Archive for the ‘Special Projects’ Category

Further Corrections to the Sellers Turntable kit

Sunday, February 22nd, 2009

Just thought you all might like to know that I think I’ve found a way to completely correct the issues with the Sellers Turntable on the yard modules. In our last installment of the saga, I had found that inserting some washers between the white-metal bushing and the bottom of the bridge helped with the rotational issues. Shortly before the February GSMTS show, I refined my method, and added some Teflon-coated tape to the stack, and added two washers and a retaining pin to the bottom. Operation at the show was quite reliable, but I feel it can still be even better!

To that end, I sought out and found some 1/4″ID/3/8″ OD bronze bushings (at Lowe’s, no less!). I’ll insert these into the 3/4″ plywood turntable base, and, provided I can get them installed properly, I should finally be able to get the turntable to work as good as it looks — and even be able to finally install a motorizing system of some sort.

So, two years into the project, and I may finally be happy!

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Round and Round and Round She Goes!

Tuesday, April 24th, 2007

I must apologize for not keeping people better informed of progress on the infamous turntable module. David, for one, must be sweatin’ bullets. Especially since his highly modified Bachmann OF 2-8-0 has emerged from the shops.

Well, never fear. The turntable’s here!

I’ve been quite busy since the crash I reported last time. Obviously. I didn’t deviate too far from the instructions, though I did do a few things in my own order. For instance, I put the pit rail onto the ties before painting, and sprayed the ties and rail a color approximating rail brown as a unit. That will more closely match the tie color on the layout. I did the same with the bridge deck.

I also was not happy with the design of the electrical contacts. Of course, I’m known for that!  :)   Instead of the bent wire pickups in the kit, I substituted a pair of my Shay Wipers. Jack, of Freshwater Models, was a little put out that I didn’t like his wiper design. But, I don’t like anybody’s wiper designs.

Anyway, starting tomorrow, I’ll begin to wrap a module around this, and get it tied into the other modules. Who knows. Depending upon how far I get, I may cart this thing up to New York this weekend for a little show & tell …

Posted in Design and Construction, Modular, Special Projects, Structures and Scenery | 6 Comments »

Module Progress – Turntable Arrives

Thursday, March 22nd, 2007

The 60′ Sellers Turntable kit arrived this afternoon from Freshwater Models. I have, of course, inspected it closely. The castings and materials look absolutely first rate. I’ve got a little shopping to do before I can begin building it, but that was to be expected. I think that the assembly is going to be pretty straight-forward, too, as the instructions are quite good. I can, however, see one item that’s going to get a slight improvement, but I’ll outline that later.

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