Price: £130
SKU: KHT082
20.5″ bridge length. Can be built with 2 rail, 3 rail or dual gauge.
Based on a Canadian Pacific design – specifically the turntable at Pembroke, Ontario – these bow girder style turntables were also found throughout the USA.
82ft is long enough for a standard gauge Baldwin 2-8-0 with tender which is the largest loco that I use it for.
Assembly is straightforward with step by step instructions with many photos. No need for clever soldering skills – it really is for the average modeller.
This kit is for modellers who want something that will not look out of place and is simple to put together.
Bridge Dimensions
82ft 1:48 scale bridge length = 20½” or 525mm
Deck width between bow girders = 3½” or 90mm
Pit dimensions
Outer rim = 558mm
Hole required = 548mm
Pit depth: 31mm at centre, 25mm at edge
Drive train options
Hand from heaven – The most basic turning is hand from above. 100% foolproof, 100% simple. This is what I use on my dual gauge module.
MOTOR. the turntable is designed to use a GW370 powerful 12V 0.6rpm/2rpm/3rpm motor with direct drive of primary shaft turning in oil-bearing bronze bushes. The motor is not supplied in the kit, as it is readily available on ebay, priced £10-£15, but the kit does include the motor mount, shaft coupler, and the motor screws. All you need to buy is the motor.
NYRS INDEXED drive – Jack at NYRS is familiar with my turntables and can sort you out a simple interface. These drives come with indexing, meaning accurate alignment every time, but you pay for that!
DCC or DC – Like all KHM turntables, this one can be used with either system. The track power PCB connection rings are continuous so there are no disconnects to DCC decoders with sound as the bridge turns. The contact plungers are 6A rated quality items from the electronics industry. Polarity can be handled with a DCC reversing module or a simple DPDT switch for DC.
Primary shaft turning plate: the heart of all KHM turntables and now proven design. This is a jig-built, ready-assembled item with the 4mm primary shaft, pinned and epoxied into a milled brass section. She ain’t slipping!
Assembly and construction
The bridge is made of laser cut ply of various types and thickness with hardwood decking. Glued together with step by step photo instructions – not hard. Novices have built my turntables!
Bridge track is not included. The deck will take 2 rail, 3 rail or dual gauge (like mine) but you have to supply your own. I do not source or stock and will not send track. It is not included.
The pit is laser cut 3mm and 4mm ply. Due to the weight of locomotives, it is best to support the turntable from below, rather than the rim, unlike other KHM turntables.
While the kit will make up a whole pit with base, because of the size, it is very strongly recommended to fix an additional flat, rigid 3/8″ ply sheet to the underside to maintain rigidity. This isn’t in the kit because that would weigh far too much and be too big to ship!
Ring rail: Code 100 rail (included) is soldered to copper clad ties and a simple jig helps you get it circular and set in the right place. All KHM turntables use the method and its well proven over the years. Its simple, even for novice solderers.
Bridge wheels: Now 3D printed Nylon with ball-race bearings. They are wide enough to be forgiving of “assembly tolerance” of the ring rail.
Instructions:
These are available as PDFs only, sent at time of shipping. There are no printed instructions in the kit. The instructions are full of photos taking you through the assembly process. If you want to see them before ordering then please just Contact Me. No obligation, electrons are free!