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THE GLACIER LINE UPDATE:

 

04-10-2015    My wife, Connie, and I are thrilled beyond words!  This turntable is too cool!  I have seen picture after picture of this turntable in “O” scale for years.  I knew the bridge on the turntable is 24 inches long.  However, you just can’t appreciate how BIG! This turntable is until you see it in person.  A photo of the turntable as I’ve seen just gives you nothing to compare it to.  Check out these photos of me holding it.  You can tell how BIG it is and this is a small turntable for “O” scale.  The full-sized O scale steam engines are well over the 24 inch bridge capacity of this turntable.  FOR YEARS AND YEARS AND YEARS, I heard all the negative comments like, toylike, plastic, too small, doesn't look realistic at all.  I was scared away by all those comments but I reached the point where I have a hidden staging area and all I wanted was a functional turntable without me scratch building one or paying thousands!

 

I would be the first one to buy a fancy thousand plus dollar turntable if my turntable were to be in a visible section of my layout.  When we actually saw this turntable in person it isn't bad at all!  It looks decent.  And as I've seen in this forum there are pictured weathered versions that are absolutely OUTSTANDING!!!

 

I posted this solely so others could actually "see" the size of this table as held by a six-foot two, 225 lbs man.  I was just stunned as I held it.

 

My wife Connie will work her paint magic on it!

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John,

 

I thought the same thing when I got mine

 

I still need to weather mine, I can't stop making other projects for myself or I would have done it by now.

 

I found the slower (6-7 volts) you run it the less likely it'll hangup, also keep the ballast away from it.

 

It came with a spare belt and the first thing I did was take the old one off and put the spare on.  The installed belt was so twisty it wouldn't have worked.

Atlas offers an economical solution to putting a turntable on a layout and its long enough for non scale or semi-scale engines.  Scale Hudsons w tenders though are 26" -28" long. Since most turntables operated over a pit; IMO, painting the Atlas solid design flat black should give it a more realistic appearance. Good luck with the new purchase and be sure to let us know how it works.

THE GLACIER LINE UPDATE: Paint magic!

Remember the nice, clean, light-coated Atlas O Scale Turntable pictures from the other day? There is a CLEAN picture here. Check our how this progressed as WEATHERING has been applied! This turntable looks very beat up and dirty! It's is brand new out of the box! Still more weathering detailing to go but this is a start.

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John,

 

I've had mine for about 5 years now and it has worked great.  Space was limited and the wallet light when I bought mine.  Like you, I was very surprised when I got it.  It fit into my space nicely and I've had no problems since then.

 

Mine  did not come with a spare band and I kept meaning to buy some spares.  I still have the same band.  Hope I don't jinx myself talking about it.

 

Thanks,

Ed 

Yes.  I have next to zero artistic talent, but I helped to weather the turntable.  The best thing I ever managed was my seven-foot-long curved wooden trestle and I'm very proud to say I did it alone!  100% of backdrops are my wife's, Connie, work.  She is AWESOME!
 
Originally Posted by BrianEso:

Ya see John..

Everytime we ask or wives for help we get it.

She has done a GREAT job so far weathering that unit.

One of the reasons we keep them around.

My wife has done at least 95% of our layout designs and all the painting.

Well I did the fruit Stand..

Looks Great.

 

 

Originally Posted by Ed Walsh:

John,

 

I've had mine for about 5 years now and it has worked great.  Space was limited and the wallet light when I bought mine.  Like you, I was very surprised when I got it.  It fit into my space nicely and I've had no problems since then.

 

Mine  did not come with a spare band and I kept meaning to buy some spares.  I still have the same band.  Hope I don't jinx myself talking about it.

 

Thanks,

Ed 

The spare band came with this one too.  I've got a note somewhere about an "O" ring from Menards that was posted somewhere on this forum including part number.  This ring is reported to be SUPERIOR to the bands Atlas provides.  I'm going to find it and order 1 now; just in case.

John,

 

I'd be interested in knowing, if possible, the size info on that 0 ring from Menards.  If it's just a normal 0-ring I'm sure I can find it locally as we have no Memards here in Atlanta.

 

This in spite of me making a terrific case to Menards for expanding to Atlanta.  I think they just blew me off as a crazy person.  They must have been talking to my wife!

 

Ed

Originally Posted by William 1:
I had fun building the Atlas roundhouse.  Biggest model I ever made.  It is heap of plastic, that is for sure!  I built it for a customer and paired it with a Millhouse turn table.  The Atlas one looks fine.  I would probably go that route next time.

What did you mean by "I probably go that route next time" ?

Just to follow up on my last thought.  The Millhouse turntable is great.  I didn't mean to say I would prefer an Atlas, but it is a cheaper alternative depending on the situation.  I always kind of wanted to check one out for curiosity sake.  Can't beat the Millhouse all around for a quality product.  Again, the Atlas roundhouse is a beauty.  I should dig up some old pics of my build.

Here are some pictures of the one I'm still working on.

 

 

 

 Used eye shadow.  Have to add some black.

 

005

 

 

 

The office wouldn't fit on the rear so I'm using it as a stand alone.

006

 

 

Had a Pennsylvania HO decal left from long ago and was the perfect size for here.

015

 

 

I cut emery cloth from my plumbing supplies, pasted it on the roof and painted it flat black.  It looks just like the paper I used to do roofs less than a 4/12 pitch.

018

005

006

015

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Images (4)
  • 005: Used eye shadow.  Have to add some black.
  • 006: The office wouldn't fit on the rear so I'm using it as a stand alone.
  • 015: Had a Pennsylvania HO decal left from long ago and was the perfect size for here.
  • 018: I cut emery cloth from my plumbing supplies, pasted it on the roof and painted it flat black.  It looks just like the paper I used to do roofs less than a 4/12 pitch.
Last edited by John Devlin

Love what you and your wife did with the painting and weathering.  I suppose I will do that one day.  The Atlas turntable and Round house were the cost effective solutions for me too.  While it would be awesome to have one of those other larger professional models, this is what I can justify and afford.

 

My belt broke too... I just grabbed an O ring out of my junk box and was lucky it fit.  I power mine hard wired to an old computer power supply.  Runs great.

 

Just about all of my Railking and Premier engines (including my scale GG-1's) fit on the table.  The only engine that does not is the Railking Big Boy.  But as you can see I park that engine directly across the entrance track, so the table does not have to turn.

 

Ron

 

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Last edited by Ron045

I like the Atlas turntable. For the price you can't beat it. Oh sure I'd love a Mill House, but can't spend that kind of money. I don't have a big layout, and when I get mine put in it will be for the play value. And as you all have shown a good weathering makes it look pretty good. I got mine used from a fellow forum member. If anyone wants a TMCC board for one I have one. Took it out of turntable I bought. I also have docs on board. FREE you pay shipping.

 

THE GLACIER LINE UPDATE:

04-14-2015 I installed the turntable! I had to brace and cut the base and top layer into what had been an aisle space and then proceeded to install the turntable and roadbed. This was done in just under four hours which is really moving. I’m surprised I got this much done. There will be a ton of wiring to do in the lower staging yard

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Thank you!  Belt: Danco #33 "O" ring installed.  It works like a charm, perfect!!!  The Atlas Model Railroad Company should strongly consider installing this O ring directly from the factory to eliminate the stream of complaints.  The factory installed band is a square shape and not as thick.  The #33 O ring is a better shape for this pulley system and better made.

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OGR Publishing, Inc., 1310 Eastside Centre Ct, Suite 6, Mountain Home, AR 72653
800-980-OGRR (6477)
www.ogaugerr.com

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