Well after buying a new soldering iron, some flux and a "helping hands" set up, I have finally achieved the impossible...I have got good electrical current running through my Walthers Turn Table!! Very, Very frustrating, I believe that this is one of the most poorly designed systems I have ever seen, but the #$@!!% thing works now anyhow! Happy Modeling! John ------------------ The Santa Fe and Southwestern, Chief of the Southwest!!
Well John it is always nice to achieve what you set out too do even if it did turn out to be a challenge. I suppose its what keeps us so interested in building model railroads ------------------ Regards Paul #1-Moderator & Member number 50 SPAD Investigator #1 ICQ 61198217 http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000
Congratulations, John Your battle with the turntable is all part of the fun of model railroading. But only after it is done ------------------ Alan Curtis. Moderator. Member #12 The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.alancurtismodels.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery
John Now you know what I went through putting the @#^&%$ thing together. Do you have a plastic shaft that the wire goes through?? Mine did and while testing it the track on the turntable got hung up on one of the track to my roundhouse and busted the shaft in two. I used super glue to glue it back together and it worked, except, I spilled some glue on the pick up bushing and had to use fingernail polish remover to clean it up. It finally works fine now. Dick
Yeah its has the plastic shaft!! That was their first mistake !! The second mistake was the slip rings themselves. Soldering wire to the top of that ring was way to much for my little head to handle !! Then running he wire up the shaft to connect to the bridge...tricky . I really think that the folks over there at Walthers should take another LONG look at this one and then redesign it! Anyway, the table is about done, some track weathering and other minor detailing and then it can be mounted on the layout. Happy Modeling! John ------------------ The Santa Fe and Southwestern, Chief of the Southwest!!
I'm glad you had success JCater! My Diamond Scale 134 foot turntable has a hollow brass shaft with the wires running up through a plastic insulating tube inside, (like a soda straw) and ar soldered to the rails. It was the easiest thing to do!!! Naaaw !! You can't go wrong with Diamond Scale products, and they have all the accessories for the whole Engine facilities. You should see their cataloge. You kids just don't listen! Tsk Tsk ------------------ Watash #982
Watash, Hi, I'm a newbie Where can I get a copy of there catalog? Also do they have a web site? Dwyane
Dwayne, Neal Wolfe's e-mail is: newolfe@compuserve.com Tell him you want the catalog complete with prices. Give him your snail mail address. ------------------ Watash #982
Hello Dwyane, Welcome to Trainboard Please tell us about your modeling, and feel free to ask questions, there is always someone who knows the answers (Especially Watash) ------------------ Alan Curtis. Moderator. Member #12 The perfect combination - BNSF and N Scale! www.alancurtismodels.com Andersley Western Railroad Alan's American Gallery
Watash, Thanks for the Info. Hi, Alan I had a Lionel O/O27 scale? layout (6'x10'approx) as a kid that my grandfather made for me. I been a arm chair fan for many years. Now that my children are moving on I have room (10'x11') for a layout. After alot of reading and observing many of these forums. I have decided on starting with a small N-Scale layout on a 30x80 door to get the feel of laying track, roadbed and etc. before doing any larger layout. I currently have no interest in any one era or any one type of operation. I just want to lay some track , try different things out and run some trains and see what I like or don't like. Happy Railroading!! Dwyane
Hey Dwayne, before you cut a hole through that door, have you considered using a light frame under 2" thick foam to start? It is ideal for "N" and "HO". Easy to work, light to move around later if you need to, even with a whole town of scenery and the roundhouse. Think it over. I used a door, then later I had to go buy the same door. Suggest use the door as a temporary work bench, cover it with some scrap linoleum taped around the edges. Door is still good afterwards. Talk to us, most of us have already been down these roads and are willing to assist you by helping you to save money, time, and have more fun doing it. ------------------ Watash #982
Welcome dwyane to trainboard I hope you get as much satisfaction from this place as I do. What watash says makes a great deal of sense as using foam is much lighter to move around. You can find a lot of information here at trainboard and if you can't find it feel free to ask away. anything that is scale specific should be posted in N scale but any general questions can be asked in "The Inspection Pit" Also many of us members have websites with helpful hints so when you get time have a look around. I hope you visit my site which may be of some help . ------------------ Regards Paul #1-Moderator & Member number 50 SPAD Investigator #1 ICQ 61198217 http://users.bigpond.net.au/railroad2000
Yeah Dwayne, do take the time to visit the Colonel's layout. He does a masterful job, and is smart too (when he is awake).He can give you more hints than I can. I just hope I have half the skills he does by the time I get to be his age!(he's older you see) (I'm just a kid starting out,) HA! ------------------ Watash #982
Hello Dwayne and welcome to the board! I think you will find it very helpful to be here ! By the way, when Watash makes a suggestion, it is best to follow it because, well, he's just a darn sharp guy !! Watash, I WILL be moving to Diamond Scale products as soon as possible !! Happy Modeling! John ------------------ The Santa Fe and Southwestern, Chief of the Southwest!! [This message has been edited by JCater (edited 13 January 2001).]
Initially I tried one of those turntable kits and gave up in frustration and designed and built my own. Harder to do in some ways but once I got going it was fun. I use the pit from the kit and that is all. I tend to make things stronger than they need to be so don't anticipate any breakdowns . It helps to have a metal cutting lathe so I could turn the parts I needed. ------------------ Robin member #35 Maberly and Tayside
Robin, Even though I don't have a lathe, I would like to see your plan for the modifications so that when mine dies (which I am sure it will) I too can build from scratch. Willing to share them?? Happy Modeling!! John ------------------ The Santa Fe and Southwestern, Chief of the Southwest!!
My turntable and pit cost under $150.00 and all the parts fit almost without any problems. I did file a little flash, rolled the pit rail because it was nickle silver so sort of stiff. I don't have to listen to that growling spur gear noise Atlas has on their Geneva mechanism. Mine is worm gear driven and quiet. ------------------ Watash #982
Sure will John. I am in the midst of building a new roundhouse and will probably tweak the turntable too. It uses a worm gear drive with a DC motor that came from a scrapped piece of dental equipment. The shaft runs on ball bearings to keep it smooth and true. Unfortunately I do not have a milling machine so actually used a piece of maple drilled to hold the bearings which it does fine. I will have to do a drawing to show how it comes together. ------------------ Robin member #35 Maberly and Tayside
Hey watash, is diamondscale strictly HO or do they have N scale also? (yeah I know what forum we are in )
