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Diamond Scale TT... Thoughts.... Scenery and structures
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Regular poster 126 posts JaredW Regular poster 126 posts
JaredW
Yesterday, my wife and I went shopping at the consignment table at the LHS in town. After we found a couple of cars for the kids, I did some looking for my wishlist. We were about done, when I noticed a large whitish box under the table. I pulled it out and discovered it is a Diamond Scale 130' (if i remember correctly) TT. I asked the guys about it, and apparently the owner has only ever opened it once, looked at it and decided it was too much effort to assemble. He's selling it for about half price. My question to ya'll...have any of you had experience with these TT's, and are they worth the time and effort? I'm only planning on a DC layout right now, with possible conversion to DCC down the road. I have a few things I need to get my work area finished to expedite working on other structures, but if this is a good enough deal for a good enough product, I'd rather use my gift certificates for it What are your thoughts?
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Bernd MRH Author 5,646 posts
Bernd

Diamond Turn Table

If memory serves me correctly they are the Cadillac of turn tables. At half price it's a bargain. I'd say get it. You can always sell it later. And as far as automatic indexing, I don't ever remember prototype turn tables having electronic indexing devices.

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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jcoop Regular poster 227 posts
jcoop

THey are very nice,

I have one that I don't know what I am going to do with it, but they are very nice and would be considered top of the line for sure.

I have all of the indexing parts for mine.

 

If you do buy it and it does have the indexing there is a market for that on ebay if it's not something you are going to use..

 

Very nice TT and 1/2 price is attractive for sure.

 

John

 
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jrbernier Regular poster 245 posts
jrbernier

Diamond Scale TT

  I have one of the 90' Twin Span ones, with the powering unit, but no indexing system.   
Assembly is not for a newbie - You do need some good craftsman skills and tools.  The current prices are:

$ 271 - 135' TT Kit

     78    Motorizing Kit

   152    Indexing Kit

  So, even if you can get all of the above for $200-250 off the sale table, you still have to put it together.  The Walthers TT is $350 MSRP - On sale right now for $300.  Is your time worth $50?

  I have both the Diamond Scale and the Walthers 90' TT - The Walthers is quite nice!

Jim

Modeling The Milwaukee Road in SW Wisconsin
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Benny MRH Author 7,191 posts
Benny

...

The DCC Walthers table has overtaken this old table, it's a good table but at this point it's all in one box...

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Benny's Index or Somewhere Chasing Rabbits
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Bernd MRH Author 5,646 posts
Bernd

Diamond Turntable

According to Diamond Scale site the 130 foot turntable is an O scale turntable. The 134 foot turntable is an HO scale turntable. What scale do you model in?

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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Bernd MRH Author 5,646 posts
Bernd

...

Ah yes Benny,

Quote:

The DCC Walthers table has overtaken this old table, it's a good table but at this point it's all in one box...

The Walthers is the sow of turntables and the Diamond is the silk purse of turntables.

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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Benny MRH Author 7,191 posts
Benny

...

If youre talking about the old 90' Walthers kit, then yes.  But when it comes to the new Walthers 90/130 with DCC and indexing all built in, it's really hard to beat that.

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Benny's Index or Somewhere Chasing Rabbits
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Michael Tondee MRH Author 5,547 posts
Michael Tondee

Better pricing on Walthers....

You can get the Walthers built up for a lot less than MSRP and actually less than a "sale price" of $300. You just have to know where to look. I paid just a shade over $260 for mine at MB Klein and you can probably find similar deals with MRH advertisers. All that being said, the Diamond Scale units are nice if you want to put the time into building them. It would really depend on what "half price" is to determine how good a deal it really is. BTW,  indexing may not be "prototypical" but it sure is a nice feature to have on a model, especially if the TT is any distance away  from the aisle.

Michael

Michael, A.R.S. W4HIJ

 Model Rail, electronics experimenter and "mad scientist" for over 50 years.

Member of  "The Amigos" and staunch disciple of the "Wizard of Monterey"

My Pike: The Blackwater Island Logging&Mining Co.
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Bernd MRH Author 5,646 posts
Bernd

True

But I like to assemble things like the Diamond turntable. It's great fun. Gives great satisfaction of accomplishing something complex. Don't you think?

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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Benny MRH Author 7,191 posts
Benny

...

Only when it works at the 100% level when you're done.  The club has the diamondscale, I do believe, the drive could use a lot of work.  It will be removed this coming spring and replaced with the walthers, the paperwork has already been posted.  One short vote and it will be done!

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Benny's Index or Somewhere Chasing Rabbits
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JaredW Regular poster 126 posts
JaredW

Scale...

Im modeling in HO. Im trying to remember the specs off the top of my head. I just called and it seems to have to motor amd indexing kit...he thinks. I am so totally going to be there when rhey open.
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Deemiorgos Super User 7,338 posts
Deemiorgos

I used to have a diamond

I used to have a diamond scale turntable... Loved it and regret selling it. A lot of work to put it together, but worth it. Also regret not photographing it.
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Bernd MRH Author 5,646 posts
Bernd

Replacement TT

I wonder if the Walthers will last as long. Let me know.

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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dreesthomas Regular poster 495 posts
dreesthomas

Is Diamond Scale still in business?

I haven't had much luck with email or web site.

David
David Rees-Thomas
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Bernd MRH Author 5,646 posts
Bernd

Web Site

Here's the web site. Hasn't been updated since 2005. It's anybody's guess if they are still in business. There's a phone number at the site.

http://www.diamond-scale.com/products.htm

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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Bernd MRH Author 5,646 posts
Bernd

More TT info

Here's a link to turntable indexing. Apparently they are a MRH advertiser.

http://www.nyrs.com/index.html

Bernd

New York, Vermont & Northern Rwy. - Route of the Black Diamonds - NCSWIC
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JC Shall Prolific poster 1,502 posts
JC Shall

Diamond Scale Website

Here's a link to the home page of their website:

http://www.diamond-scale.com/default.htm

On it they're announcing a price increase for 2013, so at least that page is only a year old.

I would assume they're still in business simply because they're likely paying someone to host their website.  Their phone number is 1-888-313-4048.

-Jack

Louisiana Central Railroad

The Louisiana Central Blog
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JaredW Regular poster 126 posts
JaredW

Thanks bunches!

Thanks for your input everyone. I am going to go pick it up tomorrow! Along with a single action air gun they have on sale. (Yes i know double is better, but this beginner would rather learn with an easier one)
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JaredW Regular poster 126 posts
JaredW

Blargh!!!

WEll, that was disappointing...get there open it up to make sure it's all there...and it's the 90ft version, not the larger. No motor, no index...and the orginal owner bought it for 94.

Oh well, guess now I get to buy all of the other things I need.
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