I recently completed the Bluffs Yard turntable by modifying and detailing the much-maligned Walthers 90' turntable kit. While not state of the art, I didn't think the kit was so bad, at least for my needs. The prototype I'm modeling is at the end of a long spur, with no whisker tracks, and is used only to turn equipment. Both ends of the model bridge align just fine with that single track.
During testing I noticed that the bridge would bind with the pit walls at some points, making it clear that the walls weren't perfectly round. That being the case, I could see where this kit would cause problems when used as-is. However, since I'm modeling an above-ground turntable with the pit walls removed, that wasn't an issue for me. It's my understanding that the newer Walthers RTR 90' turntable is a huge improvement over this kit, but I didn't want to spend $300+ on it if the kit was going to meet my needs at a tenth of that price.
View of the new turntable looking southwest. I made the following modifications to the Walthers kit:
- Removed the pit walls, since the prototype turntable is an above-ground type.
- Fabricated a rounded power arch and added conduit and a junction box beneath the power collector at the top. Also added the V-shaped details seen in the photos. Anyone know what those are?
- Scratchbuilt a new open-air operator's cabinet.
- Modified the handrails, removing one railing and a number of stanchions from each side and adding rounded ends and a new section around the operator's cabinet.
- Weathered the deck using Bragdon powders, and then roughed it up and blended the powders using a wire brush attachment in my Dremel tool. By: Joe Atkinson
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Prototype view of engine facility looking south. Turntable is visible to the left of the sand tower. By: Joe Atkinson
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Bluffs Yard engine facility with new turntable in the background. The enginehouse roof is just set in place for a temporary test fit. By: Joe Atkinson
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Prototype view of Bluffs turntable and surrounding area, looking north. By: Joe Atkinson
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Model view from the same location showing the modified power arch with added conduit, junction box, and those mystery V-shaped details at the top. I just realized I forgot to add the makeshift extensions on the platform ends, as seen in the prototype photo. I'll plan to add those this morning. By: Joe Atkinson
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Prototype view looking south, as IAIS 706 goes for a spin. By: Joe Atkinson
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Model view of the same scene. I plan to model the I-80 bridges in the prototype photo as part of my current project to finish and scenic Bluffs Yard.
IAIS yard and road crews don't turn their own power at Bluffs yard, and since I didn't have enough for a hostler to do here to keep them busy as a separate position, the turntable won't be used during operating sessions. It isn't needed then anyway, as most road consists came west to Council Bluffs with an east-facing unit in the consist anyway. For that reason, since the turntable will only be used when I'm on my own, I decided to keep things simple and turn it manually. By: Joe Atkinson
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New Bluffs Yard fuel storage tank, a Rix 60' tank with the bottom two rows left off, built around a support pole. By: Joe Atkinson
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View of the new turntable looking southwest. I made the following modifications to the Walthers kit:
- Removed the pit walls, since the prototype turntable is an above-ground type.
- Fabricated a rounded power arch and added conduit and a junction box beneath the power collector at the top. Also added the V-shaped details seen in the photos. Anyone know what those are?
- Scratchbuilt a new open-air operator's cabinet.
- Modified the handrails, removing one railing and a number of stanchions from each side and adding rounded ends and a new section around the operator's cabinet.
- Weathered the deck using Bragdon powders, and then roughed it up and blended the powders using a wire brush attachment in my Dremel tool.
Prototype view of engine facility looking south. Turntable is visible to the left of the sand tower.
Bluffs Yard engine facility with new turntable in the background. The enginehouse roof is just set in place for a temporary test fit.
Prototype view of Bluffs turntable and surrounding area, looking north.
Model view from the same location showing the modified power arch with added conduit, junction box, and those mystery V-shaped details at the top. I just realized I forgot to add the makeshift extensions on the platform ends, as seen in the prototype photo. I'll plan to add those this morning.
Prototype view looking south, as IAIS 706 goes for a spin.
Model view of the same scene. I plan to model the I-80 bridges in the prototype photo as part of my current project to finish and scenic Bluffs Yard.
IAIS yard and road crews don't turn their own power at Bluffs yard, and since I didn't have enough for a hostler to do here to keep them busy as a separate position, the turntable won't be used during operating sessions. It isn't needed then anyway, as most road consists came west to Council Bluffs with an east-facing unit in the consist anyway. For that reason, since the turntable will only be used when I'm on my own, I decided to keep things simple and turn it manually.
New Bluffs Yard fuel storage tank, a Rix 60' tank with the bottom two rows left off, built around a support pole.
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