The Very Last White River and Northern Railroad

[Dave V]

Lee

Lee ( @wm3798 ),

Sorry, I know this is DKS' build thread and I know you were illustrating the radio call sign but I felt I had to comment.  Having been to Cumberland a few times, I'm in awe at how well you've captured it.  Not just the hills, the haze, and the railroad infrastructure, but the rowhouse backyards and all the little things that scream "Appalachia."  You're a master of "time and place," and while I'm really enjoying your current retro funzone, I really enjoy seeing your more prototypical work.  Your stuff reminds me of the Reid Brothers. 

[garethashenden]

Would you mind describing what you had in mind for the excavator?

[wm3798]

Thanks, @Dave V .  The trick is to clutter the scene as much as possible to divert attention from how poorly executed the individual elements are.  Now back to our regularly scheduled DKS wizardry, where quality oozes from every pore.
Lee

[CRL]

Thanks, @Dave V .  The trick is to clutter the scene as much as possible to divert attention from how poorly executed the individual elements are.

Said in jest, but there’s a lot of truth hidden in the comment. When you’re seeking to model a great overall layout, adding random “crap” brings the layout to an overall realistic level and “lived in” look. It’s a “Mom’s house” approach vs a “Better Homes & Gardens” look.

[DKS]

Would you mind describing what you had in mind for the excavator?

[DKS]

Decided to get the kite out of my system. Rick Spano did it for his Sceniced and Undecided. The effect is fairly simple, although I'm doing it differently from Rick. He uses a fan to make the kite move; I'm using a low-RPM motor with a disc having a wavy, irregular groove, kind of like a warped record; a blunt stylus that follows the groove causes a fine wire attached to the kite to swing and sway in two axes.

   

Assembly began with fine brass C-channel bent by hand into an irregular loop, soldered together, and polished; it's soldered to a piece of bent tubing fitted to the motor gearhead shaft. Then I made a "tone arm" dual-axis pivot from telescoping tube, and a stylus from bent wire. A return spring keeps the stylus tracking properly.



The kite is just some brightly-colored plastic from a bag, backed with aluminum foil so it's opaque. The string is 0.004" stainless steel wire attached to the pivoting end of the stylus rod with CA. That's it!

[garethashenden]

Ah ha! I'd seen that first video before, but had forgotten/not known that is was you. It's really well done.

[Sokramiketes]

Neat kite!  Do you think you could get some free secondary movement with a tail on the kite?  It looks just bouncy enough to shake a streamer or tail enough to make it look even more random.  You know, like a Henson puppet with flowing fur or bouncing eyes for free movement.

[DKS]

Neat kite!  Do you think you could get some free secondary movement with a tail on the kite?  It looks just bouncy enough to shake a streamer or tail enough to make it look even more random.  You know, like a Henson puppet with flowing fur or bouncing eyes for free movement.

Possibly, but I kind of doubt it. Need some material that will flex on its own at about 3/16 long. I'll have a look...

[coosvalley]

That spillway=

Anyone of these animation projects would be impressive enough by itself, but all together on this layout, it is definitely a masterpiece.I can't even think of the the right words to properly praise your efforts here.

And I guess since folks are recommending animation subjects, here is mine- kid on a swingset.

[wazzou]

Possibly, but I kind of doubt it. Need some material that will flex on its own at about 3/16 long. I'll have a look...

A human or feline hair?

[davefoxx]

A human or feline hair?

"Come here, kitty, kitty, kitty.  You know I cain't play without a guitar string!"

~Uncle Pecos

[DKS]

A human or feline hair?

Surprisingly not very flexible at the required length.

[wazzou]

Surprisingly not very flexible at the required length.

I'd expect you'd file it down until it were.   

[CRL]

How does one file a hair off a hair?