Walther's 90' Turntable

2slim Mar 15, 2009

  1. 2slim

    2slim TrainBoard Member

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    Has anyone built one of these? The destructions aren't to clear about attaching the wires to the track. Are there any tips you could share?

    Thanks
    2slim
     
  2. Wolfgang Dudler

    Wolfgang Dudler Passed away August 25, 2012 TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    I've installed the turntable at my Westport.

    I've the type with control box.

    Wolfgang
     
  3. COverton

    COverton TrainBoard Supporter

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    Are we discussing the $250 indexed model (what they call built-up) or the older kit that must be motorized at extra cost if you want it? I know of only one person who every got his older motorized kit to work decently, and have read the blues from many who finally gave up on theirs. Moi aussie (me, too).

    I will assume you are talking about the kit you must erect yourself. The wires from your power supply/bus must be attached to the two copper wipers, which in turn wipe the two brass rings. The wires on the rails (I forget if you have to solder them, and supply the rails, or if it is done for you...sorry, it has been a while) descend down through the pivot or spindle. The other ends must be soldered inside the brass rings if I recall. That way the rings turn with the bridge and its pivot and never get wrapped or twisted.

    The real problems are as follows: too often the pit is out of round and the swinging bridge binds in a couple of places. You'll have to sand the inner wall. Also, and the biggest problem, the pivot doesn't sit inside the center lower bearing well and the entire bridge will wobble something fierce. I couldn't get it to work properly, and that seems to confound most of the others as well. My solution was to place two plastic shims on either side of the pivot, but between the large steel washer and the bottom surface of the pit. I also used hobby grease to coat the friction surfaces. The shims effectively filled up the space between the pit surface and the steel washer and provided a bearing way up there...not as intended, but effective.

    I sincerely hope you post back in a week that it works marvellously for you.
     
  4. SackOHammers

    SackOHammers TrainBoard Member

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    I am curious to hear more success and failure stories about this unit.
    I'm still in the planning stages... and still haven't built my benchwork... but sometimes I can't resist buying toys.
    With a little dilligent shopping you can get this around $200.
    I did some searching and got it shipped to me for $209 from an Ebay dealer I dealt with in the past. I got the "built up" version that includes the unit all put together... included were spare railings and other fine parts that may break with rough handling.
    The house on the beam was installed, as was the track. The indexer is there so you can program it for the locations... the remote, etc. Its all put together in one package... with a template for placement. While it does come painted and with some basic weathering... like any of the other Walthers "Built ups" you may want to add your own touch of paint to add to the realism.

    I haven't assembled it... so I have no idea if it has balance problems... but like you said, the version you had was the old version where you buy the motor separately. Perhaps with the "built up" version they worked out the kinks and have taken some of the problematic areas out? Thats just wishful thinking on my part.

    Unfortunately I don't have much to add or contribute because it will be awhile before I get to this stage of layout construction... until then my gadgety impulse buy will sit gathering dust... poking and pointing with a guilty finger everytime I walk by it. haha

    So, if anyone has experience or tips, I'm another listener that would be glad to read.
     
  5. COverton

    COverton TrainBoard Supporter

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    The built-up version is an RTR wonder, a gem, a boon to those who are willing to pay for, and who expect to receive, a well-engineered and well constructed item of importance that a functioning turntable must be for those in the steam/transition eras. Yup, that was a mouthful, but you got a good piece of kit when you purchased the indexed version. There are no balance problems, and it works. A fair bit noisier than the old motor in the other kit, unfortunately, but if you have sound-equipped steamers hissing and popping nearby, you won't hardly hear it.

    Just make darned good and sure you a: understand the instructions (all of them!), and b: follow them scrupulously!!!! You need a separately purchased wall wart between 12-19 volts, either DC or AC, and it must not be capable of delivering more than 0.5 amps.

    If you don't use it for several days or weeks, get used to placing an item in the pit bottom to remind you to vacuum it prior to use. This is important! It is a delicate and fine drive that will get dog hairs, lint, dislodged ground foam, house dust, insects, and anything else that can accumulate in the pit in the works....been there. It wasn't a big deal to pop the cover off the drive at one end of the bridge, but I was actually quite dismayed to find all the crud in it after only a year and a half of intermittent use. And quite surprised.

    I hope that suffices for now.
     
  6. SackOHammers

    SackOHammers TrainBoard Member

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    Well thats a pretty glowing review. Makes me feel much better about the impulse buy. I usually research such things first.

    Now I'm excited to get it into a layout and see it in action!

    Thanks for the tips about regular maintenance.
     
  7. Benny

    Benny TrainBoard Member

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    I had the kit. I had the motorizing unit. After two months of messing with it, I promptly sold it off to someone else.

    and bought the walthers RTR.

    I still haven't used it becasue the layout I was working all came down a few months after I quit withthe turntable, but that was the corner project anyway.

    Think of it this way: you could buy your steam locomotives from Mantua and recieve a box with sheets of brass, bars of zamac, a motor, a couple gears, some wire and castings from lost brass - if you ant dcc, you have to provide and wire your own; same with the lighting. OR you can get an RTR BLI/Spectrum/Athearn with DCC already installed. And it runs flawlessly.

    If you LIKE making things operate, challenging projects, then this is perfect for you.

    But I think you'll agree it gets old pretty fast!! ESPECIALLY when you have to refix it again and again even after you "Get it right."

    It really is your choice in the end...
     
  8. Wildstar

    Wildstar TrainBoard Member

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    I had the kit version. I ran into all the same problems reported here, out of round, and the poor fitting of the deck bridge pivot leaving alot of slop. After much wailing and gnashing of teeth I gave up on it and bought the RTR version. No problems since :D
     
  9. Wolfgang Dudler

    Wolfgang Dudler Passed away August 25, 2012 TrainBoard Supporter In Memoriam

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    With my old Westport I had the old turntable.

    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    There were a few problems. I'Ve made a manual actuation. You had to look carefully to line the track!

    Wolfgang
     

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