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Hello folks

I would like to try animating a few cameos ie movement in figures, machinery etc to provide another point of interest on a layout both in 4mm and 7mm scale, I have no experience in this area and am looking for any advice /help on this topic. I understand that from other model rail groups of which I am a member that there is a book called "Industrial and Mechanised Modelling", the author is "Dave Rowe" and it was published by "Wild Swan",it incorporates a number of animated diaromas in 4 mm scale which can be adapted I believe to any other scale.

Unfortunately this book is now out of print and I have tried Amazon and a few 2nd hand booksellers for it with no success,if any fellow member knows where I might obtain a copy or indeed any other similar book or source of information for a beginner on this subject, I would appreciate any advice if anyone can help.

Thanks all the best,John.

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Dave Rowe is an exceedingly fine modeller ... I have read his articles in various magazines with absolute awe.

 

Can't help with any suggestions as to where you might find copies of his books, mind. But you'll nto go far wrong takign a leaf out of his book ... should you ever find it ...

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Unfortunately it is rarer than rocking horse poo - I have been looking for a copy for over 2 years and the cheapest I have seen in that time was £220 on AbeBooks which I couldn't and wouldn't ever jsutify spending.

 

If you can find a source for one of these then please let me know.

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If one has money to burn one can get small "vingettes" from continental ("HO") manufacturers.

 

These range from moving fairground rides, falling trees down to moving people.

 

See, FOR INSTANCE, http://www.gaugemast...rch_results.asp

 

Try "HO" scale and put in the keyword "moving" ....... (try to ignore the childish ones)

 

And, likewise obviously, the Faller motorised vehicles may be converted to more usual UK ones.

 

.

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The late Martin Brent's beautiful 7mm layout "Arcadia" had some moving cameos on it. I am fairly sure the layout is still in existence, I will make inquiries at the Watford show this weekend.

 

Many many years ago the Railway Modeller ran a series of articles on a 4mm layout called "Ortogo" by Jack Dugdale (IIRC) which had all kinds of things, the one that sticks in my memory was rabbits that came in and out of their burrows.

 

Ed

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Try "HO" scale and put in the keyword "moving" ....... (try to ignore the childish ones)

 

Some of them look a lot more "adult" than "childish" to me!!!!

 

I really wonder how many of those they sell? I can kinda understand the 'novelty' factor but I can't imagine spending £40 on something like that...

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Wish I had known how rare this book was. I accidently bought a second copy several years ago. Shipped it to a mate in Canada about 6 months ago in exchange for some transfers and Details West parts. £220????? Arrrrggghhhh!!!! Can you say D'oh? :O

 

And no, I'm not parting with my remaining copy.

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I think I picked up my copy for a twenty dollar bill or less...the Wild Swan books are generally very good.

--PM sent to orignal author.

 

Model Railroader (US) has had several articles on animation of various forms. The perfered motor of the guy doing the motorizing was tape deck motors- they're kind of like rocking horse effulent now though!

 

James

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  • RMweb Gold

David K Smith and Rick Spano are well known for creating interesting and innovative animated scenes in N gauge...

 

Excavator: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6QsdXoTmmTM

 

Window fan: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1dq-yRnX_74

 

Roof vents: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0gYZBqylA4

 

Ceiling fans: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DYbY4qCRFFk

 

Woodchip dumper: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iG4fSwVzvZ0

 

...And a model layout for a model layout: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ecMAB8ycbHY

 

 

Lots more stuff to be found on their YouTube channel, too.

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Unfortunately it is rarer than rocking horse poo - I have been looking for a copy for over 2 years and the cheapest I have seen in that time was £220 on AbeBooks which I couldn't and wouldn't ever jsutify spending.

 

Bloody hell!

 

I paid seven quid for my copy about ten years ago!

 

Just looked at some of Viessmann's products :lol:

 

Motorised for Realistic Effect

:lol:

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  • 2 weeks later...

Just wondered if anyone could tell me any suppliers/retailers of the "gimmicks" often seen on exhibition layouts. I've searched several model rail magazines and done loads of google searches. I've found suppliers for the flashing weld/arc lights, etc., but can't find the more obscure/expensive ones that have a motorised part as well as the flashing led, such as the opening portaloo-door with a man sat inside - there are others too that I seem to have seen on more than one layout but never can find in the retailers. Can anyone point me to where these are sold?

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I think you will find that many of these "gimmicks" are not commercial products but have been developed out of the ingenuity of the modeller.

 

Something like a servo as used for signal/level crossing gates operation, point motors, loco motors, etc being used sometimes with RTP (Wills, Langley, etc) kits others with scratch-built items.

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For 'lectrickery goodies, try Http://www.kyteslights.com - for mechanical animations, like horses heads nodding over stable doors, and fishermen waving their rods, as Kenton says - these are usually home-built by the modeller using things like threaded rods (driven by motors) with a captive nut moving along it, relays, servos and bits of bent wire. There was an article about 5 years ago in Model Rail about DIY animated models - maybe someone can tell you which issue so you can order it?

 

Examples http://www.building-...ated-train.html

http://www.spikesland.com/spike.html

http://www.kramerproducts.com/

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