Animatible Figures

[jprampolla]

Hi Dave and Everyone,

There might be a flashing circuit that could be used to pulse the solenoid rather than the flasher bulb, or perhaps just a flashing LED. I once used a flashing LED with a transistor to make a crossing bell from a regular door bell, but that circuit is now on an old large floppy and I would have to fire up the old DOS machine to get at it. There are circuits that can be fine tuned for the rate of flashing, so that might be useful for those who want more control. And there are solenoids that already have springs which would make this type of project very easy. Having to make my own spring was the most difficult part, but the solenoid was about a buck when I bough it several years ago. I might do a similar animation with a jumping dog in the near future. I really like dogs but don't have many on the layout.

Take care, Joe.

[FJ and G]

Joe,

That is very inventive. I've book-marked your website for future ideas.

dav

[jprampolla]

Hi Folks,

I just completed this animation project. This project uses a K-Line O scale figure of a little girl jumping rope. I use a solenoid to provide the up and down motion. The page has all the info: http://yourpage.blazenet.net/jprampolla/jump.html It will complete my 1950s suburban lane with the 3 Plasticville houses.

Take care, Joe.

[jprampolla]

Hi Folks,

Glad that the animation is well received and I hope that everyone will try the technique. I think the turntable idea is so simple that it is quickly dismissed on paper or in theory, however it is obvious in my little net cam clips that the action is quite convincing. It is an old Baltimore tradition to include animation on the layout, and hope the fascination catches on. Lionel makes some very nice items, like their Playtime Playground, so there must be an appreciation and market nationwide. I love the Lionel playground and hope they also make one in HO scale someday.

The other day on the Travel Channel they had a program about Disney ‘Imagineering’ with a brief piece on the original “Pirates of the Caribbean” attraction where there was a pirate chasing a woman, and to my eye it was done on a large approximately 10 ft. diameter turntable. These 2 figures themselves weren't animated; it appeared that they were static manequins on the turntable unlike the other Disney animatronic figures in the scene. So even today the turntable has its place in high end theme park animation where high tech computer driven animatronics are also options. Won’t argue with Walt!
Take care, Joe.

[FJ and G]

Tom,

Those 4-7 rpm "turntables" are a real bargain.

BTW, the circus train (RBBBCircus) is still parked on CSX tracks in south Alexandria. Still no sign of pachyderms, however.

[rlplionel]

Hey Joe, I really like your layout animations. They add interest to an otherwise static pike when the trains aren't on the move. This is the kind of project that should be featured in the major toy train magazines.

[jprampolla]

Hi Folks,
I very much appreciate the good feedback, but it was my visit to “Roadside America” http://www.roadsideamericainc.com in Shartlesville, PA, back in the early 1960s when I was a kid, that inspired me to work with the turntables. They had a square dance scene, done on a turntable in a barn, that suck in my mind ever since. They had music playing with the scene which really helped to set the mood. Although I have not yet added sound effects, the sounds add a lot. But it is not easy to hear much of anything else when the trains are running![:D]
Take care, Joe.

[FJ and G]

Very nice, Joe!

What great ideas.

[spankybird]

Hi all,

This place was posted before as a good place to pick up turn tables. Looks like it would be a great fit.

http://www.sportcraftcars.com/display_turntables.htm

Joe, I love what you have done here. [8D]

tom

[jkerklo]

willrothfuss,

That is sort of where I am at now. I was hoping to find a vendor that specialized in animatible figures to make the figures part easier, so I could concentrate on the mechanisms and control. While I want to start with something simple, I would soon long for more complicated motions. I am more technical, than art.

I have also thought of embedding a magnet in the figure, and using an electromagnet to activate. Tricky getting the forces just right.

I may start experimenting soon. Press of business. No time to play. Waste too much time on forums and other interesting stuff.

John Kerklo
TCA 94-38455
www.Three-Rail.com

[jprampolla]

Hi John, cnw1995, and Folks,
Thanks for the feedback! The skaters on the rink are from my boyhood and they are close to G scale. The were purchased at a Five and Dime in Baltimore back in the late 50s and early 60s for about 19 cents each, one or two new figures bought each year at Christmas. The lead figures fractured easily when they were accidentally dropped on the concrete basement floor, so only what you see survived. The little girl on the tricycle is O scale by Arttista (www.Arttista.com), and the mowing guy was a K-Line (or Plasticville, perhaps) milkman, also O scale. I also have some more complicated scenes, like this one http://yourpage.blazenet.net/jprampolla/splash.html http://yourpage.blazenet.net/jprampolla/splash2.html done with Fisher Price Elephants. I enjoy the animation as much as the trains!
Take care, Joe.

[Anonymous]

John, I know some of the english cast metal figures I have seen at York and other train shows have some separate arms that can be glued into various positions. Unfortunately I don't have a name for you. I have one such figure.

Another thing to try with plastic figures is to cut off the part with a single edges razor plade and add a pin and socket to the two pieces. Best way to do this might be to start with two figures. This shouldn't be too hard and would work for head turning, and arm lifting and other simple movements.

[cnw1995]

Oh boy, Joe, your layout is great. It gives me some wonderful ideas. I especially liked how simple you made things.

[jkerklo]

Joe,

VERY NICE!

I like your approach. Simple, yet appealing to the visitor.

What scale are you modelling. The 12" skating rink suggests larger than 1:48.

Where do you get your figures?


John Kerklo
TCA 94-38455
www.Three-Rail.com

[jprampolla]

Hi John and Folks,

I really like animation on the layout, but it has been my experience that subtle movement is practically lost or missed by the viewer, especially as the eyesight changes after age 40. I know this is not actually what you want, and the concept is nothing new, but I have 4 different homemade animated scenes built on simple turntables on my layout that are very effective considering how easy they are to make and how simple the idea.
http://yourpage.blazenet.net/jprampolla/mowing.html
http://yourpage.blazenet.net/jprampolla/tricycle.html
http://yourpage.blazenet.net/jprampolla/animals.html
http://yourpage.blazenet.net/jprampolla/Rinks.html
The beauty of it all is that these turntable animations are maintenance free with no fussy little moving parts. There is a lot of merit to keeping things simple, and the visual impact is very strong despite the simplicity. It is a lot like theater where broad exaggerated movement is more noticeable than subtle motion. Hope this helps!

Take care, Joe.

[FJ and G]

Spankybird,

I like what you've done with the layout.

John,

I was thinking along the lines of a small gyro to keep the figures upright and not looking punch-drunk; tho you could have a few of those. One would need to combine tiny watchlike gears and motors with tiny microprocessors or tie them remotely to a computer. The ultimate goal would to make them free-roaming, rather than guided by tracks or magnets.

I know this sounds pretty far-fetched but I see it in the cards. The military has, in fact, done research on these types of things; such as a butterfly thingy that can fly around.

I've done some investigating in this area and when I was an editor at Sea Power magazine, did a small article on these things:

http://www.navyleague.org/sea_power/jun_03_20.php

David Vergun

[jkerklo]

An update.

I still haven't been able to contact the Kramer reference, but haven't given up.

Dave,

Do you mean a REAL circus train?

The bionic description you describe is sort of what I have in mind. I have a capability for programming small microprocessors interfaced to soleniods, motors, and stepping motors. The control capabilities should reduce the need for complicated linkages.

My vision is of subtle animations, mostly of people, that only the careful observer will notice.

John Kerklo
TCA 94-38455
www.Three-Rail.com

[spankybird]

Hi Dave ,

My wife loves the circus train [:o)] , thus the small layout. I still have to build the tent from cloth. I should do a separate posting on that. So far I made it out of craft paper to make a pattern. [:)]



tom

[FJ and G]

Spankybird,

I saw the circus train on CSX tracks this morning on my way to work on the VRE. Unfortunately, no giraffe head sticking out of the car.
----------------------

John,

One of my predictions is that with micro technology, we will able to program little bionic men and women who will actually be able to walk, carry on conversations amongst themselves and with you, and even fix your broken down locomotives and do track repairs.

Mark my words.

Dave Vergun

[spankybird]

Hi John,

If you really want to build some of the some of these, Elliot is correct about needing small motors and pulleys. A good source of mechanical motion is using Erector Sets. This will give you the motor, pulleys, gears, and mounting hardware(best to mount under the table).

There is also a book called “Animations for your Layout” that cost $19.95. You can find this at O Gauge RR web store.

tom

[Anonymous]

Dear jkerklo,
Thanks for the advice. I had the same idea about Z on my layout, but for a 1:8 scale railway.

Sincerely,
Daniel

[jkerklo]

For Big_Boy_4005

You are right about the tedium of cams, cranks, etc. It is my hope that a microprocessor can replace some of that. We will see.

For Daniel

How about building up around the track like it is recessed into a paved surface.

One of my memorable experiences was just after getting my learner's permit, on a street in a city near where I grew up. Some streets had train tracks in them, for trains, not just street cars. I stalled the engine at a light and an NW-2 right behind me laid on its horn. Amazing I still like trains.

Funny about the Z gauge. I have one I have thought of adding to the layout as a backyard train. Scale ratio is close.

John Kerklo
TCA 94-38455
www.Three-Rail.com

[Anonymous]

Dear Everyone,
What about modifying the existing mechanisms in a mass-produced action model?

Now that this has been brought up, I have a quandry of my own: I was thinking of having an O-gauge armstrong turntable with model people at the end looking like they were moving it. The problem, however, is that they would need to step over track. I wonder if some of this motion technology could do that.

See you around the forums,
Daniel

P.S. A bit of advice for jkerklo: if this is a passion of yours, don't switch to Z scale [:)].

[Big_Boy_4005]

Cooker, that was a cool website. I had no idea that that existed, but now that I saw that, maybe the Choo Choo Barn does have that kind of stuff on their display. Its been a long time since I've been there.

---

John, the trick is mainly in creating the motion, not as much in controling it. Cams and cranks and motors and belts, combined with hinging and pinning the body parts, makes for a lot of work, but if that's what you enjoy, go for it!!! No real need to start a new topic later, just wake this one back up, and we'll all come running.

---

Tom, dummy me, I didn't notice your web icon on your post, sorry. I saw your track plan, that's cool. I mean its all cool but I thought the plan very interesting.

[jkerklo]

I have found the replies perfect.

I liked the pictures. Does everyone have that much animation? I wouldn't have thought animations that popular, but am pleased to see it so.

The point of the topic was that I wanted figures to do custom animations. While I do want to show them off on the layout I take to shows, it is mostly the doing that interests me.

With a computer background and the ability to easily program and use small microprocessors, I think I should be able to do some interesting things.

Along those lines, the Kramer reference may be the home run. I have e-mailed
him and will report results to this topic (or start another if it takes awhile.)

Thank you all, but don't hesitate to add replies too; I don't consider the topic closed.

John Kerklo
TCA 94-38455
www.Three-Rail.com

[Anonymous]

here is a website that was suggested in a previous question. Hope it helps
http://www.kramerproducts.com/

[spankybird]

Hi John,
I was worndering if any of this info was what you were looking for.

tom

[spankybird]

Hi Elloit,
I did take the bottom off ot this. It is driven by a motor and belts. Somewhere ther is a rubbing.

Do you mean a posting like this:

http://204.156.4.220/memberpages2/mth.asp?dude=spankybird

for the web site.

You can also click on the web icon at the bottom of my posting and it takes you there.

tom

[Big_Boy_4005]

I liked the basketball idea for this one.

Yao Ming!!

Put the post for the hoop where the fire hydrant is, change the dog's motion to a low profile arm and a shorter person with arms raised defending mounted to it.

The customer becomes the shooter, bring back the swinging arm and put the ball in it.

Remove the shack, and cover the motor with a bench, and have a chain link fence behind it.

Make the vendor a second defender, and place a couple of stationery figures to round out the scene.

Voila, Lionel's next version of this mechanism, "THE PICK UP GAME".

Sounds like they are still driving it with the old vibrating motor, maybe they think its nostalgic.

Spanky, you know that you can post the link to your page. Didn't you post it on that other topic?[:D]