1/72 VF-1J Motorized Flight Deck Elevator

Modeling Subjects Aircraft
1

I wanted to share my new motorized bluetooth project with you guys.

Please see full video below.

Feedback and comments welcome.

I would love to hear what your favorite parts are.

2

That is so cool!! well done. Robotech is one of my favorite shows, and really the first anime I was exposed to.

John

3

Very nice! Are both the elevator and the plane’s wing fold bluetooth controlled? You must have some pretty good machine tools.

4

Thanks Don. Yes, you can see the Blutooth controls in the later part of the video. I actually don’t use any real machine tools, except for a dremel. It is all hand made. But I did need a drill press for the straight holes in the scissor lift, and a table saw for the straight legs of the box.

5

Outstanding work arbit! That took a lot of mechanical and electrical knowledge to accomplish. Great work on the model too. If you have any more projects like this one, we would love to see them.

You should think about sending the photos to FSM. Would make a great article for all to see.

Jim [cptn]

6

Now that’s about as cool as you can get.

7

Thanks Jim, that’s very kind of you. You can see my other wired builds on my youtube channel. I don’t actually have an electronics or engineering background at all. I learned everything step by step starting with an led to light my models. And I had to figure out each gear one at a time for this project through trial and error, testing different motors and different mechanisms until I liked the result.

So if you are fascinated with lighting your models, I’ve added many tutorial links in my video to help you get started.

8

Amazing work!Really impressed how smoothly the parts moved!

9

Thanks. Since I didn’t have experience with gears before, I tested the gear mechanisms with MDF, cardboard and popsicle sticks to see how they work, before going at the model. I had to try different mechanisms until I found the best one for each gimmick. I also had to test different N20 motors and compound gears to get the right torque on each mechanism.

The scissors lift required the most torque, but also ended up being the most steady of the gears due to the form and materials used.

10

I love it. The only thing left is to get the jet flying off the carrier …[8-|]

That work must take you quite sometime to get it right through trial & errors.

Well done man.

11

I’m utterly blown away by this. Outstanding!

12

Well done - and what a fun project.

13

Thank you. It did take some time. But I was determined to get that lift working one way or another. I learned that gears don’t have to be all that perfect to work, as long as everything is alligned.

14

Thanks keavdog! I think you got the idea. It was all about having fun with these gimmicks.

15

All I can say is COOL!!!

16

Too kool dude! Your modelling skills are waaaaaaaaay above mine, to say the least. Well done sir.

17

Thanks dude. I’m glad you liked it. But actually my basic modelling skills are very much at a beginner level (painting, coating and weathering).

But I don’t worry about that. Painting skills can take years to develop.

I just build what makes me super excited to work on.

18

Well Now!

You want to come to New Braunfels, Texas? You could take over the animation dept on the model train Layouts at the Railroad Museum! That is awesome. !!!

I cannot believe your last statement though. You have skills,You just don’t realize it ! I liked it all, by the way.

19

Thanks for the invitation Tanker. I don’t know where that is, but I did grow up in Houston. So if you have good Tex Mex and BBQ, I will be right there.

I’m not into trains, but I do learn a lot from train guys and other hobbyists outside of scale modelling.

And as I tell my kids, “I have old man skills”, which is basically patience and using your head.

20

[dto:] Here here! I think you just gave him a big boost in confidence [Y], he diserves it.