No more pie.... I have glued the real Colorado gravel in the pit: I have installed the pit rail as well. Code 40 from Micro Engineering.
I used the same jig as I used for leveling the pit ring. I just cut a small groove for the rail head and used it to align the rail. The ring rail turned out perfect, if I might say so myself..... I can hardly see the joint betwen the ends.
Now it's getting close! Mostly done: The things left to do are to install the ring on top for the tracks and the gear, motor and electric wipers.
Yes, but I plan to make this part of my engine teminal which I will build as a module. I will use it both at my home layout, but also on module meetings. The module will be 3,5' x 2', and will connect with other modules via a adapter module.
This has turned out great! Just don't hide all that beautiful work by turning it into a covered turntable. I'm going to have to borrow your aged wood stain recipe.
I found a problem with my pillar drill .... I made a jig when I was to glue the turntable bridge on to the axle to get it completely centered and straight. I checked with the axle against the jig, and it was a 0.5° error!?! The pillar drill I use has a tiltable platform with an indexed 0° position (like a small notch), but it seemed to be wrong anyway .... Took my digital level with the magnetic mount and put it on a steel shaft mounted in the chuck, I then reset the reference point. Put the level on the plate which then showed a 0.6° error! I adjusted the plate up to 0° and test drilled again. Absolutely perfect! Checked with a new machine set square and a square I have used in the workshop, the machine square was okay, but the other showed a small amount of wrong, so it ended up in the circular archives .... Guess which one I used to check the level before.... Sometimes you just trust it to be right, but the old expression; "Measure twice and cut once" is still the guiding principle that should be followed! (With the addition to have measurement tools that are correct ...)
Is that kit still available? I'm in need of nice hon3 roundhouse kit to go with the turntable I recently ordered.
No, it is way old! But! I saw that there is ONE left at $170! I'll PM you! I added the walkways on the turntable. I guess the shop workers wouldn't like to jump between the ties... Here is the 2400 step per rotation motor: It is big, but that doesn't matter when mounted underneath the table.
The gearbox for my turntable is printed! It is drawn in Solid works and the parts are printed in ABS for the gears, and PLA for the housing. Now it is time to install it and see how it works.
My good friend who works as a industry designer has a very nice 3D printer that I can use. He also knows his way around the CAD.... I only design in Sketchup pro, because who can afford Solid works at home?
