Turntables

Have any questions or tips and advice on how to build those bits that don't come ready made.
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kiwitram
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Turntables

Post by kiwitram »

So, I was thinking about how to get a turntable to run smoothly, and I was looking for inspiration online and found this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYrEbZciGdc

The man's a bloody genius! Using a Lazy Susan running loop with ball bearings in it, one can have a very smooth running turntable of almost any size. I'll give it a go, methinks.

Alexandra
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Emettman
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Re: Turntables

Post by Emettman »

That's nice.

There's lots of ways of doing this, but it is a lot easier if the turntable only needs two positions, so alignment can be done with "stops".
As the video where the turntable purely turns, though it could have a single-road engine shed at the far end.
Alternately stops can still be used for accurate alignment where there are two pairs of tracks on the turntable as here
Image

One of the two top right lines will be the "in" track (via coaling and ashpit) with the other being "out", the turntable rotating 345 degrees back and forth
This on the other side can feed a 2 road engine shed. (the locos going head first into one line, and reversing into the other)

There are then choices for motorising and for power to the turntable track...

On the "Lazy Susan " I have used a couple of these quite happily.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300mm-360-DEG ... xy63FS6iYS

Chris
"It's his madness that keeps him sane."
retiredoperator
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Re: Turntables

Post by retiredoperator »

Hi Alexandra Very instructive video ,but, I am more interested in wagon turntables and have found various makes on line, I haven't purchased one yet though, as I would prefer a manual drive, if I could get my hands on one?? I did see one at a recent show, when I enquired "Where did it come from" I was told that "It was Meccano", as to yet I haven't found one. Have you got any ideas where I might find one please?? Happy New Year Kev
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stuartp
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Re: Turntables

Post by stuartp »

Frizinghall Model Railways make a Meccano drive, they do a few motorised ones too:

http://www.modelrailshop.co.uk/product/ ... Turntables
Portwilliam - Southwest Scotland in the 1960s, in OO - http://stuart1968.wordpress.com/
GWR_fan
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Re: Turntables

Post by GWR_fan »

Recent video update on first posting.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BK-CXC3BzNc
HotBox53
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Re: Turntables

Post by HotBox53 »

stuartp wrote:Frizinghall Model Railways make a Meccano drive, they do a few motorised ones too:

http://www.modelrailshop.co.uk/product/ ... Turntables
That is one very expensive little assembly. It is possible to buy the Meccano parts to make it for about GBP5.00, including genuine Meccano worm gear and pinion :mrgreen:
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Second class passengers get out and walk!
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pete12345

Re: Turntables

Post by pete12345 »

HotBox53 wrote:That is one very expensive little assembly. It is possible to buy the Meccano parts to make it for about GBP5.00, including genuine Meccano worm gear and pinion :mrgreen:
Manual drive using meccano parts was (may still be) one of Peco's recommended methods of operating the turntable. The advantage with manual control is you can very easily position the turntable so that the rails line up, which isn't always possible with an electric drive.
retiredoperator
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Re: Turntables

Post by retiredoperator »

Hi Kiwitram My interest in turntables is on a smaller scale, oo just the same, but, for "Wagons" on a "Shunting Puzzle". But the Loco would shunt the wagon on the "Wagon Turntable", and that is where it becomes tricky? As from then on the "Wagon" is positioned by "Cables and Capstans or Pulleys".(Finger from the Sky) any suggestions?? Kev
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Emettman
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Re: Turntables

Post by Emettman »

retiredoperator wrote:Hi Kiwitram My interest in turntables is on a smaller scale, oo just the same, but, for "Wagons" on a "Shunting Puzzle". But the Loco would shunt the wagon on the "Wagon Turntable", and that is where it becomes tricky? As from then on the "Wagon" is positioned by "Cables and Capstans or Pulleys".(Finger from the Sky) any suggestions?? Kev

The only working wagon turntable I kn ow of in 16.5mm gauge is
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Faller-HO-120 ... SwGvhT19cZ

Working on from there...
Ghost drive with magnets under the baseboard?
The wagons actually being powered?

Chris
"It's his madness that keeps him sane."
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Free_at_last
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Re: Turntables

Post by Free_at_last »

LEICESTER SOUTH by Shipley MRS uses wagon turntables and motorised wagons to good effect.
https://youtu.be/VhXZenidcXc?t=5m45s
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Re: Turntables

Post by GWR_fan »

retiredoperator wrote:Hi Kiwitram ......................................... But the Loco would shunt the wagon on the "Wagon Turntable", and that is where it becomes tricky? As from then on the "Wagon" is positioned by "Cables and Capstans or Pulleys".(Finger from the Sky) any suggestions?? Kev
I like the idea that the loco would be the driving force to move the waggons. A chain could be used running through pulleys and hooked to the loco buffer beam. The loco would then haul the waggon in either direction depending how the chain was positioned at either waggon end. Surely other than man power this is how the prototype would have worked (unless a motorised horse is released).

Perhaps a servo winch inside a building (or under the board) could haul the waggon. Sail winches (and R/C units) are relatively inexpensive these days and minimal torque output is needed.
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