Terry - Great looking TT!! I only have one question. In the base photos I don’t see any drainage for the inside of the base. Are they hidden in the ring rail ties?
Bob C.
Looks great Terry!
Bob, they are there. Look in the last pics, they are the white dots on the base. They are actually 1/2" holes. I was thinking of putting screen over them to keep the gravel from filling them in. We’ve had a few good rains and they seem to work well. I’m sure the gravel will slow it down though.
Terry
Ahhh, now I see them. At first glance I thought that was just some dusty spots from construction. Again, great build Terry. A similar one is on the bucket list for me as well.
Bob C.
Terry Burr said:
Noel, they are indeed screen door rollers. I was going to use G scale wheels but the screen door roller has a flange on each side forcing it to stay on the track. I removed the flat(ish) spring steel piece from the wheel and installed a 2-56 screw. I then used a 1/4" flat stock piece of brass to mount it too. I threaded the brass so it can be adjusted then added a jam nut to keep it tight.
My phone doesn’t do real good close ups but you can see the screw mounted in the wheel here-
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/paintjockey/IMG_20130709_193029_695_zps5bc8c501.jpg)
And here is the brass assembly holding it all-
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/paintjockey/IMG_20130709_192908_407_zpsbf583430.jpg)
You can also see the copper wire that is the cable and how I hold it in place. I still have to stain the bottom. Hope that answers your question.
Terry
Tk’s Terry… yes you did. neat idea…
I need to rebuild my 5 foot table that the rollers finely pooped out… Going to use your idea but Still have to use my Lazy Susan for the center to due to the wt. I think. tks for the idea on rollers.
your both welcome
richard
Looks great! What is the name brand of the base board sheet and where did you get it?
Marc, I have no clue what it’s called. I purchased it from a local metal shop. Sorry I couldn’t be more help.
Terry
Terry,
I have not been following your thread for a few weeks, but looked at it today. Wow! This has really turned out very nice! You have incorporated some great ideas. Thanks so much for posting this project. ANOTHER project I have to get done! It never ends.
A finished pic
(http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i231/paintjockey/IMG_20130815_171007_884_zps50ecb2a3.jpg)
It works well and brings a lot of operating fun to the layout.
Terry
Good job!
Terry,
Very nice job. Are you on track power or battery? How do you index the turntable to the lead in track?
WOW Terry that looks awesome! How many tracks are going to offshut from it? Regards,Ron:)
That is one very sharp looking gallows turntable. Nice job.
Only one problem I see… Do you have cats?
Will you build a little shack or is it a Armstrong type or maybe the loco to be turned will use its steam?
Are there any plans for a roundhouse?
Wow Terry- that turned out great! Nice job and thanks for sharing all the ideas and pictures. Even though my layout runs in circles, it would be nice to add a turntable somewhere… some day… somehow.
-Kevin.
I index the table by hand, or have my son do it! I run battery power so rail polarity isn’t an issue. Right now there isn’t a plan to add any more tracks it’s only to turn the locos. But, it is a perfect place to build a round house…
As far as cats, I don’t have any and the rare stray is dealt with by the paintball gun. With the coyote problem cats are becoming scarce.
It was a fun build and wasn’t that hard or expensive. I spent less than $100 on the whole thing and the base is very sturdy. The table does come inside when not in use the top serves as a handle as well. Thanks again for the compliments.
Terry
Todd, sorry forgot I have Armstrong handles to put on it as well.
I made a little square out of thin styrene that fits between the rails. It slides onto the approach track and keeps the TT aligned and locked in place.
Just a thought…
Thats prototypical…a steel sheet between the rails that had a chain welded on as a handle was used in many places…
Bart “Mr. Worldwide” Salmons said:
Thats prototypical…a steel sheet between the rails that had a chain welded on as a handle was used in many places…
I know…I saw it somewhere and can’t remember where…