Large Scale Central

Builing a turntable for the JSLVRR

Modeling
#1

Hi everybody! Winter has been really too long! Time to spare for a new project that will find it’s place on the modified layout, planned for this spring. As my locomotive roster has now several steam engines, there is need for a large turntable. Most of the commercial available items are not big enough for the largest engines such as the Bachmann K-27. I decided to build a manually operated one. As it will stay outdoors all year round, it is made of aluminum. Pictures 1 & 2 show the 3mm thick base plate and the future table element.

First, a frame is made to make shure that the base plate will stay perfectly flat. I use 25mm L shaped aluminum profiles. They will be riveted near the edges of the base plate.

Here is the finished baseplate seen from the bottom side.

#2

Good start! I love working with aluminum.

#3

Yes, aluminum is easy to work with and is prefect for outdoor constructions :slight_smile: Next stage: The pit wall will be made of wood. To strenghten the construction, supports must be fixed all around the circumference of the wall. They are also made from aluminum profiles and riveted to the base plate.

(http://static.skynetblogs.be/media/166874/turntable_12-thumb.jpg)

24 supports in all are necessary to achieve a regular circle.

(http://static.skynetblogs.be/media/166874/turntable_13-thumb.jpg)

Here is the finished circle.

(http://static.skynetblogs.be/media/166874/turntable_14-thumb.jpg)

It’s time to think about the guide rail on which the table will move. I’m going for an aluminum 10x 1mm rail located at 50mm from the edge. Here the construction of the rail in progress.

(http://static.skynetblogs.be/media/166874/turntable_15-thumb.jpg)

(http://static.skynetblogs.be/media/166874/turntable_16-thumb.jpg)

The rail has to be perfectly circular, otherwise the wheels on which the table will ride can derail. There is only a lattitude of 2mm.

(http://static.skynetblogs.be/media/166874/turntable_17-thumb.jpg)

(http://static.skynetblogs.be/media/166874/turntable_18-thumb.jpg)

(http://static.skynetblogs.be/media/166874/turntable_19-thumb.jpg)

#4

Hey Frans great looking project. How did you bend the inside rail without kinking it? I can’t wait to see the progress.

Chuck

#5

Hi Chuck,

The rail is made from 3 flat pieces of flat aluminum to span the circumference.
I first assembled them with a few small L-shaped profiles then added more L profiles at regular distances between them.
Having measured the precise distance from the mid-point of the turntable to the supposed rail position, I then started to fix the rail on the board at one point.
I then just went along the circle, letting the loose end of the rail protrude from the outer larger L-supports at about a quarter circle distance in front of the point where I’m fixing the rail. I brought it inside as I went along.
That way you don’t have to curve the whole length at once which is very tricky, and the rail bends gradually and without kinks while going aroung.

It’s about 11 PM at my place right now and I have to get on my way early tomorrow morning, so I’ll end for now and post the next steps on Friday.

Frans

#6

Nice project Frans. I like working aluminum so I’ll be following along

#7

Nice!

#8

Good job. Very nice and sharp.

Xavier

#9

Now comes the tricky part: the turntable bridge. Height, width and position of the wheels are critical as there is no more than 2-3mm clearance between the bridge ans the wooden pit wall. Here you can see a mockup to check the clearance.

(http://static.skynetblogs.be/media/166874/turntable_27-thumb.jpg)

(http://static.skynetblogs.be/media/166874/turntable_28-thumb.jpg)

The wheels are made of two aristocraft boxcar axles with plastic wheels left leftovers from conversion with metal wheels. The axles are cut in half, the plastic wheel bushings shortened to 2mm and reassembled.

(http://static.skynetblogs.be/media/166874/turntable_20-thumb.jpg)

(http://static.skynetblogs.be/media/166874/turntable_21-thumb.jpg)

8 aluminum L-beam supports are cut to accomodate the wheels (2 for each wheel). They are riveted to the bridge and the holes are drilled in order to ajust the height of the bridge

(http://static.skynetblogs.be/media/166874/turntable_39-thumb.jpg)

The supports have to be positioned in such way that the wheels rest rest on the middle of the guide rail in an angle corresponding to the line drawn from the center point of the bridge to the hole in the support. That way, the wheels are perfectly in line with the guide rail.

(http://static.skynetblogs.be/media/166874/turntable_37-thumb.jpg)

Then the central axle has to be put in. I used a 6x30mm bolt and a piece of 10mm tubing that slides over it and which fits into a 10mm hole in the middle of the table. The position is critical otherwise the table will brush against the pit wall.

(http://static.skynetblogs.be/media/166874/turntable_35-thumb.jpg)

(http://static.skynetblogs.be/media/166874/turntable_34-thumb.2.jpg)

Everything is working fine so far!

(http://static.skynetblogs.be/media/166874/turntable_30-thumb.jpg)

(http://static.skynetblogs.be/media/166874/turntable_29-thumb.jpg)

#10

Wow,
That is one well built TT !
Ralph

#11

That’ll last ya awhile…:wink:

#12

Nice work. That will never rust on you.

#13

I agree! I’m afraid it’s me who’s gettting rusty these days :slight_smile:

#14

Looking good so far Frans

#15

Very interesting. I think I need to expand my skills. What are you going to do for the pit walls?

#16

Very nice precision work Frans. This will be one sturdy turntable.

#17

Very cool!

#18

I’ve used 1/2" wood beams, cut into 5" sections. 72 of them will match the height of the turning bridge. First they are treated to whitstand rain and moisture as the turntable will stay outdoord all year round.

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/franchimontees/_forumfiles/turntable-40.jpg)

The beams are glued with TEC-7, a strong silicon based glue that is perfect for outdoor jobs. The following pictures show the work in progress.

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/franchimontees/_forumfiles/turntable-41.jpg)

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/franchimontees/_forumfiles/turntable-42.jpg)

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/franchimontees/_forumfiles/turntable-43.jpg)

Here is the finished turntable with his first customer. I’ll have to adjust some beams which are touching the bridge jus a fraction of a millimeter.

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/franchimontees/_forumfiles/turntable-44.jpg)

(http://freightsheds.largescalecentral.com/users/franchimontees/_forumfiles/turntable-45.jpg)

That’s it for now. Let’s just hope for some fine weather so that I can integrate the turntable in the layout :slight_smile:

#19

Nice build Frans. Don’t forget to include us on the install

#20
Frans Jacobs said:
That's it for now. Let's just hope for some fine weather so that I can integrate the turntable in the layout :)
Looking forward to seeing it there.