RMweb Premium t-b-g Posted January 7, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 7, 2020 I have looked in on the thread from time to time and really enjoyed the project but having just caught up from a couple of months ago, I had to comment on the turntable mechansim. My two all time favourite layouts are Borchester and Buckingham and in terms of the period, the feel and the atmosphere, you are very much carrying the Borchester torch aloft. Now, with your Meccano turntable, you are invoking spirit of Peter Denny and some of his mechanical contraptions! So you are carrying on the traditions of my two modelling heroes! Lovely stuff! 2 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold lezz01 Posted January 7, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 7, 2020 I met Peter quite a few times over the years, he was a lovely man. He reminded me of my father, who was also a Vicker. What is it about Vickers and railways I wonder? I also had the privilege of operating Buckingham once when we took the old MKMRS O gauge layout to the Truro show one year. He is sorely missed and I'm very pleased that Buckingham has been saved. You are quite correct the turntable mechanism does indeed evoke memories of Buckingham and Peter. Regards Lez. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 31A Posted January 7, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted January 7, 2020 1 hour ago, t-b-g said: I have looked in on the thread from time to time and really enjoyed the project but having just caught up from a couple of months ago, I had to comment on the turntable mechansim. My two all time favourite layouts are Borchester and Buckingham and in terms of the period, the feel and the atmosphere, you are very much carrying the Borchester torch aloft. Now, with your Meccano turntable, you are invoking spirit of Peter Denny and some of his mechanical contraptions! So you are carrying on the traditions of my two modelling heroes! Lovely stuff! Wow! Really kind of you to say so. In my youth I think the Borchester and Buckingham layouts were among my favourites; I've got and read repeatedly Peter Denny's books and articles, and Frank Dyers articles, so perhaps it's not surprising that the influence has rubbed off. I do find urban termini the most interesting kind of layout, both in terms of operational interest and the way they're crammed into compact spaces which makes them ideal for modelling. Initially I thought I would just have enough room for a 'Minories' type layout with only suburban traffic, but surprised myself by how much could be fitted in, so there's turned out to be a greater variety of traffic than I originally envisaged. Anyway, thank you again for the kid comments. 4 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium t-b-g Posted January 7, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 7, 2020 26 minutes ago, 31A said: Wow! Really kind of you to say so. In my youth I think the Borchester and Buckingham layouts were among my favourites; I've got and read repeatedly Peter Denny's books and articles, and Frank Dyers articles, so perhaps it's not surprising that the influence has rubbed off. I do find urban termini the most interesting kind of layout, both in terms of operational interest and the way they're crammed into compact spaces which makes them ideal for modelling. Initially I thought I would just have enough room for a 'Minories' type layout with only suburban traffic, but surprised myself by how much could be fitted in, so there's turned out to be a greater variety of traffic than I originally envisaged. Anyway, thank you again for the kid comments. Only saying what is deserved. I always look at layouts and ask myself if I like the way it looks and if it would be one that I enjoy operating. Yours gets big ticks in both boxes. The crammed in look really works and it demonstrates that you can build a layout that is really all railway with very few square inches of scenery and still make it look convincing. The urban terminus does give the opportunity to get a much more varied operational pattern in the same space as many people would fit a sleepy little branch line. Having operated Buckingham usually twice a week for the last 8 years, I have grown to appreciate that sort of operating very much indeed. There are so many different ways of dealing with an incoming train and on yours, Platform 1 is just for arrivals and on Buckingham Platform 1 is only for departures. Having a platform like that adds the need for empty stock shunts into the mix. So Finsbury Square is very much my sort of layout and I may well be nicking a few ideas for my next 4mm one, which may well be an urban terminus with a joint MR and GCR pre-grouping theme. 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted January 7, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 7, 2020 5 hours ago, 31A said: I was only joking about the mess!! For the avoidance of doubt, so was I. No chinchillas or other vertebrates have been harmed during the construction of my layout (the same cannot be said of some invertebrates such as spiders, beetles, etc.). 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted January 7, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 7, 2020 4 hours ago, t-b-g said: I have looked in on the thread from time to time and really enjoyed the project but having just caught up from a couple of months ago, I had to comment on the turntable mechansim. My two all time favourite layouts are Borchester and Buckingham and in terms of the period, the feel and the atmosphere, you are very much carrying the Borchester torch aloft. Now, with your Meccano turntable, you are invoking spirit of Peter Denny and some of his mechanical contraptions! So you are carrying on the traditions of my two modelling heroes! Lovely stuff! Now, here's a question for "those who were there". How fast does a turntable turn? In model form I've seen some really slow ones, which don't look right to me. I suppose that walking pace for the poor old crew shoving it round would be about right but what about vacuum- or electric-powered ones? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 31A Posted January 7, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted January 7, 2020 2 hours ago, St Enodoc said: Now, here's a question for "those who were there". How fast does a turntable turn? In model form I've seen some really slow ones, which don't look right to me. I suppose that walking pace for the poor old crew shoving it round would be about right but what about vacuum- or electric-powered ones? A very good question. The motor which drives mine is labelled "9 volts" and I feed it with 6 volts; nevertheless I sometimes think the turntable is turning too fast. I see you can buy variable voltage DC supplies (Amazon etc.) and was thinking of buying one and trying it with different voltages. Or obviously, it could be fed with a variable supply from a model railway controller. But the other day I was watching some DVDs and one showed a loco being turned on the King's Cross (Top Shed) vacuum motor driven turntable, and it did seem to spin quite quickly. So perhaps mine isn't so far off after all. If I can find the footage on YouTube I'll post a link. I'm inclined to think maybe it's one of those things that doesn't 'scale' very easily (like speed, or time). 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted January 8, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 8, 2020 (edited) 3 hours ago, 31A said: A very good question. The motor which drives mine is labelled "9 volts" and I feed it with 6 volts; nevertheless I sometimes think the turntable is turning too fast. I see you can buy variable voltage DC supplies (Amazon etc.) and was thinking of buying one and trying it with different voltages. Or obviously, it could be fed with a variable supply from a model railway controller. But the other day I was watching some DVDs and one showed a loco being turned on the King's Cross (Top Shed) vacuum motor driven turntable, and it did seem to spin quite quickly. So perhaps mine isn't so far off after all. If I can find the footage on YouTube I'll post a link. I'm inclined to think maybe it's one of those things that doesn't 'scale' very easily (like speed, or time). Yes please Steve, that will save me searching! Otherwise, next time you watch the DVD perhaps you could time the rotational speed (which should scale) for us... Edited January 8, 2020 by St Enodoc 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted January 8, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 8, 2020 (edited) 2 hours ago, St Enodoc said: Yes please Steve, that will save me searching! Otherwise, next time you watch the DVD perhaps you could time the rotational speed (which should scale) for us... Lunch break, so here we go: Rowsley, Peak Rail, vacuum, approx 2 min 50 sec https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg4LweLWr94 Unidentified location (Minehead, WSR?), hand, approx 2 min https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6137bv NRM, York, electric, approx 1 min https://www.facebook.com/nationalrailwaymuseum/videos/419337532321631/ Minehead, WSR, hand, approx 1 min 30 s http://www.unseensteam.co.uk/just-seen/your-turn-2018 Churston, SDR, hand, approx 3 min https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgFF0O36FMM Take your pick! Edited January 8, 2020 by St Enodoc 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Mallard60022 Posted January 8, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 8, 2020 I was 'there', I was also at Wolsztyn and at Finsbury Square. The rotational speed I witnessed at the latter was absolutely fine. I thank you, Ar$£ 2 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 31A Posted January 8, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted January 8, 2020 I couldn't find the footage I saw on the DVD on line, so thanks for the links above. When I have time to go through the DVD again, I'll try and time it from that. On the video that I took of the model turntable the turning takes 37 seconds, so maybe it is a little bit on the fast side! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gerbil-Fritters Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 Turntable Trauma... we've all been there 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gerbil-Fritters Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 about a minute 20 to do 180 degrees on the vacuum table at Yeovil... 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium PhilJ W Posted January 8, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 8, 2020 6 minutes ago, Dr Gerbil-Fritters said: Turntable Trauma... we've all been there An angle grinder would be better than a cutting torch I would have thought? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 31A Posted January 8, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted January 8, 2020 8 minutes ago, Dr Gerbil-Fritters said: Turntable Trauma... we've all been there Oooh dear! Something like that did actually happen with my turntable; I had to put an unexpected insulated rail joiner at the points end of one of the roads and in doing so, the rail ended up longer than it had been at the turntable end, and the turntable rail fouled it. Unlike the Indian one though, the turntable had so much torque in it that it just kept on turning, and in fact bent the rail! A good reason why it should have an emergency stop switch, which I still haven't fitted so at the moment the only way of stopping it (before it reaches its stopping position) is to switch it off at the mains! 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Clive Mortimore Posted January 8, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 8, 2020 45 minutes ago, Dr Gerbil-Fritters said: Turntable Trauma... we've all been there Aren't WPs wonderful looking locos. 1 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Clive Mortimore Posted January 8, 2020 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 8, 2020 8 hours ago, St Enodoc said: Lunch break, so here we go: Rowsley, Peak Rail, vacuum, approx 2 min 50 sec https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tg4LweLWr94 Unidentified location (Minehead, WSR?), hand, approx 2 min https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6137bv NRM, York, electric, approx 1 min https://www.facebook.com/nationalrailwaymuseum/videos/419337532321631/ Minehead, WSR, hand, approx 1 min 30 s http://www.unseensteam.co.uk/just-seen/your-turn-2018 Churston, SDR, hand, approx 3 min https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DgFF0O36FMM Take your pick! So I have to spend 3 mins pushing my turntable. Cor realism can be a bit boring. 2 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gerbil-Fritters Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 13 minutes ago, Clive Mortimore said: So I have to spend 3 mins pushing my turntable. Cor realism can be a bit boring. 1/76th of 3 minutes? 2 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 31A Posted January 8, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted January 8, 2020 12 hours ago, St Enodoc said: Yes please Steve, that will save me searching! Otherwise, next time you watch the DVD perhaps you could time the rotational speed (which should scale) for us... OK, found it; it was on Marsden Rail 32 "East Coast Main Line King's Cross to York". It's in some footage shot in the 1940s, which gives a very good idea of steam depot working, and shows a V2 being turned on the Top Shed turntable. Unfortunately it isn't continuous footage; the camera cuts to other things whilst the loco is being turned, and the sequence only lasts 26 seconds which must be too short to show the whole operation. The speed of turning does seem quite fast, though! 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CUTLER2579 Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 1 hour ago, Dr Gerbil-Fritters said: 1/76th of 3 minutes? 2.368421052631578 Seconds approximately. 2. 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium 31A Posted January 8, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted January 8, 2020 Just now, CUTLER2579 said: 2.368421052631578 Seconds approximately. 2. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baby Deltic Posted January 8, 2020 Share Posted January 8, 2020 When you hear the sonic thud thud thud of the turntable like the wingtips of a Huey UH1 helicopter, you know the turntable speed needs adjusting. I suppose in Edwardian days they ran them at 78 and then slowed them to 33 or 45 depending on the loco length. ;-) 3 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold lezz01 Posted January 9, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 9, 2020 Time and motion relative to time don't scale very well I'm afraid. I'm sorry but you just have to deal with it and decide which way to compromise you want to go with. It's Quantum what can I say I got 2.4 ish when I did a mental gross error check, I thought I was best keeping quiet as it always comes as a shock when someone tries to scale time LOL Regards Lez. 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold lezz01 Posted January 9, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 9, 2020 If it's any consolation water doesn't scale either. Regards Lez. 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Baby Deltic Posted January 9, 2020 Share Posted January 9, 2020 7 hours ago, lezz01 said: If it's any consolation water doesn't scale either. Regards Lez. It does in kettles 1 1 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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