I am starting to look for turntables. My layout will be a pre-WW1 Nevada mining road with the longest engine being a 2-8-0 but more often 4-6-0s. It is built on a 16" wide shelf so the Walther’s 90 footer is a too big, which is too bad as I understand that it is state of the art. There is a Seller’s turntable for sale on Ebay which would be perfect if it was longer than 60 feet. 60 is is a touch too short. Diamond Scale does make a 75 foot turntable which may end up the best solution. I have also thought about a Atlas turntable kitbash. My questions are: Anyone else make a 75 foot turntable? Anyone have any opinions about Diamond Scale turntables as regards to quality, reliability and price? Any other ideas? Thanks - Nevin
An undoctored Atlas would be 65 feet. It is a deck. You could easily add on the extra 10 feet (1.4 inches in HO) by putting another section of track on top of the deck. If you keep it that short, it will not interfere with the motor mechanism.
This is a link to my own Atlas pit-bash:
http://www.trains.com/TRC/CS/forums/1162790/ShowPost.aspx
MR did a similar article on an Atlas pit-bash an issue or two ago.
I have seen your kitbash and the one in MR a month or so ago. Does the mechanism with it pauses and the noise bother you at all? - Nevin
I have a Diamond Scale turntable, it is a nice kit, it looks good and works well.
Atlases are the only turntables I’ve ever owned. I’m used to the pauses, and they don’t bother me at all. The “pit-bash” puts the whole motor system underground, surrounded by pink foam, so the noise is now well muffled. I can still hear it, but it’s not the racket it once was.
But in this era of sound engines, I suppose we should all be asking what turntables sound like? Are they all run by deathly quiet and smooth electric motors, or would you hear a loud diesel and maybe some gear noise?
Correct me if I’m wrong, but, given the size and location Nevin is modeling, the turntable noise would probably be more like “On three…” “Grunt” “Oof!!” “PUSH, you [censored]!!” Plus, possibly, some creaking and squeaking from the TT itself.
Nevin, not too far from you (Folsom, CA) there is a reproduction of a wood turntable of the approximate capacity you are planning for. Its twin (brother?/sister?) is at Jamestown - in regular use. If you bury the Atlas TT you might want to take a look at those two for a possible rotating bridge design. http://www.fedshra.org/turntable.htm is the Folsom turntable reconstruction site, including ‘under construction’ and completed photos.
Chuck (modeling Central Japan in September, 1964)
Those are wood A frame turntables and were common in Nevada and California dating back to the 1880’s on the C&C. There is one still at Laws for the SP and a duplicate is at the Nevada Railroad museum. I built one of those 25 years ago for an Sn3 SPNG layout. Kits for those pop up on Ebay now and then. I may build 1-2 of those or a small concrete girder turntable may be appropriate for 1905-1910. The Tonopah and Goldfield had a steel girder turntable at Millers that was moved to Goldfield. mostly they are all Armstrong designs. Either design would be appropriate and could be used with the Atlas turntable underneath. - Nevin
TURNTABLES are complicated devices. There is no such thing as ‘too good’ a turntable.
Get a Good ‘90 footer’ - slightly over 12 inches. (Your curves an a 4x8 = 36"d-44"D). It can easily fit inside. What takes up space is the ROUNDHOUSE. (Use less stalls).
Many turntables were operated by hand. Diamond Scale makes a hand crank. Automatic Indexing gets expensive. Cutting the hole is easy - a piece of string scribes a circle.
Rent or buy a ‘Scrolling’ saw (Sears has). One that doesn’t pile up sawdust in front as you cut makes it easy to follow a ‘line’.
A DPDT reversing toggle for the TT tracks and a a SPDT Center off momentary will cotrol a motor, if you have one. A ‘Hankscraft’ slo-geared ($18-$20) would be recommended.
The ATLAS TT is a toy. It’s too noisy, too small, and too slow, but ‘birds’ like it (cheep). Also, I do not have Mr. Beasly’s talents or patience.