ATLAS TURNTABLE!!!

Seeing it is making me rethink about using one again...  Perhaps I need to see how many of my locomotives could even use it.

John,

 

I thought the same thing when I got mine

 

I still need to weather mine, I can't stop making other projects for myself or I would have done it by now.

 

I found the slower (6-7 volts) you run it the less likely it'll hangup, also keep the ballast away from it.

 

It came with a spare belt and the first thing I did was take the old one off and put the spare on.  The installed belt was so twisty it wouldn't have worked.

I can barely imagine what it would look like paired with the Atlas roundhouse!!!

Atlas offers an economical solution to putting a turntable on a layout and its long enough for non scale or semi-scale engines.  Scale Hudsons w tenders though are 26" -28" long. Since most turntables operated over a pit; IMO, painting the Atlas solid design flat black should give it a more realistic appearance. Good luck with the new purchase and be sure to let us know how it works.

Getting a turntable is an exciting addition to a layout.  Hope you have lots of fun with it.

Hi John • Look forward to seeing the turntable on your layout and the paint magic.

My turntable will hold the Lionel #773 Hudson, the F-3's (A-A or A-B), and the MTH Railking Challenger - all are pretty much a 26" long wheelbase. Rather than fool with belts / voltages, I use the hand crank. Does it still come with one? The first run did.

You can't beat the price or the reliability.

Here's an older picture of my Atlas TT and roundhouse.  This was during initial installation for fitment.  You can see the motor for the drive waiting to be installed as the manual crank is still attached

 

THE GLACIER LINE UPDATE: Paint magic!

Remember the nice, clean, light-coated Atlas O Scale Turntable pictures from the other day? There is a CLEAN picture here. Check our how this progressed as WEATHERING has been applied! This turntable looks very beat up and dirty! It's is brand new out of the box! Still more weathering detailing to go but this is a start.

nice work!

Ya see John..

Everytime we ask or wives for help we get it.

She has done a GREAT job so far weathering that unit.

One of the reasons we keep them around.

My wife has done at least 95% of our layout designs and all the painting.

Well I did the fruit Stand..

Looks Great.

 

John,

 

I've had mine for about 5 years now and it has worked great.  Space was limited and the wallet light when I bought mine.  Like you, I was very surprised when I got it.  It fit into my space nicely and I've had no problems since then.

 

Mine  did not come with a spare band and I kept meaning to buy some spares.  I still have the same band.  Hope I don't jinx myself talking about it.

 

Thanks,

Ed 

 

The spare band came with this one too.  I've got a note somewhere about an "O" ring from Menards that was posted somewhere on this forum including part number.  This ring is reported to be SUPERIOR to the bands Atlas provides.  I'm going to find it and order 1 now; just in case.

John,

 

I'd be interested in knowing, if possible, the size info on that 0 ring from Menards.  If it's just a normal 0-ring I'm sure I can find it locally as we have no Memards here in Atlanta.

 

This in spite of me making a terrific case to Menards for expanding to Atlanta.  I think they just blew me off as a crazy person.  They must have been talking to my wife!

 

Ed

I had fun building the Atlas roundhouse.  Biggest model I ever made.  It is heap of plastic, that is for sure!  I built it for a customer and paired it with a Millhouse turn table.  The Atlas one looks fine.  I would probably go that route next time.

What did you mean by "I probably go that route next time" ?

Just to follow up on my last thought.  The Millhouse turntable is great.  I didn't mean to say I would prefer an Atlas, but it is a cheaper alternative depending on the situation.  I always kind of wanted to check one out for curiosity sake.  Can't beat the Millhouse all around for a quality product.  Again, the Atlas roundhouse is a beauty.  I should dig up some old pics of my build.

Ed Walsh, if you do a search on Atlas TT on the forum you will find a reference in a former post of an o ring from either Home Depot Or Lowes.

John

I'VE SEARCHED FOR THE THREAD AND CANNOT FIND IT!!!

 

Can someone please locate the post about an "O" ring from Menards or LOWES that was posted somewhere on this forum including part number.  This ring is reported to be SUPERIOR to the bands Atlas provides.  

 

IF YOU CAN FIND...PLEASE POST IT IN THIS THREAD!!!  Thank you!

It's a number 33 from ACE. Made  by DANCO company. Dim, 1 1/16 X 1/16 x 1/16, round not square. Hope this helps.

Thank you Charlie Howard!!!

Here are some pictures of the one I'm still working on.

 

 

 

 Used eye shadow.  Have to add some black.

 

 

 

 

The office wouldn't fit on the rear so I'm using it as a stand alone.

 

 

Had a Pennsylvania HO decal left from long ago and was the perfect size for here.

 

 

I cut emery cloth from my plumbing supplies, pasted it on the roof and painted it flat black.  It looks just like the paper I used to do roofs less than a 4/12 pitch.

Very cool!  This is on my wish list for that "someday" layout

Love what you and your wife did with the painting and weathering.  I suppose I will do that one day.  The Atlas turntable and Round house were the cost effective solutions for me too.  While it would be awesome to have one of those other larger professional models, this is what I can justify and afford.

 

My belt broke too... I just grabbed an O ring out of my junk box and was lucky it fit.  I power mine hard wired to an old computer power supply.  Runs great.

 

Just about all of my Railking and Premier engines (including my scale GG-1's) fit on the table.  The only engine that does not is the Railking Big Boy.  But as you can see I park that engine directly across the entrance track, so the table does not have to turn.

 

Ron

 

I like the Atlas turntable. For the price you can't beat it. Oh sure I'd love a Mill House, but can't spend that kind of money. I don't have a big layout, and when I get mine put in it will be for the play value. And as you all have shown a good weathering makes it look pretty good. I got mine used from a fellow forum member. If anyone wants a TMCC board for one I have one. Took it out of turntable I bought. I also have docs on board. FREE you pay shipping.

 

Lookin really nice John..

Remember to enjoy the ride !!

 

THE GLACIER LINE UPDATE:

04-14-2015 I installed the turntable! I had to brace and cut the base and top layer into what had been an aisle space and then proceeded to install the turntable and roadbed. This was done in just under four hours which is really moving. I’m surprised I got this much done. There will be a ton of wiring to do in the lower staging yard

Any problems with turning die cast steamers? I had one of the first turntables several years ago. It would not spin a ten pound engine. It had something do do with the base flexing. I could not see a remedy so I went to a Bowser. Otherwise it had smooth operation.

Any problems with turning die cast steamers?

I have a RailKing die cast 4-8-2 M-1a that just fits on the table... No trouble turning.

 

Ron

 

 

Thank you!  Belt: Danco #33 "O" ring installed.  It works like a charm, perfect!!!  The Atlas Model Railroad Company should strongly consider installing this O ring directly from the factory to eliminate the stream of complaints.  The factory installed band is a square shape and not as thick.  The #33 O ring is a better shape for this pulley system and better made.

I have a Williams brass 4-8-4 N&W class J that has to weigh 8 lbs or more and the TT turns fine.  If I recall there's some small rollers on the bottom of the TT to keep things level and turn freely.