Turntable: circle cut out

If you buy a Walthers, you WILL be sorry! It's a cheap piece of junk!

Frank Eva Digital Railroader

The walthers turntable does not include a usable mechanism. So you will need to plane for the installtion of a mechanism under the turntable so that it will rotate easily and squarely. I used an old stepper motor for the bearings (removed the magnets so that it would not cog) and fashioned a frame out of aluminum to support it. For the bridge I used a pieces of aluminium bar stock with a hole in the middle. I glued the plastic bridge to this making sure that it was in the absolute center (any deviation from center will be very bad).

Another approach I have heard is to use an Atlas turntable as the mechanism installed under the Walthers Turntable. This gives you automatic indexing as well as power reversal.

Best Regards,

Ken Harstine

Folks,

Chill OUT and re-read Matt's question!

Matt's question was in regard to the UPCOMING Walthers' turntable, not the original POS offering (of which I can only agree with the comments already made and might even add a few negatives of my own!).

I have NOT seen anymore info than Matt has but it would appear that this turntable is in a higher class if the pricing is any indication. I do think that Walthers will have a hard time overcoming the stigma they attached to themselves with their first miserable attempt at a turntable.

Perhaps they got it right this time? And perhaps there really is a Santa Clause, Easter Bunny, etc.

Allen Cain

I think he is referring to the new 'Modern turntable' from walthers, a kit representing a 135' turntable with motor and control provided.Due out march I think, to go with the just released modern roundhouse etc. Should be better than the kit you both refer to- can't be any worse!! Mark Bishop UK

You need a cutter on a radius bar revolving around a central pivot. eg. a piece of stripwood swinging on a big nail with a cutting blade at the other end. or a B&D jigsaw with a piece of aluminium bar through the retaining slot and a pivot. The difficult part is figuring out the method that suits you.

Most turntables have a large lip at the top edge that sits on the baseboard surface while the well hangs in your carefully cut hole.

I can't imagine why. :-)

Regards, Greg.P.

Shucks - I missed the info about the new turntable - Matt, could you post it again?

Depends on who actually designs and manufactures it, since Walthers aren't doing any of that any more...

This will be a ready to run version with everything done including a full indexing package.

Dave

He said the new one. This is not even out yet.

He's talking about the new one that you haven't seen yet to make a judgement on. This will be RTR with indexing. The older ones just needed a bit of work and to make into decent turntables.

Dave

One size its all as long as you have room for a nearly 19" turntable. Too much of admirable Bird's hot buttered goat custards.

If that hippity-hop motion appeals to you . . .

OK. Easy enough. Thanks.

As to the confusion above, my apologies for not being more clear. I am referring to the NEW Walthers turntable as advertised in their 2004 HO Scale catalog [p.

Thankfully, I have no experience with their previous turntable offering [it certainly sounds like it was a disastrous attempt on their part]. I hope this new turntable is a winner. Price wise, it certainly should be.

Have you considered a Bowser turntable? They come in 14, 16 and 18", and if you don't need indexing, are cheaper than the new Walthers unit, especially considering that many parts are brass rather than plastic. Granted, these are kits rather than built-ups, but I believe that the guts of the thing are pre-built, and you only have to assemble the deck...

I haven't seen one in person, but they do appear to be impressive. However, I would prefer a r-t-r turntable. Hopefully, the Walthers model lives up to its advertising.

I really enjoy building things in the wood shop. Kits, however, are not a big part of that time. I do more with scratch building bridges and other such items. The kits that I have assembled were out of necessity since there was not a r-t-r option available. With the Walthers offering on the horizon, I have time to budget one into the plan, assess owner feedback, and make the choice thereafter. I am expecting it to be a winner. I just feel that Walthers is bringing out some very nice HO Scale equipment.

Thank you for the Bowser link. It's always ideal to have options, and you have certainly provided me with a terrific option should the Walthers turntable fall short of my expectations.

Guyz,

Go to:

Paul - "The CB&Q Guy"

Been there. Seen that. So if I don't have room for a 20" pit and want a 14" or so? So if I don't want indexing (what sort of indexing? Note: that herky-jerky turkey Atlas turntable Geneva motion qualifies as "indexing" - but it sucks.)?