INSTALLING AN INDOOR TURNTABLE May 20-25, 2009

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PRIMER - First I had to wait for dry weather.  Then I could empty out the shed, sweep the floor, and paint a coat of oil-base primer.

TOP COAT - After waiting 2 days for the primer to dry, I applied a coat of latex floor paint.  The job was much easier than applying the primer.

BASIC TURNTABLE - A 6-foot-long piece of 3/4 plywood, rounded at the ends, grooved for wheels, and eight ball-bearing rollers.

ROLLER - I'm not sure exactly what's it's called, but it has ball bearings inside, a one-inch ball, can support heavy loads, and rotates in all directions.

NINETY DEGREES - It spins all the way around, and both ends fit the approach rails.  Later I will have other tracks to store engines and cars.

INSTALLED - It has a simple pivot in the center consisting of a drywall screw, and approach rails made of wood, 1 1/4 inch tall.

HOW THE ENDS FIT - The approach rails from outside are going uphill, and there's a gap a little more than an eighth of an inch.

GOOSE TAKING A SPIN - The Goose is using the turntable, and this way it can be reversed without building a wye track.  By golly, it works!