I’ve been working on my model train layout a lot lately. One of the things I added to it is a turntable. I got an Atlas HO scale turntable.
Now, the turntable is not bad for the price, but I have a few complaints. First of all, the turntable is a bit too small at only 9″ in diameter. Most locomotives, whether they be steam or diesel, are a bit too long to fit on it, although the smaller locomotives do fit okay, as I demonstrated in the photo. That switcher is the smallest locomotive I have, and it still takes up a good portion of the turntable. I don’t know why they don’t make a 12″ version, it surely would sell better if more people could use it. But anyway, it will do for what I need it for, I guess.
Another problem is that the base of the turntable is higher than the roadbed that is used by pretty much everyone. It’s not very much, but it still can cause some problems aligning the tracks to it. My tracks end up arriving at and angle slightly higher than the turntable rails because of it. Also the screws to mount the turntable are slotted flat head screws, a real pain to use in wood — even if you pre-drill the holes!
It would cost more to make a longer turntable, but solving the other problems would probably add no cost to it. I don’t know, but it seems to me like whomever designed this turntable never actually built a layout or even tested it on one before production. 