Leefield & Ashpeth 16 - Installing a Kato Turntable

[@SwindonJunction]

Just subbed to your channel, luv the scenery you have created, great to see the work in N gauge, i struggle with OO at the best of times. look forward to more updates.

[@neiloldie2433]

☺HI, Great to see you subscribed! Thanks for the compliments, much appreciated! Cheers, Neil.

[@darrylbond5238]

Excellent description of its operation!

[@neiloldie2433]

Thanks Darryl, Good of you to say so. Cheers, Neil.

[@darklord0568]

Tremendous Video! Thanks for taking the time and making the effort to create this video so we could watch and learn all the steps along the way! Your attention to detail is amazing!

[@neiloldie2433]

HI David I am glad you felt the effort was worth it. Slightly more complicated installation, for me, due to the supporting beam directly under the location of the turntable. I am delighted with the turntable and its operation. Video 17, in my thread, shows the turntable weathered and fully integrated into the depot. Some modellers would not wish to dirty a turn table in this way, but I am pleased with the overall effect. Cheers, Neil.

[@minnesotaeerailroad8471]

Thanks for sharing this! It's still good to see in 2021!

[@neiloldie2433]

Hi. Thanks for your supportive comment. I appreciate it. Video 17 shows the turntable completely weathered and in use with a steam loco. Cheers, Neil.

[@abbasraza5254]

Thanks Neil, I've a Kato Turntable arriving next week (hopefully) and this was very helpful.

[@neiloldie2433]

Thanks Abbas, I am sure you will be delighted with it. A wonderful piece of equipment! Cheers, Neil.

[@RogerPerkins1939]

I have this Kato turntable and am very impressed with the accuracy of the alignment. I am in the US and this turntable is long enough for most of the steam locomotives.

[@TheMisterdan01]

That was brilliant Neil! What a great turntable, it works a treat! Cheers, Dan

[@neiloldie2433]

TheMisterdan01 Hi Dan Good to hear from you. Hope you are well. I am pleased with the turntable and it should look quite natural once the buildings have been replaced with everything detailed and weathered. It was not essential to use the Kato power controller as any controller can be connected, including DCC. I went for it as I needed another controller anyway to be able to shunt the locos around the turntable, ash plant and coaling tower, while other trains are running on the main line. Cheers Neil.

[@TheMisterdan01]

Yep the scene will look great, good choice with the turntable and controller. I'll keep an eye out for the next installment, cheers, Dan

[@hovermotion]

Fantastic installation for n guage.... Like the way you have used the space well, It's way much better operating the locos via a electric interface. ....jim

[@neiloldie2433]

hovermotion Thanks Jim I am delighted with it. The challenge, once this area of the layout is completed, is to see if I can replace my second manual turntable. If I can adjust things to fit it in, I will then need to save up cash again. Cheers Neil.

[@johnhauser833]

Well done, your layout is very impressive. I'm purchasing the turntable and plan to integrate it into a layout i'm currently trying to finalize. Thanks for sharing..

[@neiloldie2433]

Thanks John. Well worth the purchase. You will not regret it. I wish you every success with your layout. Cheers, Neil.

[@johncanillas8939]

Now does that isolating cable provided power to all the turntables tracks? Thanks.

[@neiloldie2433]

Hi John, Sorry for the delay in replying. The turntable provides the power to the track it is facing. All the other storage tracks are dead. You need an isolating switch if the turntable is facing 2 tracks at the same time, ie one at each end of the turntable. I have a storage track immediately opposite the turntable approach track. I need to isolate that single storage track so that the stored loco does not move when another loco is approaching the turntable. You would need more switches if you are having several tracks facing each other. If you look at video Leefield & Ashpeth 26 it shows, when I installed a second turntable, I maximised storage by including points on some of the storage tracks. Cheers, Neil.

[@kencameron9999]

Hello Neil, I have just purchased this turntable and since i am new to the hobby I would like to ask why the need for the isolation switch. Please explain the theory and thank you for your wonderful work.

[@neiloldie2433]

Hi Cameron The isolation switch isolates the storage track immediately opposite the access track to the turntable. The turntable provides power to each storage track that it faces. When a loco arrives on to the turntable from the access track the power also goes to the storage track immediately opposite. The only way to store a loco on that storage track is to isolate it while the turntable is in use for other locos. I hope this helps. Video 17 shows it all in action. Cheers, Neil.

[@kencameron9999]

Hello Neil, Thank you so much for taking the time to reply to my question. May I also ask what type of couplers you use and if you are using the Kato unitrack system for your layout with the magnetic uncouplers? I have a variety of Bachman, Japanese and North American manufactured engines with rolling stock and would like to fit a reliable coupler system to whichever are in need of this upgrade. Thank you for your advice. Best regards. Ken.

[@neiloldie2433]

Hi Ken Sorry about the mixup with your name. Senior Moment! I use Kato points, but all the rest of the track is Peco. At the moment, on this layout, I do not have an uncoupling system. However, on the modules I am building for our N Gauge Group, I have been experimenting with the Dapol easy shunt system and have found it to be very effective. So I will gradually fit Dapol couplings and magnets to this layout as and when I can find the time. That will not be happening for a while as I am to have a hip replacement operation at the beginning of January. Climbing in and out of the loft will be banned for several weeks. Cheers, Neil.

[@TW-xg5uh]

Wait, so the other tracks aren't isolated when not aligned with the turn table?

[@neiloldie2433]

Hi, the turntable provides the power to the storage track when it is aligned to one. All the other storage tracks are isolated. You only need to use isolating switches if the turntable is aligned to 2 tracks at the same time as in the video. Cheers, Neil.

[@CD-dc1oc]

fantastic by the way does anyone know if a kato fef-3 will fit on it?

[@lorenchristopher9802]

do you have a link to the finished weathered turntable??

[@neiloldie2433]

Hi, Yes it is the next video. Leefield & Ashpeth 17. Cheers, Neil.

[@lespeart6702]

Would love to see track plan, just building my n gauge in my loft, have just 1 pendo,

[@neiloldie2433]

Hi I don't have a complete track plan but if you look back to Video 13 there is a complete flyover of the whole layout. That may help. Cheers, Neil.

[@dimebagshane]

Couldn't stop laughing at the mouse click after he stopped talking lol idky

[@odomandr]

Im really glad I stumbled across this. Seems you have quite the switching station there and hopefully a great understanding of Kato stuff. Mind if I picked your brain a bit?

[@neiloldie2433]

Hi Andrew, Happy for you to have a go. Cheers, Neil.

[@larrybaughman618]

🤠🚂🖐