Automating/ animating a market - suggestions wanted

[Stubby47]

Hi all,

 

You've probably all seen the YouTube videos of the train running through the Maeklong Market in Thailand.  

 

 

As part of my PSMT project, I'd like to recreate this scene, but am struggling as to how best automate / animate the market stall awnings.

 

I could use a set of tortoise / cobalt point motors, but this would be rather expensive using one motor per awning.

I also thought about a complicated cam shaft and wire in tube system, bit that's probably beyond my engineering skills.

 

So, what other suggestions can you come up with ?

 

The cheaper and simpler the better;  lots of small motors controlled by a Raspberry Pi would probably be made to work, but alas not by me.

 

Thanks in advance

 

Stu

[Tim V]

Use servos and MERG kits to control them.

[peter220950]

Servo's get my vote as well, the ECoS system I was using for point control could be used with a trigger from the approaching loco, MERG is also impressive, and much cheaper, but you have to build it yourself. The servo arms would be sufficiently powerful to haul the canopy arms back and forth, and speed is adjustable.

 

If you're looking to do it on the cheap, and don't want to get into expensive control systems you could consider using a cheap servo tester and operate the wanings manually,

 

 

The testers can be bought for around a pound and the servo's likewise, with a lithium battery pack you could operate three servos at a time with one of these manual controls, they might even operate more if you use two to one servo adaptors.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Multi-Servo-Tester-3CH-ECS-Consistency-Speed-Controler-Power-Channels-CCPM-IG-/262148231751?hash=item3d09409247:g:9NAAAOSw6dNWSzJ6

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300mm-30Cm-Servo-Extension-Y-Wire-Cord-Connectors-Cable-for-RC-JR-Futab-UR-/161819509035?hash=item25ad31c12b:g:7KcAAOSw9r1V7qPm

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GD-9G-Servo-Mini-Micro-For-Trex-Align-450-Rc-Helicopter-Airplane-Foamy-Plane-/321886884048?hash=item4af1f410d0:g:qzUAAOSwhcJWJzvC

 

For a couple of pounds it might be worth having a play, as they might be hackable to work with a track operated relay to control them, no great electronics work and not a lot of cost.

 

Peter

[edcayton]

Are you still intent on using your micro-switch system to feed power to the train? If so, can you use these to control motors to drive the awnings?

 

Ed

[JDW]

How will you operate the people moving the goods out of the way, and walking across the tracks once the train has passed...?

[Stubby47]

Haha, once the train has passed and the awnings are back over, you won't be able to see any people or stuff for sale

[AdamsRadial]

What about the old hot-wire or bi-metallic strip method that they used to use for level crossing gates?

[Stubby47]

What about the old hot-wire or bi-metallic strip method that they used to use for level crossing gates?

I like that idea.

 

I have also thought about using memory wire.

[Giles]

In the dim and distant past, on something nothing to do with railways, I made a motor-driven large wheel (cam) with quite a few layers (in that instance) with different numbers and sizes of bumps on them, and made cam-followers to operate automatons. Something similar could be done here using wire-in-tube etc....

[marc smith]

Some interesting thoughts here
I'm looking forward to seeing what you opt for Stu

I know this is nothing to do with movement of figures, but it does demonstrate that we could think of movement of things other than trains
A few years back, I was fortunate to see the O gauge layout "Cromford Wharf" (I believe it was called)
At the rear of the layout was a country lane, with high stone wallls

Every now & then, a car or more usually a van would trundle along this lane
The vehicles were all essentially "toys" - intended as static display, and were £1 each!
The layout builder picked up some really cheap motors, and simply made the lane with a groove in the middle of the road
A guide on the bottom of the vehicles ensured they stayed on course. With high walls along most of its' length
you could mainly see just the tops of each vehicle, but the effect was brilliant.....

On the famous "Exebridge Quay" layout, there were flying seagulls
These were suspended by fine fishing line, to a motorised pulley system
Again, this, along with seagull sounds was a great effect

Will you have a recording of the hussle & bustle of a marketplace, playing in the background?

[orwell park]

Watching Eisenbahn Romantik on Saturday , the same thing appeared.

About 22 minutes in

http://www.swr.de/eisenbahn-romantik/ebr-international-tag-modell-eisenbahn/-/id=98578/did=16345098/nid=98578/6xhuxg/index.html

Regards

 

David Cook

[Talltim]

Similar concept to one I was toying with, car parked across a little used line, that moves out of the way as the train comes, or possibly a set amount of time after the train gets there and sit blowing its horn.
http://photos.nerail.org/s/?p=28542
I'll be interested to see how you do it.

[SHMD]

I doodled this this lunch...

 

 

 

Kev.

 

[steviesparx]

Some great ideas already given, and it certainly should be possible with modern servos and traditional solenoids....

 

But if you haven't seen it already, this programme on Automotons is simply awe-inspiring.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLb54FCMt9o

 

Check out the automated market at 9mins 30 secs.....built in the 1740's !!!

[Stubby47]

Watching Eisenbahn Romantik on Saturday , the same thing appeared.

About 22 minutes in

http://www.swr.de/eisenbahn-romantik/ebr-international-tag-modell-eisenbahn/-/id=98578/did=16345098/nid=98578/6xhuxg/index.html

Regards

 

David Cook

 

That's exactly the scene I'm looking to replicate - many thanks. The overhead view of the prototype is also very helpful.

[Stubby47]

Some great ideas already given, and it certainly should be possible with modern servos and traditional solenoids....

 

But if you haven't seen it already, this programme on Automotons is simply awe-inspiring.

 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bLb54FCMt9o

 

Check out the automated market at 9mins 30 secs.....built in the 1740's !!!

 

I think that market is a bit beyond me.... Wonderful to see though, thanks

[Stubby47]

Servo's get my vote as well, the ECoS system I was using for point control could be used with a trigger from the approaching loco, MERG is also impressive, and much cheaper, but you have to build it yourself. The servo arms would be sufficiently powerful to haul the canopy arms back and forth, and speed is adjustable.

 

If you're looking to do it on the cheap, and don't want to get into expensive control systems you could consider using a cheap servo tester and operate the wanings manually,

 

 

The testers can be bought for around a pound and the servo's likewise, with a lithium battery pack you could operate three servos at a time with one of these manual controls, they might even operate more if you use two to one servo adaptors.

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Multi-Servo-Tester-3CH-ECS-Consistency-Speed-Controler-Power-Channels-CCPM-IG-/262148231751?hash=item3d09409247:g:9NAAAOSw6dNWSzJ6

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/300mm-30Cm-Servo-Extension-Y-Wire-Cord-Connectors-Cable-for-RC-JR-Futab-UR-/161819509035?hash=item25ad31c12b:g:7KcAAOSw9r1V7qPm

 

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/GD-9G-Servo-Mini-Micro-For-Trex-Align-450-Rc-Helicopter-Airplane-Foamy-Plane-/321886884048?hash=item4af1f410d0:g:qzUAAOSwhcJWJzvC

 

For a couple of pounds it might be worth having a play, as they might be hackable to work with a track operated relay to control them, no great electronics work and not a lot of cost.

 

Peter

 

Very interesting - never used servos before so this would be a steep learning curve. Many thanks.