Extra operational capabilities

G'day Everyone,

Recently on the layout in the shed Dad and I were discussing an idea for the one of the stations. The idea was to add the spare Peco turntable into a large free area in the station as it would give extra flexibility when operation occurs because locos could be turned at this station instead of having to be turned at the main station on the layout.
 
However, there was an issue encountered when the Peco turntable well was constructed and placed in the proposed area. The turntable is the scale size of 76ft, however, this station would not ever accommodate locos that needed that length turntable. The largest loco would probably be something the size of a Southern T9 or C Class which would suit a smaller turntable. When I looked on the net to see if there were any around I only found large turntables or smaller European types. Does anyone know where a smaller 'British' turntable can be purchased from? the scale size would preferably be around 55-60ft. 

Cheers Connor

Hi Connor,

Midrailcentre.com, londonroadmodels.co.uk, both are kits.

Nigel

Don't know if this is any help Connor, but I bought an Atlas HO turntable for the end of my fiddle yard which has a 9" deck and works out at about 57'.

You might be able to 'Anglicize' it in some way. Maybe cover the deck so it doesn't look like planking and add girder type walls each side of the track ?



Just a thought.


Ed

South east Finecast do two turntable kits. Here is a link - Turntables - the smaller of which would suit your needs. I built one once and was pleased enough with it although I never got round to motorising it. For more scale models. Metalsmiths and London Road Models both do excellent kits, but they are not really for the  beginner. Here is a 50' version I have installed from the LRM kit.



I have also seen on Facebook shots of an Italian ready made version that scales out around 50' and looks very British. Can't remember the name of the firm off the top of my head and it will no doubt be pricey but the videos of it look promising.

Hi Connor,

Thinking outside the scale, have a look at the well-type turntable for On30 - On30 9" Pit Turntable - Kitwood Hill Models Store - scales to about 50' in 4mm. Narrow the bridge to suite.

You can with a bit of work make the Atlas turntable into a well-type turntable. There is an add-on motor kit as well. The problem is that it indexes at 15° intervals all the way round, and is not meant to turn locomotives but get them in and out of the roundhouse stalls.

The Dapol C001 turntable kit scales to 62.5 feet. Buy it for the bridge if scratch building (otherwise forget it). You can always take a section out of the middle to get the length you want.

Nigel

As you asked, this is one of my two turntables - the smaller South-East Finecast 50' turntable fitted with a Locomotech motor kit - for my WR shed. I used bridge parts from the Dapol kit converted to be underhung (and shorter using "cut-n-shut" technology) as I didn't like the look of the flimsier SEF vacuum molded parts and that ex-airfix now Dapol stuff is so cheap. It is certainly "original" in its design rather than adhering to a particular prototype! 
Definitely a work in progress both from a finish and an entry track POV when the photos were taken, the deck has since been fitted with wood planking down the sides and diamond plates down the middle and the edges of the deck closed off with H section girders on side. The entry tracks have also been adjusted.  
The hardest bit was getting the rod and the deck welded together so the deck would turn rather than the rod spin - super-glue was not good enough, so epoxy was pressed into service to bond the track, paxolin deck, nut and rod all together at the center. An extra piece of diamond-tech plate plasticard with rods that slot into the track sleepers covers this area in case it should ever need to be serviced. 

Fitted with a simple DCC decoder the deck at minimum speed is dead slow (order of one rotation per minute or less) and so positioning it by eye and stopping it is in alignment is not too hard. As one of my first true "kit bashes" I am happy with it - painting is "any day now" as they say in Wales. 

Adam

PS the Triang/Hornby Jinty was celebrating its 45th year at the time - it is part of a static collection that I used to pose for photos during construction.  Too much potential for mayhem to risk the good stuff.