7mm scale 48ft turntable

7mm O scale 48ft (13.5") turntable kit

THERE IS NO LONGER A MOTOR INCLUDED IN THIS KIT. THE CHEAP GW370 MOTOR IS READILY AVAILABLE ON EBAY , usually with free shipping.  (everything else needed to use the GW370 motor is in the kit)

These are made in batches every 4 to 6 weeks.

basic kit has straight decks each side. Operating area and vacuum motor is optional for extra £10.00

This 13.5" turntable is a perfect space saver for small layouts, capable of turning many smaller locos.

While essentially freelance, this 13 1/2" turntable takes most of its design features from the turntable at Yeovil Somerset.

Due thanks must go to Fabrice Fayolle for requesting this kit (back in 2015, and for the assistance and support he gave me throughout its development. Having such a skilled modeller as a lead customer meant I went the extra mile to capture as much detail as I could within the constraints of the materials and manufacturing methods available to me. Many thanks Fabrice! His completed turntable is in the photo below.

Like all of Kitwood Hill Models turntables this is mostly birch plywood construction, only requiring glue to assemble. Soldering is restricted to the circular support rail, and wiring the track rails.

Construction is straightforward, built up in sub-assemblies, with many pictures in the instructions.

PIT features

* Pit uses the tried and tested design methods of KHMs larger On30 turntables. The pit base is made from several layers of ply glued with their grain at 90degrees to give a rigid structure.

* The pit wall has a plain birch ply backing structure that can have DIY finishes applied over it, or you can use the laser cut brick sheets that come with the kit. (as shown in the picture above)

* The pit running rail is included, along with a simple assembly method, proven on our many On30 turntables. Its so simple even a novice builder should be able to obtain a perfect circle.

BRIDGE features

* The 3mm ply bridge frame forms a rigid structure carrying wheel assemblies, top deck, and side deck framing. 

* wheel assemblies are designed from new for this kit to ensure they can carry the extra weight of O scale standard gauge locos. Delrin wheels with ball bearing races ensure free-running on the steel axles for minimum friction. CAD designed features hold the wheels exactly on the running rail.

* the bridge has cosmetic side panel overlays, and side frames that carry the side decking and handrails. These are made as separate sub-assemblies for easy construction.

* The handrails closely follow those at Yeovil, with the frames carrying push poles as per the larger prototype. The handrails are made from piano wire, which keeps its form securely to cope with reasonable handling of the finished model.

* The operating area is optional. The base kit has 2 identical side frame and decking without the operating area and vacuum motor. If the operating area option is selected then one side is replaced with frame, decking, operating area and vacuum motor parts. These features are all very closely based upon the one at Yeovil. It includes dummy operating lever as well as the pump.

* Bridge track: for UK and Australia ONLY, Peco IL702 rail chairs are included for Code 124 BH rail - but not the Code 124 rail itself. EU Kunden: Code124 ist nicht gut für Lenz-Lokomotiven.  Sie benötigen Ihre eigenen Code 148 Stühle und Code 148 Schiene für Lenz.

Drive train features

* Track power is taken to the rails via KHMs well-proven robust turning-plate assembly - which also transfers the rotational torque to the bridge via the 4mm primary shaft . This pre-assembled item includes continuous PCB contact rings for the best use with DCC. If used with a DCC reversing module, DCC loco decoder power will be continuous. The track power contacts are hard-gold-plated sprung plungers of a robust kind used in the electronics industry. Each rated at 6A.

* "EL CHEAPO" motor, originally supplied in the kit, has a nominal 0.6 rpm at 12V. YOU WILL NEED TO ORDER THE MOTOR YOURSELF - THERE ARE MANY SUPPLIERS ON EBAY. SEARCH GW370 MOTOR GEARBOX OR 0.6RPM Motor gearbox. they are £10 to £15, usually with free shipping.  The motor drives the primary shaft directly using a shaft coupler. Motor can be controlled by a normal DCC decoder, or analog supply. It has plenty of power and can easily turn a 3kg loco smoothly. There is usually enough friction in the system to hold the bridge still with the motor stopped, BUT the cheap motor has backlash and cannot hold the bridge still by itself. This said, many modellers have used this cheap motor and have overcome its backlash. My advice: try it.  If it works well enough for you then great :) if it doesn't, you have only lost the price of a few beers, and can then explore the other much more expensive options.

GREENWOOD MODEL RAILWAY PRODUCTS. manual motor. Mike Greenwood now has an adapter plate for Kitwood Hill turntables which allows you to use his turntable drive systems. This is based around a stepper motor and 3 toothed belt reduction. I have the manual control version. it is a quality-built ready-assembled unit and runs really smooth. The manual control version is with simple a push button. You will have to order the unit from Mike. (£165 for the manual system as I type) this) https://greenwoodmodelrailwayproducts.co.uk/

Key dimensions with "El Cheapo" motor :-