Animation

[Donw]

The late Martin Brent did some animated figures on his gauge 0 layout arcadia. How he did it was written up in the modeller probably about 2000. I have seen others but can't remember them.

Don

[Mike Bellamy]

This was also being discussed here a few days ago http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/topic/31528-animation-on-layouts/

 

Although it originally started out as a request for the Dave Rowe book, it developed with more information about what is available and it might help to look there as well.

 

Mike

[Mod2]

Thanks Mike, now merged.

[underbank56a]

Thanks to everyone who has replied. The opening toilet door animation is from Veissman and I've just received one from Gaugemaster - finally found it hidden in the depths of their website. Better than expected as it comes with a choice of people to sit on the loo!

[Chameleon]

Try any of the shops that sell continental stuff. I think Gaugemasters and Model Masters had the Veissmann stuff at Model Rail Scotland. They do produce a lot of the wee animated scenes you are talking about. Men drinking, workmen moving etc. Faller also do a variety of kits with motorised elements. I have a road roller, a bulldozer and even a wee man on a lawnmower that trundles all over his garden to build and put into a layout.

 

On a somewhat grander scale, we put a lot of homemade animations into our HOn30 layout, Walker Falls. Guys sawing, painting and hammering, windows opening, toilet door etc. We used standard RC servos linked into a DMX digital system to control each one. They even tie into the soundtrack as well!

[rockershovel]

Wasn’t there a Dutch layout on this forum a while ago, featuring an animated cyclist riding along the road? 

[Phil Parker]

4 minutes ago, rockershovel said:

Wasn’t there a Dutch layout on this forum a while ago, featuring an animated cyclist riding along the road? 

 

There are several - the system is called Magnorail. I tested it a few years ago.

 

[chris-shay]

There is a good book called “Animated Scale Models Handbook” by Adolf Frank that has lots of ideas. Some of its contents are a bit out of date as they would be easier to do with modern electronics and servos, however it’s a good read and has some fun projects. Used to be quite hard to find but a quick check out there showed several available at reasonable prices.

[60700]

If you want to see or try some animations come to the Derby roundhouse exhibition on May9th and 10th 2020 to see the Thomas and friends layout. There's even a flaming Dragon.

[SR71]

The book mentioned by the OP now seems to be more readily available;

 

https://www.bookfinder.com/search/?ac=sl&st=sl&ref=bf_s2_a8_t7_20&qi=RGy6qdHDitwjxRpn5PiIS8wqfYU_1497963026_1:51:23&bq=author%3Ddave%20rowe%26title%3Dindustrial%20and%20mechanised%20modelling