well i finally got around to this. wish i could find some fiber optics around here, used leds and coffee stirrers instead. yes the hanger is lit, its just dim.
babylon 5 earth heavy cruiser
- Thread starter spaceagent-9
- Start date
thanks i waited for months trying to find a cheap toy that had fiber optics in it for those rods. but they were nowhere to be found. i should have spent the dollar on something when i had the chance. i dont know if a paper crank will make the artificial gravity section spin or not i guess i will have to look into it.
- Apr 5, 2013
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I think I would run a shaft with strong rubber bands that had a small gear . Make a larger gear on the spinning section axis, and you can wind it up and watch it spin all by itself. You could fix a dowel down the center, attach rubber bands, and make ir revolve like that. Use a piece of plastic on the dowel, and a piece of wood with a wide enough heavy duty staple to act as a break, and slow down the spin. I have see people do similar timing for free sailing sailboats, to control the ruder. 
thats not a bad idea! thank you. i was thinking of a little crank running down from the enter support, its going to have 3 posts anyway. like a finger winder volume control dial? but i like the rubber band idea.
Spaceagent,
So you're finally getting around to building the Omega Destroyer? Fantastic! I like what you're doing with the lights. Z's idea with the rubber band sounds pretty cool too.
Are you going to have a Star Fury flying out from the front? Lit turrets perhaps?
I hope the Omega Destroyer I did a while back helps with some perspective issues.
Looking forward to seeing what you will do.
Sky Seeker
:tank:
yes your build did help. i am building this in my spare time. plus i need to figure out how im going to make the crew part spin around. i have a toy wind up walking penguin i might tear apart, i guess i need to make the sub asselmblies and then work on how it will spin. the entire section might be independant from the front and back with its own mounting post. i have no experience so i will have to work it out as i go along and research other models. i like Zathros's idea, some kind of slip rings i need to make i guess. wax or greased, on each side of the section.
- Apr 5, 2013
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Shiny tape works really good as a bearing, as long as you make sure the tape is all going the same direction. I like the wind up toy idea. A musical box will give you the torque you need, and you can just unscrew the tangs to not hear any music. I think if you could find one of those, it would give the best results.
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well I got the aft engines done, and lit with the aft hull in. right now im getting the crew section that rotates together. I have cut the ends and folded the tabs in, and also the entire section is folded to fit the ends. I still don't know what im going to do for rotating the section. im thinking of a rubber band that goes up inside a rolled up tube, [4 in all for the supports for the entire model.] and then have that on a slip wheel that's on an axle, and then either use another rubber band , as Zathros said, using a friction brake to slow it down, or just a knob to spin on the edge of the stand.
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Make the nob strong, and you can attach a little motor with a belt to turn it. Old VCR's have great pulleys in them. The old Sony's VCR's have toothed pulleys and the toothed belts that never wear out.
Spaceagent,
Can you show us some pics of the Aft engines lit? I just want to see how you assembled the back. I remember having difficulty with the center rings and the back.
As to motion control I recently got a book called "Karakuri" by Keisuke Saka which describes how to build movable paper models and mechanisms such as cams, gears, etc out of paper. Cool stuff. He's a Japanese high school physics teacher and his book should be required reading in all high schools. Good theory, great models. Really brings the world of mechanisms into the realm of the understandable.
Your design with the stand should work providing you mount the pulley behind the ring closest to the engines. The internal support shaft would probably be cut back a bit. Are you going to put in a wooden or plastic shaft internally in the center section of the model for better support? Just wondering.
Have a great day!
Sky Seeker
:tank:
Can you show us some pics of the Aft engines lit? I just want to see how you assembled the back. I remember having difficulty with the center rings and the back.
As to motion control I recently got a book called "Karakuri" by Keisuke Saka which describes how to build movable paper models and mechanisms such as cams, gears, etc out of paper. Cool stuff. He's a Japanese high school physics teacher and his book should be required reading in all high schools. Good theory, great models. Really brings the world of mechanisms into the realm of the understandable.
Your design with the stand should work providing you mount the pulley behind the ring closest to the engines. The internal support shaft would probably be cut back a bit. Are you going to put in a wooden or plastic shaft internally in the center section of the model for better support? Just wondering.
Have a great day!
Sky Seeker
:tank:
Make the nob strong, and you can attach a little motor with a belt to turn it. Old VCR's have great pulleys in them. The old Sony's VCR's have toothed pulleys and the toothed belts that never wear out.
THATS A GREAT IDEA!!! I CAN USE MY LITTLE TOY PENGUIN WALKER WIND UP MOTOR TO SPIN THE PULLEY!!!!
I figure a hollow tube from a paper towel, slit down the middle and glue, and maybe one more around it for strength. I didn't take a pic of it lit up but here is my progress so far, I have about 5 models going at once, and one main Icarus mego sized model im finishing up for someone. im making the hatch for that right now and am stuck on the hinge, making it pull open and shut smoothly. I will take some pics of the omega b-5 lit up later and post them when I get a chance today, I have to wire brush my carpet and do laundry, my cat sheds like a chemo patient.
wow did that ever wash out. those are bright red leds and the engines are yellowish amber flickering ecandles.
Spaceagent,
Hmmm maybe you could take a pic with and without flash and compare.
I'm beginning to have deja vu looking at your model. Nice job with the lights BTW.
Sky Seeker
- Apr 5, 2013
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I have one side of the crew section cut out and folded. whew. need to design a socket hinge for the mego Icarus I got going too.