I'll show you how I built a homemade HO railroad turntable for my small switching layout. Link to Part 2: • DIY Turntable Part 2 Part 3: • Make your own HO turnt...
Honestly, this is the best video I've ever seen on how to make a turntable. It looks so damn simple and effective that even I am confident enough to try it.
Wow, thanks Mitchell! For me it was necessary to at least try it because the turntable was an afterthought on my small layout, and none of the commercial kits was small enough to fit in the space. Plus I only have small engines. Go for it!
Kevin, thank you... Blessings! I got a chuckle. Have to disagree on the genius thing. I should have planned better from the beginning so I wouldn't have had to do the diy thing. Now, I really need to finish up the details I started!
What a simple and straightforward solution for a small area. Outstanding and you can bet I will use this brilliant idea in my next micro layout. Thank you for sharing this.
UK viewer here trying to get ideas for a DIY turntable as all the off-the-shelf ones are too large. Very simple and effective build. I'd like sound fitted locos to remain live though. Thanks for the video!
Thanks Steve! Yes, the continuous power feeds will complicate the wiring, but perhaps you could look into some small modules that get used for reversing loop polarity changes. I'm currently going in the opposite direction and installing battery power "dead rail" to ease the amount of track cleaning and interruptions I was getting with DCC.
Brilliant craftsmanship. I wanted to build my own but chose to buy an Atlas turntable and plan to add details and weathering with paints. You gave me some creative ideas. Thanks.
well done. I am building a track and adding a turntable. I have been struggling with reverse polarity issues but your elegantly simple contacts eliminate any polarity issues. Nice work.
Hi John! The downside is the interruption of power to a dcc sound card. But I have the sounds turned way down anyway, as it gets annoying on my small layout. Post another comment or link here when you get yours done!
Hi Kevin! Please do, and perhaps you can post any improvements on the design you come up with. I've been busy with a kitchen remodel and some 7.5" gauge train stuff, so I haven't finished adding any more details to my turntable.
So there are two contact points on opposite sides of the turntable and in the base which connect power to the rails on both ends when the table track is aligned with the spur track. Once you start spinning the table, the power is disconnected until the table is realigned with the spur track 180 deg offset. If I needed to intersect more tracks like for a roundhouse or something, I'd have to add additional contacts in the base for power to the table track.
you are very good person and very ingenious to my megustan to be the same but I have enough to fix saxophones and it is very expensive in tools and other things thanks from orlando eternal health
@@StanFerris If you're thinking that you could build a fully animatronic HO-scale robot man to push the turntable around, then your "simple" turntable may have jumped the shark. 😂 By the way, when I said hand-cranked, I should have said "hand-operated" or really even leg-operated. There's a handle at each end of the turntable and two guys push on them to turn the loco. I thought this was restricted to small turntables but, when I searched TH-cam for a video, the first hit was this one of a six-axle diesel being turned in Sri Lanka: th-cam.com/video/c6iGWWFoNU0/w-d-xo.html
Well, this is a very stupid idea...why not take the locomotive and swap it around manually... i guess the comments are mostly ironical. Not using a motor and control cirìcuits are not an option for most model railroaders.
As I get older it's a bit more of a fiddle to get the locos and cars back on the rails, so the TT helps me out with that. But mostly it was a fun project for me to design and build to my limited space. If you have the room and desire for a larger one then there's no need to diy one. Cheers!
Hello, I wanted to add turntable to my layout because I see that not having one, and running pre 1930 steam locomotives makes operations a little tedious if they always run tender first 😂 I'll take inspirations to kitbash my own with some spare wood I have in my attic, just like you did :)
Have fun, and good luck with your project! I could not find anything commercially to fit my space, so DIY was the only option for me. My locos are all small vs steam.
@@StanFerris I wanted to make a turntable that sits on a board, and not one that you cut a whole on your layout to fit a well. Also, turntables are quite pricey, even kits, so making one for cheap is also a nice bonus. I would never get the hornby turntable, its to big and clunky for my layout and it takes forever to spin 180*
Of course. Cut them by hand with a small saw or with a jig saw. Then to get smooth circles, use a drill or a drill press to spin them and with a file or sandpaper block work the edges until perfectly round. Check out my video on cutting circles on a table saw, or one I just put up on jigsaws!
Honestly, this is the best video I've ever seen on how to make a turntable. It looks so damn simple and effective that even I am confident enough to try it.
Wow, thanks Mitchell! For me it was necessary to at least try it because the turntable was an afterthought on my small layout, and none of the commercial kits was small enough to fit in the space. Plus I only have small engines. Go for it!
@@StanFerris If I ever get round to making one, I'll let you know how it went!
No exaggeration. You're a genius. Leonardo da Vinci would be envious! He was a train driver in Italy. I sincerely admire you.
Kevin, thank you... Blessings! I got a chuckle. Have to disagree on the genius thing. I should have planned better from the beginning so I wouldn't have had to do the diy thing. Now, I really need to finish up the details I started!
Fabulous video, probably the simplest turntable I've seen on TH-cam, thanks for sharing.
Wow, thanks for that Alex! It was a fun project that turned out well. They don't always. :)
What a simple and straightforward solution for a small area. Outstanding and you can bet I will use this brilliant idea in my next micro layout. Thank you for sharing this.
Wow, thank you Chris!
This has given me an idea for my own once I can start building my layout.
That's great! Have fun!
This is a good example of "less is more" well done.
Thank you, Peter!
UK viewer here trying to get ideas for a DIY turntable as all the off-the-shelf ones are too large.
Very simple and effective build. I'd like sound fitted locos to remain live though.
Thanks for the video!
Thanks Steve! Yes, the continuous power feeds will complicate the wiring, but perhaps you could look into some small modules that get used for reversing loop polarity changes. I'm currently going in the opposite direction and installing battery power "dead rail" to ease the amount of track cleaning and interruptions I was getting with DCC.
Stan!! This is phenomenal! I have a huge need for a turntable but limited space, this has helped me out so much. Thank you.
That's fantastic! I look forward to seeing your layout progress!
great design, simple but very effective. thank you. i will build one tomorrow.
Hey Andy, thanks for the comment. If you do build one, post a link so we can check it out!
Brilliant craftsmanship.
I wanted to build my own but chose to buy an Atlas turntable and plan to add details and weathering with paints. You gave me some creative ideas. Thanks.
Thanks for commenting! Love your truss bridge and track design!
thank, you for you're teaching of you're great video.
You are very kind. Thank you. It was a fun project.
Simplicity and does the job, well done...
Thank you, David!
Epic turntable and good layout part
Thank you Jan!
You inspired me to make the attempt to building one ! Thank you
Go for it!
Very clever! Thanks for sharing.
Rich, thanks so much! I dig the 7.5" gauge also, and am checking out your site!
Clever! Great job showing step-by-step instructions - excellent video!
Thank you John! I had fun.
well done. I am building a track and adding a turntable. I have been struggling with reverse polarity issues but your elegantly simple contacts eliminate any polarity issues. Nice work.
Hi John! The downside is the interruption of power to a dcc sound card. But I have the sounds turned way down anyway, as it gets annoying on my small layout. Post another comment or link here when you get yours done!
Great work Just a thought I would replace the peg with a building and structure one either side to use as a control pin
Thanks so much! Great ideas for replacing the peg!
Nice build Man! Greetings from Brazil!
Thank you Leonardo! Many blessings to you!
Great idea. Very simple solution. Thanks for sharing it.
Thanks for watching! Wasn't sure it was going to work at first. So far, conductivity has been just fine.
You could put 2 magnets in a certain place in the circle and wood next to each other to keep the tracks lined up
Cool idea!
Many thanks for that, if it's ok with you I'll try to copy what you've done. Very impressed.
Hi Kevin! Please do, and perhaps you can post any improvements on the design you come up with. I've been busy with a kitchen remodel and some 7.5" gauge train stuff, so I haven't finished adding any more details to my turntable.
thank you for the great ideas detail video
Thanks Robert! It took me quite a while to wrap up the series-- 4 videos worth! :)
Vynikajúce video. Ďakujem za nápad, skúsim podobné niečo realizovať tiež.
👍
Thank you! Veľmi pekne ďakujem. Prajem Vám veľa úspechov v projekte!
This is a great idea, thanks
Thanks for watching, James! Hope you get to make one as well.
Hi Stan , I am also looking at the Atlas turntable too, my yard goes in one direction only, need to look at my space and what work
Great idea and very well done. I will be trying this. I'm thinking it wouldn't be too difficult to add a small motor. Thanks for the video.
Thanks Jeff! Let me know if you decide to do a motorized version. That sounds cool!
Supervisor 👍 🤝
Thank you!
good idea
Thank you, Brian! Necessity is the mother of invention. :)
Love your video
Thanks much for the comment!
How does it still work when it’s turned the opposite way?
So there are two contact points on opposite sides of the turntable and in the base which connect power to the rails on both ends when the table track is aligned with the spur track. Once you start spinning the table, the power is disconnected until the table is realigned with the spur track 180 deg offset. If I needed to intersect more tracks like for a roundhouse or something, I'd have to add additional contacts in the base for power to the table track.
you are very good person and very ingenious to my megustan to be the same but I have enough to fix saxophones and it is very expensive in tools and other things thanks from orlando eternal health
Thank you Javier!
IT WORKS - PERFECT :) Very well done :)
Next challenge, motorise it :)
Thanks! I'd better leave the complicated stuff for others! :)
@@StanFerris lol
ill have to use your idea but i need it to hold a UP big boy.
You'll have to go a bit larger in diameter than I did then, and maybe a tad thicker disks! Hope it works great for you.
You mention that you don't mind your model turntable being hand-powered -- I think smaller real-life turntables are sometimes hand-cranked.
Thanks! Oh wait-- now you've got me thinking...!
@@StanFerris If you're thinking that you could build a fully animatronic HO-scale robot man to push the turntable around, then your "simple" turntable may have jumped the shark. 😂
By the way, when I said hand-cranked, I should have said "hand-operated" or really even leg-operated. There's a handle at each end of the turntable and two guys push on them to turn the loco. I thought this was restricted to small turntables but, when I searched TH-cam for a video, the first hit was this one of a six-axle diesel being turned in Sri Lanka: th-cam.com/video/c6iGWWFoNU0/w-d-xo.html
@@beeble2003 Yes, I've seen some really heavy stuff moved with manual turntables.
Brilliant. Very simple but effective design.
Thank you for watching, Bruce!
Well, this is a very stupid idea...why not take the locomotive and swap it around manually... i guess the comments are mostly ironical. Not using a motor and control cirìcuits are not an option for most model railroaders.
As I get older it's a bit more of a fiddle to get the locos and cars back on the rails, so the TT helps me out with that. But mostly it was a fun project for me to design and build to my limited space. If you have the room and desire for a larger one then there's no need to diy one. Cheers!
A fellow I know has several turntables on his layout made using Lazy-Susans.
Nice idea!
Hello, I wanted to add turntable to my layout because I see that not having one, and running pre 1930 steam locomotives makes operations a little tedious if they always run tender first 😂
I'll take inspirations to kitbash my own with some spare wood I have in my attic, just like you did :)
Have fun, and good luck with your project! I could not find anything commercially to fit my space, so DIY was the only option for me. My locos are all small vs steam.
@@StanFerris I wanted to make a turntable that sits on a board, and not one that you cut a whole on your layout to fit a well. Also, turntables are quite pricey, even kits, so making one for cheap is also a nice bonus. I would never get the hornby turntable, its to big and clunky for my layout and it takes forever to spin 180*
Really nice work!
Thank you, John. Making it up as I go along! 🤣
Brilliant ! It is a pleasure to hear you explaining the things in such a calm way. And...where can I get the FermiLab ruler? :)
Thank you, Juan, for such kind words. I visited Fermilab many years ago in Illinois.
Nice ruler! 😉 If I don't own a band saw, can I still make circles?
Of course. Cut them by hand with a small saw or with a jig saw. Then to get smooth circles, use a drill or a drill press to spin them and with a file or sandpaper block work the edges until perfectly round. Check out my video on cutting circles on a table saw, or one I just put up on jigsaws!
buy a cheap jigsaw