Turntable and Roundhouse

I am scratch building a 32'' turntable with some parts from Ross switches. I purchased the bogies and arch tower from Ross, everthing else scratch. As for the drive, I have a gearhead motor and purchased the drive pulley and belt from McMaster Carr. The drive is very close to the Ross setup except I don't have a cnc to cut out the parts. The major assembly is plywood from Menards, the shaft is 3/8'' steel with a 3/16" x 1" x 3" plate welded to the end and machined square to the shaft. The rail inside the pit is Atlas 2 rail flex cut down the center and glued into position with CA glue. The bridge is 3 pieces of poplar glued and screwed together, cut to size for fit and covered with plastic sheet and then detailed with evergreen strips. The railing is from Harbor Models, used on model boats, Made by Robbe. The stantions are 1" high brass turnings and the railing is .040 brass rod. The walkways are 3/32'' bass sheet.

Frank

fgroza@msn.com

Link to my Scratch built TT project. Best viewed as a slideshow.

Michael,

I never get tired of seeing that!

Dave

Thanks Dave.  I re-arranged the pictures on my Photobucket site and will add some comments when I get time.  (2007) was a long time ago now.  It's time to move on.  If I get a chance this week I'll stop.  I got some bike rides north I want to do and visit family on the farm.

Mike 

Mike,

Very nice work. I didn't go to the extreme that you did with all of the rivets but the basic ideas are the same. I'm waiting on some parts to finish mine.

Frank

Thank you all for your insight and suggestions.

My conclusion is that while I can manage with the roundhouse, I give up on building the turntable... too complicated for my expertise.

By the way, if anyone has a used one handy, I would be interested. Please contact me at <leon.bedard@gmail.com>.

Thanks again.

i built a turntable using a antenna rotor motor it  has a 30inch bridge.  remember you need a good motor to turn that bridge

Hi, I manufacture the EZ Engine Turntable for both Portline Hobby and S Gaugian.

You can also contact me directly on the purchase of this as well as EZ Engine test stands and EZ Engine Transfer Tables. Thanks, Dave

Hi Mike

Where did you find the big gear in the center of the turntable?

I BUILT A TURNTABLE USING A ANTENNA ROTOR MOTOR.  YOU NEED A GOOD CLOCK DRIVE MOTOR.  THE TROUBLE IS MOST OF THE TURNTABLES OUT THERE HAVE CHEAP MOTORS TRUST ME.  JUST GET YOURSELF A QUALITY MOTOR.  YOU CAN BUILD YOUR OWN TURNTABLE BRIDGE AND GO FROM THERE!!!!!!!!!

Suggestion, IMO, do not depend 100% on a scale sketch. Consider laying out your TT & RH in 1:1 real life with TT approach track connected to entrance/exit tracks, RH structure including door openings, circular cardboard pit and locomotives intended to be used.  Also, work out your degrees of track spacing.

Just because you can squeeze it all together does not mean you will like the appearance or that end tracks will allow larger engines to get into the doors well

A 3' X 5' can be  rather tight even in S.  I have found that a keystone shaped space is more accommodating to any TT & RH setup.