TRAIN ANIMATION

One of the last things that I will do to a section is animate various non-train items.  Some examples follow.

UP AND DOWN MOVEMENT

Example

A construction vehicle with a bucket on the front (i.e. backhoe) has it’s extended arm and bucket move up and down.

How it is done

Use a small disc attached to the end of a slow running motor.  This assembly is attached to the underside of the train table and has a stiff  wire attached to a point on the disc.  The disc is positioned perpendicular to the table surface.  The wire then protrudes up through the table and attaches to the outer bottom end of the arm or hinged object.  The main part of the object (e.g. truck body) is glued to the table surface.  The rotating disc causes the wire to move up and down and the arm or hinged object moves up and down with it.

BACK AND FORWARD MOVEMENT

Example

A bulldozer moving back and forth (i.e. pushing dirt).

How it is done

Back and forth movement is accomplished in much the same manner as the up and down movement mentioned above. The bulldozer is not attached to the top of the table surface so it can move freely.  The motor and disc assembly are hidden in a structure or mound of dirt.

CIRCULAR MOVEMENT ON THE SURFACE OF THE TABLE

Example

Ice skaters skating on a pond in a circular pattern.

How it is done

A small slow running motor is placed under the train table with a large wide disk attached to the end of the motor.  Unlike the up and down movement technique, this assembly is mounted so the disc faces up or parallel to the table.  Small magnets are glued to the disc in a pattern that matches the objects that will move (e.g. skaters).  Small thin magnets are also glued to the underside of each individual object.  As the disc rotates, the objects above also move.

SPECIALTY ITEMS

There are some structure kits that are made to be animated with a slow motor.  Examples are seen in carnival scenes such as merry-go-rounds and other carnival rides.  The motors are hidden in a building or structure that is part of the kit assembly.

LONG RUNS OF OBJECTS

Example

These are difficult and I tend to avoid them, but one prime example is a ski run with a line of skiers winding their way down a slope.

How it is done

The most common technique is to make a slit in the mountain and under the slit attach a bicycle type chain.  The chain is a continuous loop and is attached to and controlled by a motor with gears attached to the end.  The chain runs under and parallel to the slit until it eventually loops under the surface of the mountain.  Skiers are attached with a wire from the chain and through the slit.  They appear to ride along the mountain.

AERIAL OBJECTS – CURCULAR MOVEMENT

Example

Airplanes flying in a circle pattern.

How it is done

A heavy duty motor is placed in the ceiling attached to a floor joist above the drop ceiling panel. A steel rod is connected to the motor and hung down below the panel. The rod is then bent at 90 degrees. The object (e.g. airplane) is then suspended with rigid wire below the outward tip of the rod.

AERIAL OBJECTS – UP AND DOWN MOVEMENT

Example

Hot air balloon rising and falling.

How it is done

A heavy duty motor is placed in the ceiling attached to a floor joist above the drop ceiling panel. A steel rod is connected to the motor and above the panel. The rod is then bent at 90 degrees (above the panel). The panel has small metal tube placed in it to act as a guide. A tube within a tub is placed on the tip of the rod to allow for free vertical rotation. A heavy filament fishing line is placed on the tip of the rotating device and hung through the panel guide. Downward and upward movement is achieved as the fishing line moves closer to and away from the panel guide.

DISCLAIMER

The methods employed here are only one set of techniques for accomplishing these types of animation.  These are just the ways I have chosen thus far in my planning.