In my most recent post, I wrote about the consequences of my decision to install a turntable as part of the Kingston Plains terminus. It focused on the access issues associated with that decision but this missive provides a bit more information on the actual turntable installation.
I mentioned that I had purchased an Anton's Trains 60ft Steller turntable. This type of turntable or the 50ft alternative were found at many branch line stations in NSW. The model is mounted on a 300mm square polyurethane base. It needed to be trimmed slightly to fit on my baseboard. Styrofoam was added to raise it up to the matching levels and then my usual landscaping techniques were used to match the extension to the main Kingston Plain module. The static grass was added across the whole area to ensure a consistent appearance although I am still not happy with my efforts to conceal the gap between the extension and the rest of the module.
Weathering of the actual turntable was a relatively simple matter particularly as I could remove it for easier access. It was sprayed with several coats of Humbrol rust wash. I added additional weathering on the walkways to reflect a well worn timber decking.
I was less certain about how to scenic the internal bowl. Initially, I anticipated a fairly barren space with a number of grimy patches as locomotives, dropping grease and oil, were rotated over the ground. However, after looking at several photos, it was clear that grass did grow in this type of turntable well. Consequently, I added a cover of static grass (predominately late summer and autumn colours) over the previously grimed surface.
The turntable is rotated using a simple manual geared mechanism operated via the knob shown on the photo below left. After a bit of basic research, I purchased a Tam Valley Dual Frog Juicer and Auto-Reverser. It was easy to install on the underside of the extension and, to date, it has performed well.
The installation of the turntable is the final major feature to be added to the station area of Kingston Plains and also denotes the end of any significant new construction on Philip's Creek as a whole in its present location. As discussed in the preceding post, the layout's current location has no further opportunity for expansion and so, short of moving house, that's it for any further extension to the layout. In some respects this represents a sad point but I do have contingency plans just in case circumstances change but it will be a miracle of loaves and fishes magnitude if extra space becomes available in the foreseeable future.
Rather, it's now time to focus on the multitude of unfinished jobs around the layout. As can be seen from the photo below, there is a lot more detail to be added to the Kingston Plains module. Then there are backdrops around most of the layout to be installed or painted as well as plenty more trees to be planted, plus a refresh on some of the original scenery that is now around 20 years old. And that doesn't even contemplate operational and running issues. So no rest for the wicked!!
Phil,
ReplyDeleteGood to see you have chosen the Autumn Tone. It looks very close in toning to what can be seen in a real grass covered field
Jim,
DeleteThanks for the comment.
"Missed it by much!", bugger, I was targeting early spring when most of grass has died off but the first green tinge is starting to come through. I usually use a predominately straw or dead grass variety with pinches of spring grass and desert grass. I have sometimes also applied fine light green scatter material before the application of the static grass to reinforce the concept of new growth underlying the longer dead grass.
cheers Phil
Well done Phil.
ReplyDeleteAs you say these TT's were pretty much the backbone of the branch lines and Terminus's, thing is they were also very much part of the main line scenes as well. A look at the Main North shows all the TT's up there were of the 60ft Sellers types. Head West and it was similar with large depots like Bathurst having one. Head south and you have Cootamundra with one as well, likewise almost all the branch lines radiating out from those lines also primarily were of this type and size, with a smattering of the 50footers.
Decorating the pit is in many ways a challenge, and while the terminus TT's would have had a degree of weeds in them, in reality there really was not a lot of weed growth, until the demise of steam, when diesels took over and not often were turned at them
Thing was with them they all pretty well had a lot of rubbish gather in the pit, also the middle pinion cover was almost covered with oil, the inside rail sleepers also had a lot of oil over them as well.
The pit area on so many of these terminus areas generally would have coal, some timber and other rubbish that accumulated in them, timber bits would not be removed unless it was too big to allow the TT to go over it, also was not uncommon to see broken brake shoes there as well.
Just like coal that fell through the sleeper gaps ash would also drop down through the gap in the ash pan door.
The side walk ways, also had a degree of oil on them that came over time from the enginemens boot soles, a lot of which was picked up in the depot areas, also from the walking path that both driver and fireman trod as they pushed the TT to get it moving.
Overall though the colours and weathering effects around the sleepers and rails is excellent
Well done
Cheers
Col
The
A couple of suggestions
Col,
DeleteMany thanks for your detailed comments. Extra oil is easy to apply and some extra rubbish can be added to the well, but, as you say, the items can't impede the rotation of the turntable. I'll throw a few lumps of coal around for good measure.
cheers Phil
No Probs Phil. I was working on my Sellers TT and trying to get it to blend in better, its now packed away and waiting for the reassembling.
DeleteOne other thing, which I mentioned was the amount of weeds that was in the pit areas of the TT.
Weeds were generally tried to be kept down especially in the warmer months of the year, any build up of weeds especially tall stuff were perfect spots to hide brown snakes, as they would come out and lay under the deck in the shade, while an engine coming onto the bridge would see them move out quickly they were not that great a danger.
I would suggest trying to make it a bit patchier. Try it on an off cut or something, without necessarily gluing down also scatter some fine bits wood, plastic brake shoe or similar.
When mine is up, will be interested in an article from you with the frog juicer as the power source for the TT.
Cheers
Col
Col,
DeleteCreating a more patchy surface shouldn't be difficult - I'll just scape away small irregular areas of static grass and probably add a bit more dirt and other debris. Based on what you said about the snakes, perhaps the addition of 12-15mm length of brown wire might also be appropriate.
Happy to provide more information on the fitting of the frog juicer and auto reverser. It was a very straight forward process but just to clarify, it only supplies power to the track. The actual rotation of the turntable is a manual process.
cheers Phil
Phil,
ReplyDeleteWell done, I have recently activated a similar TT, a Sellars from Robbie Flowers back last century. I am still to scenic mine so I hope you do not mind me pinching a few ideas.
Cheers, Phil Collins
Phil,
DeleteThanks for the comment. You might care to note Col's comment above and with the benefit of additional information, the grass cover in the pit area is probably too uniform and requires some further attention.
cheers Phil
Phil
ReplyDeleteI have one of these turntables and I replaced the knob with a crank because you have to keep stopping to re-grip the knob so you can turn it some more, not very prototypical unless the little HO fellows keep stopping for a rest. ;-)
Ray,
DeleteThanks, not a bad idea to get a continuous motion and will be added to the 'to do' list. However, the HO fellows may still need to stop periodically to check for HO brown snakes.
cheers Phil