Does anyone have any compatibility experience with the combination of a ROKUHAN turn table and an ARCHISTORIES roundhouse kit? Such as, do the tracks exiting the turntable line up accurately with the doors of the roundhouse? Are there any dimensional issues in regards to the outer radius of the turntable versus the internal radiuse of the ARCHISTORIES kit, assuming one is building it as a 6-stall house? Is there a setback distance to consider for the roundhouse from the edge of the turntable? Interestingly, ARCHISTORIES makes a visual enhancement kit for the ROKUHAN turntable - listed on ZSCALE HOBO. But then, read further below ----> Frank at ZSCALE HOBO had this little blurb under the ARCHISTORIES roundhouse kit, so I assume he has some experience here, and maybe he will chime in: "The roundhouse is not guaranteed to work with Rokuhan turntable. It may be possible if you employ R045 track sections without roadbed, but this will be done at your own risk." I'll most likely be running MARKLIN or MTL non-roadbed track in this area anyway, so it may not be an issue. If the ARCHISTORIES roundhouse kit is not readily compatible with the ROKUHAN turntable, interesting that they would make an enhancement kit. Just sayin' ..... Sorry, lots of questions and I have scoured the "interwebsnet" and found a little info, but not alot.
The Rokuhan TT has 24 stops so 15 degrees is the magic number to look for. Sorry I don't know the Archistories roundhouse specs.
Archistories manual at Frank's site says the track spacing is also 15 degrees, compatible with both Marklin AND Rokuhan turntables.
SWEET - good info. Looking back over Frank’s note regarding Rokuhan track, I think that warning was more so in regards to the track itself and removing the road base of the track. Most likely the road base track sits too high and there’s a clearance issue with locos and the doors. Well, so far this is good to know then. I just acquired a new Rokuhan turntable and unassembled Archistories roundhouse kit, including the two bay addition. I was debating even putting a turntable on my layout, and then the more I studied it the more I realized I wanted the visual of a bunch of loco’s noses poking out of the doors of a roundhouse .
I've been thinking about the same! It would look pretty cool! I have also notice that the run from the doors to the edge of the turntable is really short it would be nice to have room for a complete loco sitting there be for it reach the turntable. I have the Archistories Round house but haven't put it together yet. I did do a turntable that was 3D printed and I do have the Marklin turntable just need the room to set it up and the other round house I have is one of the 3D printed US Z scale models also not glued together yet! I Held it together with rubber bands for now! Photo attached not the best!
Heya Walt, yes that was my exact concern with this combination of turn-table and roundhouse. And agreed, a modest bit of track between the two in order to have a few loco's sitting there and being serviced would be cool. Both components are due in to me on Thursday. Not sure I am ready to start the build quite yet, but I may be able to do some mock-ups. Will report back to "the team" if I do...... Your printed turntable looks really nice by the way.
Can always reach out to me if you have a question even if you're not buying the kits from me. I'm glad to help! I put that comment in due to rail height when adding in the roadbed with Rokuhan. The roundhouse was made at a time when Marklin was the emphasis in Z. Archistories suggested if locos hit the top of the roundhouse openings using Rokuhan to add shims underneath the roundhouse to bring it higher. People come after dealers for selling things for the craziest reasons and I choose to be up front that you might have an issue using Rokuhan tracks going into an Archistories roundhouse kit (item 112121). The Archistories turntable enhancement (item 103161) was produced at the insistence of Noch (EU distributor of Rokuhan) to bring the Rokuhan S037 from a toy to a realistic model. European modelers weren't going for the Rokuhan turntable as supplied as the large screws are easily visible making it look ridiculous.
Great input as always Frank. I’ll be ordering the turntable enhancement kit from you just as soon as I get the unit itself in. Want to ensure all is well with it first. And that enhancement kit looks really nice. But then again it’s ARCHISTORIES so I expect no less. Noted as well on raising the building if necessary. Smart - why didn’t I think of that….. Lastly - fully understand on the complainers who want to whine and complain and point the finger at everyone else, meanwhile hiding their own inability to rectify the problem themselves. The Marines say “Adapt and Overcome”. We on this forum just call it “Z-scale”, as everything is a challenge.
Well, the ROKUHAN turntable arrived this afternoon, and I was not disappointed at all. In fact, I was highly impressed and even elated to find out that whoever owned this ahead of me must’ve ordered the ARCHISTORIES enhancement kit and installed it. ( Sorry Frank….but I will assume they most likely bought it from you). In that regards, the enhancement kit is a must for this turntable. The kit looks excellent on Frank’s website, but even better in person. The ARCHISTORIES round house is a massive kit Z-scale square footage wise, and on par with their REA building. Really excited to get this project underway, but dag-nab-it if I don’t have enough Z-scale fires (projects) that I’m fighting as it is. This one’s gonna have to wait till mid-winter.
If you take a close look at old photos or visit one of the RR Museum that still have a turntable you will see that the track around the turntable and in front of the roundhouse doors is not raised up on the roadbed as it is along the mane lines but rather the rail itself is barely above the gravel grade which is somewhat flat. I would fill the area in-between each sper track to the top of the ties or even to the top of the rail head in areas as well as rase the roundhouse so there is no clearance issues.
Agreed David, that was my thinking as well. And my observations of old photos also noted the rails in these areas being barely above gravel grade, as well in front of most service building such as single stall engine houses, fueling areas, etc. This should be a fun project once I get started.
I was thinking of adding a base to mine to raise the building a bit! But I do use Marklin and with the base and the cork It should work!
