Toot! Toot!
I worked on the truss rods last night. they required some metal work to make the fittings for the truss rod. Unfortunately I didnt take any photos of the making of the parts, let me know and I can make another part and take some photos if you want to see how I did it.
the tops of the posts need a metal cap which captures the truss rod and protects the wood from weather and truss rod forces. the full size turntable has cast iron caps, I made mine from brass. I made a simple flat box that fit over the ends of the posts. Next I used my ball peen hammer to dome the middle of the box. I sawed some 1/8" brass tubing in half the hard way, cut short lengths and bent them to fit the dome and silver soldered them in place.
the ends of the truss rods needed a solid point that they would pull against on the table frame. the ends of the main beams needed an angular cut and a simple plate with a hole in it.
the other truss rod catches the table some where in the middle. making a secure termination was a little trickier here…Mind you the real deal used a cast iron bit but it more or less looked like this:
on the real deal, turn buckles adjust the tension in the truss rods. Mine are really fakes, both ends have right hand threads and turning them doesnt change the tension…real turnbuckles have left hand thread on one end and right hand thread on the other. some day I’ll have to get some left hand taps and dies! They make em!
Nice metal work. Very realistic. I learn something each time I visit this build. Thanks for sharing.
Your attention to detail is just mind boggling. I love it!
I’m with Dan and Jon: really impressively nice. I drool (which is not good for my keyboard!)…
Eric Schade said:
…the real deal, turn buckles adjust the tension in the truss rods. Mine are really fakes, both ends have right hand threads and turning them doesnt change the tension…real turnbuckles have left hand thread on one end and right hand thread on the other.
Well, then, I guess if you can’t do any better than this we’ll have to disqualify you from the Challenge.
(https://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
last week I only made 4 turn buckles, I made 4 more today and relocated the inner truss rod termination out a bit. I think it looks better and is more prototypical I added two bits of brass tubing attached with home mead U-bolts to the end of each main beam so that a handle can be inserted for the crew to spin their engine. the handles are brass rod to match the handles at the museum. I also brushed on a wash of black and brown ink in alcohol, probably about 1 ink to 4 alcohol ratio I didnt want it too dark.
by the way, my crazy locos should get quite dizzy on this table, if I give it a spin it will turn 3 complete rotations. I tried it with the loco, it doesnt spin quite as far but still not bad, the scale crew should be able to handle the work of spinning their steed.
That is just too cool. I will send you my shipping address so that work of art can spend the winters here in the warm south and not in all that white stuff (http://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-smile.gif). Great job Eric.
Once they learn to balance her loaded it should spin pretty well.
Saw these and thought of Dizzy Miss Lizzy
I see 2 variations; reversing posts and dual wheels on spider.
Maybe you should start over, said Pooh hopefully.(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)
Good photos John! I think both are of the Wiscsset turntable on the WW & F. The top photo looks to be after abandonment.
This is the turn table that was the prototype for the museum’s. Actually it was based on plans from the Portland Company which made a lot of the equipment used on the two footers here in Maine.
This turntable is now the middle school ball field. When it is dry, there is a ghost of the pit showing as dead grass.
I need to.change scales
Wow!
That is so impressive. Great job. Did you make the snow too? 
Just like dollar bills, the snow falls from the sky around here!
What is the “snow” of which you all speak? (http://largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-tongue-out.gif)
This is really cool!
It is kinda like white flower pedals after the fowers have gone by, coating the ground. Some times there are a lot of flowers, that the pedals are so thick on the ground that you can hardly walk through them, and your trains get buried. Snow is kinda like that except cold like inside your freezer.
Okay Eric that was funny
Awesome Eric! looks full size!
Honestly, Eric, it looks real. That’s not easy to do.
Honestly, Eric, it looks real. That’s not easy to do.