Sequencing & Project Updates

I have several models that I use to demonstrate animation techniques that I continue to tweak as I come up with new ideas. Here is a composite of these, beginning with some animation sequencers that I use in clinic presentations. There is also a new coach animation at the end of the video. This project used a DCC function decoder to power an Arduino Pro-mini controller and the entire animation in the car. I really wanted to see IF it would work, since the Pro-mini controller takes very little power, and the lights and motor draw less than 40 milliamps. Well, it did work – running off of a switched function control line from a Digitrax TF4 decoder with 125 ma max functions. I hope you enjoy it.

Last, I have been working on a new tack in animation, which has required some experimental time and effort. As a teaser for an upcoming article, here is a short video for you to consider: what makes this model worth talking about? There are two interesting features displayed in the video. They are not disguised in any way, but you may have to think a bit to figure them out! By the way, the directional lighting isn’t one of them – that’s a freebie for you! It may be even less obvious what this has to do with animation, but that, too, is a topic for another time.

As always, suggestions and new ideas are always welcome!

Have Fun! 
Best Regards,
Geoff Bunza

Animation

I live in the UK, there is/was a book available from "Wild Swan" issued about 25 years ago about animation for models, maybe this could you some ideas and bring them into the 21st century with the use of DCC other electronics no availble aat the time of writing.

Tim Roper

Bournemouth

UK

book available from "Wild Swan"

Hi Tim,

I would love to find such a book! One can get inspiration from many places, and some really great ideas have come from updating older sources as you suggest! Do you know anything more about the book? Title? Author? Is  "Wild Swan" the publisher? I have found very little published ever (2-4 books perhaps) directly relating to model animation, so any leads are greatly appreciated.

Thanks for pointing this out. I will start on the hunt.

Best regards,

Geoff Bunza

I'll take a guess

I know that's a Roundhouse shell. The drive is not what comes with the shell. So I believe the drive or chassis is modified. Also it looks like it's running on a non metallic track, wood? Could it be battery powered? Also it seems to stop dead right before the wheels fall off the track at the end making me believe that it could be pulled/pushed by a mechanism under the track.

Again Geoff you have out done yourself. Great animation as always.

Bernd

Don't know if this book is still available...

http://www.modelrrcreativefx.com/modelrrcreativefx/index.html

Model Railroading Creative Effects

I hope that book is still available - if it isn't though, I can lend Geoff my copy.

I did a First Look on it a couple years back.

Guessing ...

1.  There is a significant difference in the 'sound' produced, depending upon the direction traveled.  (Also the mechanical shifting sound heard between the reversal of direction is pretty cool).

2.  I see 'something' running along the track under the fuel tank.  I can't tell if it is a light (perhaps some optical sensor?) or if perhaps it is a separate shuttle running along the track (possibly propelling the loco?).

I find animations to be very interesting.  I have some far reaching plans for potential animations in my next project; so am very interested in learning more about how it is done.  Thank you for sharing.  

The Swan

Hi,

There is the swan, in the old world of automation, goes back a long way, driven by clockwork not unlike has been shown a drum that drives a set movement. This beautifull  swan its neck  gracefully picks fish from a flowing river all made from silver and jewels. All driven by a clockwork drum.

The one better is a boy who wrights letters to your needs, there was a BBC series on automation in the 18th century, which explained how it all works.

rgds

Tom

Replies and Thanks

Hi to all,

First, thanks Tim, I was able to find "Industrial and Mechanised Modelling" by Dave Rowe published by Wild Swan Publications Ltd (April 1990). Thanks Tom for the interesting old mechanical animations. For Mike M and Jeff S., I that's one of the few books I already have-- thanks too.

Now for the model... it is NOT an animation, per se. I was manually controlling it (poorly) through the entire video. This is actually a hint for the second "feature." 

Bernd, your observational skills are quite good but need some refinement!     The track IS non metallic, but not wood. Try white styrene plastic strip! and yes, the loco IS battery powered, You also get extra credit for noting the Roundhouse Boxcab, mounted on a modified Bachmann Spectrum 44 ton chassis, with fixed (for now) cracked gears. With a binding technique of thread and ACC glue combination, similar to pier piling bindings:

I'll cover more about this in the article. This was inspired by Bernd's and other's efforts to solve the general problem. I don't think I solved it, only delayed it in certain cases. This works for me right now. I have tried several different mods to the power chassis with different results.

Dave O, there's no magnetic drive, and while this is not really what I would call an animation, I started down this line of experimentation precisely to set the stage for a range of very different animations.

I don't want to give away everything upcoming in the new article, but there is still one major feature not touched.

Here my big non-hint: take a look at the video again... it's absolutely obvious!  

Have Fun!

Best Regards,

Geoff Bunza

Two guesses from me

Hi Geoff - some type of sensing that you are close to the end of the run? Given that you are using stryrene tracks, using diode isolating blocks on the track is not an option. A timed or otherwise controlled (from the end-of-run sensors?) flip/flop circuit for the change of direction?   

No Sensors

Hi John,

Not quite. Apparently my animation context is leading many of you astray.

Here's a bigger hint than before(?)-- the sensing to stop the loco was with my eyes! There were no sensors in the track, and at present, none in the loco that would effect a stop in the video... yet!

Soooooo... the last feature in the video is??  

Best regards,

Geoff Bunza

No Sensors

Hi Geoff, Umm?  There's "no animation" like "no" animation? It's ALL magic?

Radio control?

No wires, positive manual control tends to indicate there is a radio involved...

Features Revealed: Battery Powered HO Loco w/Radio Control

Hi Jeff,

Ding, Ding Ding! You got it. The video shows an HO battery powered model that is radio controlled. This is not RC airplane/boat/car but a low power, low-cost, 2-way radio link (data link), with a home brew controller. Other major features: directional headlights, DC/DCC compatible, battery auto charges when rail power is available.

Best Regards,

Geoff Bunza

Thought it might have been my next guess?

Geoff B in a jet-jockey bone-dome with eye-tracking HUD and thought-controlled loco direction and speed??  Nahh! - too scary a thought.    You've done some very nice work with what you've done as far as DC/DCC compatibility with this unit Geoff. I look forward to hearing more about it when you are ready

John's thoughts....

Now John,

You should realize that the "eye-tracking HUD and thought-controlled loco direction and speed" is still in development... silly boy!  

Glad you're enjoying the adventure.

Best Regards,

Geoff

Picaxe Microprocessor

Hi Geoffb,

Picaxe processors are small, inexpensive(< $4) single chip computers which can directly drive LEDs, servos, PWM modules, etc.  They program in basic and require a cheap($25) USB programming module attached to your computer.  Once programmed, they only require one resistor and 3-5 volts to operate.

I have dozens of them on my layout running chase lights, billboards, welding lights, LCD marquees and animation servos.

http://www.PICAXE.COM has all the details.

If you put magnets in the roadbed and reed/hall effect switches under both ends of your car, you could easily have a "back and forth" car running on plastic track.

Comments and PIC's

Hi Bruce,

Thanks for your comments. I actually have no intent of running on plastic rails. This was a teaser demo for a battery powered, remote controlled, and track-power-re-charged demonstrator HO loco. The plastic rails were to give people a hint about battery operation, with no "capacitive coupling" for anything.

I am very familiar with the Picaxe, and have used them, Basic-Stamps, and PIC processors native, since the first ones (of each) came out. In fact, I recently re-looked at the MicroChip PIC line again because of their ultralow power consumption in certain battery operations. As you point out they are capable and can be used for many things-- as can many if not all low cost microcontrollers including TI's LaunchPad. As of this time, you can purchase an Arduino Pro Mini, based on an Atmel chip (yet another microcontroller) for $2.68 (for the board, not the chip) with free shipping, quantity one.The Pro Mini just needs an $4-8 USB-serial cable for programming.  It still stacks up better than anything else I've seen to drive 18 pins, with a 16 MHz processor speed. But that's only one reason why I use them. The unbelievable amount of software, libraries and available ancillary hardware drivers, (some hardware of which the Picaxe can use too) tips the balance. For example, the free CmdrArduino DCC library from http://railstars.comlets you drive DCC decoders, or act as a DCC decoder-- and it works!

Nonetheless, when a new controller comes out, like the last TI LaunchPad did, I try it out, oooh and aaaah at its new speed and features, and keep going back to the Pro Mini. For new modelers, many of which have no interest in programming at all, I advocate "don't learn to program, learn to copy and edit," since there is so much out there which is already published, and can be adapted. I would think there is a similar situation, at least in part, for any controller that has been used for modeling. So I try to avoid blanket statements like "this is the only one to use." None of them are that way, and if someone is already comfortable with a particular part, and it works, and you've invested time and effort to learn it-- then use it! Why not? All other things being equal, why not? I've seen the same thing in Engineering designs for almost 40 years, and there are many fewer constraints on choices for modeling.

If you haven't seen my other blog entries, you might want to check out:: http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/blog/geoff-bunzaThere are many projects that a Picaxe will do just as well. You might have to write a bit more code, but they could do the job too. If you look at my wire guided crane, you'll also note the use of hall effect devices there too.

Bruce, I see there is an article next month on the use of Picaxe's in MRH. Whether or not it's yours, I'll be looking forward to reading it too. One of the very nicest comments I received about my animation work, was "If John Allen were still modeling today, this is what he'd be doing." I would like to think that too, and I hope you continue your animation efforts as well.

Best Regards,

Geoff Bunza

Article for MRH

Geoff,

Ok I'll admit I've started reading the blogs more than the magazine, but I do know you've written a few articles for the magazine. I don't recall anything like the Arduino tutorial you wrote in Scale animation 8, so have you and I just missed it?  If not I would definitely recommend one.

I hope I have time to do half the stuff you have done, would love to put animation like this on our club layout, doing things in scale like this is definitely the way to bring life to a layout for non model railroaders. Of course I would need to make some things push button operated, kids love to push buttons!

At the risk of erking some people I'll make a plug for a friend of mine I plan to try out the touch controls from Berrett Hill Trains, a MRH sponsor.  I won't use his entire stand alone system, as the toggles can be wired to the input of an Arduino.  See the toggles here: http://www.berretthillshop.com/store/products/touch-controls/  As a pushbutton they are on the expensive side, but they are lighted.  I'll have to do a little experimenting and talking with him to find out if I have to do more with Arduino, to control the led in the "button" or if that control is self-contained.

Jim

Re: Article for MRH

Hi Jim,

No I haven't written one focused on using an Arduino, and next MRH issue, there is an article on using the Picaxe controller, based on Mircochip's PIC processor, so Joe F. (MRH) may not be interested in another article focused on the Arduino right now. If you google arduino and tutorial, or arduino and starting you'll likely get many hits. The Arduino home site arduino.cc has a great deal of info and is a great starting point for learning.

Are you aware of the small TFT displays that are equipped with touch screens? Like: http://tinyurl.com/mj6owm5

These often have compatible Arduino libraries AND examples for use. If you connect it to a Pro Mini (the one I referenced is pin compatible with the larger Arduino UNO) at $3.50 plus $4.58 for the display, that's pretty cheap for a working touchscreen display. No?

Have Fun. Best regards,

Geoff Bunza

Wonderful Articles

Hi Geoff,

I've read all your wonderful articles on animation.

Thank you very much for sharing your experience with us.

There's nothing like lights, sound and motion to make the layout look alive.

More to Come

Thanks for the kind words Bruce!  Encouragement is always welcome.

I have two more in the works right now. One is almost finished. More to come!

Best Regards,

Geoff

Another Animation Book

Hi,

I have a book called "Animated Scale Models Handbook" by Adolph F. Frank, printed by Arco Publishing, Inc., out of New York City.  (ISBN 0-668-05120-5).  Can't tell when the book was printed, but has a copyright of 1981.

Most of the animations are mechanical in nature but could be easily adapted to electronics.  I doubt if any one would build the presented mechanics unless their profession was watchmaker.

One of the more interesting models is a bicycle factory with the bicycles hanging on a ceiling conveyor that rotates in an oval.  Although Mr. Frank models in N scale, he gives the dimensions of the factory in 1:1 scale.

I found the book on eBay a few years ago, and it may be out of print.  For me it's more of an "idea" book rather than a construction manual, and just want to bring it to your attention (if you don't already have it).

Gene W.

P.S. I have no affiliation with Mr Frank, or Arco Publishing, or eBay, or anyone.

@Gene re: A. Frank's Book

Hi Gene,

While Frank's book is a bit out of date, it contains not only neat ideas, but some great insights. I was particularly impressed with his construction and use of pulleys-- yes, pulleys.Once before I had rejected the whole idea and classed his work as out of date. But as you, yourself allude, his ideas can still be used. This pushed me to look into what could be done now. By the way, instead of watchmaker skills, I would have labeled it carpentry skills (!) as his mechanisms are radically larger than the ones I've been messing with.

Towards the end of this video:

You'll see the passenger coach animation with the moving conductor. The conductor is attached to a flexible belt, driven by a capstan and pulley system in the coach, inspired by A. Franks' book!

You also took note of the bicycle factory. While I will likely not model a bicycle factory, the idea of moving belts of product assembly lines is a great idea for factory animation. Adding some random stop/starts, more lighting variations, and sound would "update" the ideas and approach Franks offered.

Thanks for reminding me of this book Gene. While it is out of print, the web book sites may offer one from time to time for others to enjoy!

Best Regards,

Geoff Bunza