Automating Roundhouse Doors

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GlennM		#1 Posted : 03 June 2025 04:20:36(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 09/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 2,975 Location: Somewhere, But Nowhere Near Manchester, England		Dear All, I have been looking at Roundhouse kits and Faller currently offer a 7.5 degree Roundhouse (perfect for Marklin turntable) complete with a drive system for opening and closing the doors of the roundhouse kit number Faller 120277 which can be found here. Having reviewed the instructions (instructions) the drive consists of a rack and pinion system (small plastic cog wheel on the servo moves a toothed plastic piece which operates the doors) which is all plastic and requires the purchase of one per door Servo Unit 180726 and also some form of servo control unit in this case Faller 180725. This solution is not cheap, but is it reliable? My first question is has anyone built this model (or similar faller system with similar door opening mechanism) and is it reliable and did you use all the Faller parts or did you replace with your own servo motors or control system? My second question is if you have opening and closing roundhouse doors and you did not use the above system, how did you achieve your results? Are you pleased with your results? I have read articles on the Forum recommending the use of magnets to secure the roof rather than securing it with glue, and any system with require maintenance from time to time but for the price I am looking for something that has reliability. An estimate of cost for a 12 track roundhouse is around Euros 250 just for the servo and control (plus kits) and so having automatic doors is not cheap, but is it a necessary luxury for a modern day layout? I welcome anyone's comments on the above.
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PJMärklin		#2 Posted : 03 June 2025 05:05:48(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 04/12/2013(UTC) Posts: 2,265 Location: Hobart, Australia		Originally Posted by: GlennM … (or similar faller system with similar door opening mechanism) …. Hello Glenn, I built the Faller electric locomotive shed 120217 recently (to supplement my old Kilbri unit).Three double doors. I bought 3 of the the recommended electrical units to open and close the doors remotely (180624) and they work satisfactorily but I do not think they would necessarily adapt well to other kits. Off topic somewhat, my roundhouse is Vollmer. Great building. Doors are “automatic” - the loco pushes the doors open on exit and on return pushes on a plate connected back via a wire to both doors which pulls them closed !!! hardly prototypical! Regards, PJ

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GlennM		#3 Posted : 03 June 2025 05:11:53(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 09/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 2,975 Location: Somewhere, But Nowhere Near Manchester, England		Originally Posted by: PJMärklin Originally Posted by: GlennM … (or similar faller system with similar door opening mechanism) …. Hello Glenn, I built the Faller electric locomotive shed 120217 recently (to supplement my old Kilbri unit).Three double doors. I bought 3 of the the recommended electrical units to open and close the doors remotely (180624) and they work satisfactorily but I do not think they would necessarily adapt well to other kits. Off topic somewhat, my roundhouse is Vollmer. Great building. Doors are “automatic” - the loco pushes the doors open on exit and on return pushes on a plate connected back via a wire to both doors which pulls them closed !!! hardly prototypical! Regards, PJ Thanks for your comments, I like the sound of your analog automatic solution for the doors, and it makes more sense than purchasing lots of servos. I have seen automation videos where the door opens the train emerges and later comes back and doors close. I have also seen a lot of photos where the doors are generally open if there is a loco present and closed if not. This can be done by hand and may be enough. I guess what I am trying to avoid is spending 250 Euros for a solution that is not reliable. Thanks
		Don't look back, your not heading that way.

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PJMärklin		#4 Posted : 03 June 2025 05:51:18(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 04/12/2013(UTC) Posts: 2,265 Location: Hobart, Australia		Originally Posted by: GlennM . …I like the sound of your analog automatic solution for the doors… The opening mechanism parts came in the Vollmer kit. The roundhouse must be about 30 years old now. They did not have electrical door opening mechanisms back then. I was intrigued to see that it is still sold by Lippe - Vollmer 45758

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Nigel Packer		#5 Posted : 03 June 2025 11:39:36(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 11/02/2006(UTC) Posts: 697 Location: Cheshire, UK		I have a 12-stall roundhouse of the original Pola version of this Faller model. It is the same, but I think the door operation may be different. With some expert help, I built servo operators for the doors, and they work very well. See my YouTube video below. Dance of the roundhouse doors The operation is using ESU SwitchPilot Servo decoders (three sets of them), and is run by TrainController software as is my whole layout. Nigel
		Märklin collector since age 5. H0 Collection from 1935 to today.

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BenP		#6 Posted : 03 June 2025 15:20:35(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 04/02/2021(UTC) Posts: 489 Location: USA		My marklin kit uses physical door control. Loc pushing a stop closes doors after entering. Works fine though I prefer doors open with locs. Ben
		Digital M track layout with vintage rolling stock and accessories controlled by CS3+Rocrail; small Z scale layout. https://youtube.com/play...0kgVYbh0CeDTF-bYXoD_2-V9

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GlennM		#7 Posted : 05 June 2025 04:11:58(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 09/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 2,975 Location: Somewhere, But Nowhere Near Manchester, England		Originally Posted by: PJMärklin Originally Posted by: GlennM . …I like the sound of your analog automatic solution for the doors… The opening mechanism parts came in the Vollmer kit. The roundhouse must be about 30 years old now. They did not have electrical door opening mechanisms back then. I was intrigued to see that it is still sold by Lippe - Vollmer 45758 Thank you I will have a look at this kit as an alternative
		Don't look back, your not heading that way.

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GlennM		#8 Posted : 05 June 2025 04:41:44(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 09/05/2011(UTC) Posts: 2,975 Location: Somewhere, But Nowhere Near Manchester, England		Originally Posted by: Nigel Packer I have a 12-stall roundhouse of the original Pola version of this Faller model. It is the same, but I think the door operation may be different. With some expert help, I built servo operators for the doors, and they work very well. See my YouTube video below. Dance of the roundhouse doors The operation is using ESU SwitchPilot Servo decoders (three sets of them), and is run by TrainController software as is my whole layout. Nigel Nigel, For sure the doors you have are impressive, and the ESU SwitchPilot Servo decoders look similar tot he Faller 180725. Do you remember what servos you used, and what is the door opening mechanism, I assume it is steel rod/wire but doe they connect direct to the servo or is there a connection between servo and wire? This is my particular concern is the reliability/durability of this plastic cog to plastic rack By the way I thought your roundhouse was Faller 120081 (here) Edited by user 05 June 2025 12:21:41(UTC) \| Reason: Not specified
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JohnjeanB		#9 Posted : 05 June 2025 11:33:51(UTC) Retweet
Joined: 04/02/2011(UTC) Posts: 3,568 Location: Paris, France		Hi Glenn I am using the Fleischmann roundhouses (3 of them) and instead of using servo motors I use Rocrail to manage a slow coasting that make the door shut slowly I is more simple and the result is equivalent. Note: I use servos on the Faller Car System for stops and turnouts, for ash removal system and bus stops All are operated using ESU SwitchPilotServo Cheers Jean
		My layout videos latest vid marshalling yard My Layout

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