This type of fiddle yard allows complete trains to be turned in a relatively compact space without unnecessary handling of the models—as long as trains are short, which is the case here. Maximum train length is effectively a loco plus four twin-axle wagons, and will usually be around 50'; the turntable is a scale 54'-11" long.

The base for the fiddle yard, 3 mm ply glued to the craft foam base.

The layout end of the fiddle yard. The gap to the right will be filled in and there will be space for two short sidings for storing locos or wagons.

The turntable upside-down. The swivel plate is designed for 100 kg but I added the teflon gliders as I suspect the plywood will warp in the humidity of the garage. The gliders run on 1.5 mm PTFE sheet (just visible on the left, translucent), giving a smooth movement and supporting the track ends precisely. The turntable mechanism has a couple of millimetres of lateral slop: I’ll be able to align tracks through an indexing mechanism, and at this scale a gap in the rails of a few millimetres is no real problem.

Test of the geometry: this is how one of the tracks will connect to the branch line. The massive angle irons are to dissuade the plywood from warping, but also provide useful mass and inertia.

A close-up of the latching mechanism; this is simply to park the turntable. Indexing will follow later.

I painted the whole fiddle yard in matt black to de-emphasise it when compared to the layout itself. Note the additional angle (aluminium this time) along the turn table edges.