been covered. The only thing I do on a regular basis, besides the “no-brainer” stuff of dust and cleaning, is to change the drive belt as they dry up and break over time.
I’ve taken a tip from the girls as far as replacement belts go…the dollar bag of assorted size rubber hair bands Walmart sells yields a couple of years worth of replacement drive belts…
Sometimes, the girls are nice to have around. [:D]
No.
I cover nothing on the model railway when it’s not in use. 12 x 16 feet is a lot to cover without doing major damage to delicate scenery.
The one turntable I have in operation, on my un-sceniced ‘end of the railroad’ module, is 0-5-0 powered. The only thing separating it from the open sky is the garage ceiling and roof.
When I build the more complex table at Tomikawa it will be covered by the layout valence - and possibly an upper level featuring my narrow-gauge logger.
IMHO, if anything on the layout requires NASA clean-room conditions, it’s in the wrong place.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
The former T/C had two. Neither was covered and never had problems.
At Sam’s Club, the lids from the party platters fits over the HO 130’ table. Just have to cut a hole in the top to allow the arch to stick through. A smaller plastic box (like from figure packaging) can be found to cover this, and clear the arch.
Hmm. Most of the replies here have explained to me why there are so many posts regarding dirty track. [:-^] If you have similar layout room conditions as the majority of posters, a cover would probably be a good idea, although I think that some improvements to the room would be a better investment than a turntable.[swg]
Wayne
Never have covered mine on the layout, but I will run my vacuum around it when I see that stuff is accumulating in the well.
Nope. Because I can’t reach it all that well. I knew I should have put it closer to the edge of the table but it looked better when viewed over the roundhouse. If I ever would cover it I would use an old dish drying towel or a pillow case. What’s a dish drying towel the younger ones ask?
Archie