Hi,
Many many years ago, some model company produced a bunch of 1/48 scale aircraft that instead of having detailed engines, the engine compartments were closed up and they included little electric motors in a cradle that used one AA battery. The front of the cowling was attached and the whole thing slid into the airframe. To start you just flicked the prop and off it went. To stop just stick your finger in the prop.
Does anyone know a way to produce some thing like that with today’s 1/48 and 1/32 scale planes without them looking goofy? I’d also like some hints on how to rig navigation lights too.
So many questions! I’m just getting back into modelling after a number of years and I can’t believe how much I’ve forgotten!
Check these out. I used one in a P-51 and it is great.
http://dynamicscalemodeling.com/
While I have not done it myself, I know several folks who have used pager motors for that. They are super small, some about quarter inch in diameter by an inch long! Surplus electronics places have them. “All Electronics” is one place like that. They come with an eccentric weight on shaft, but this is easily removed. You might need to fasten a shaft extension for a small radial engine.
In those “number of years” while away, readily available hobby motors became smaller so you are no longer limited to radials – and can even embed them in exposed super-detailed engines. WRT lights, light-emitting-diodes (LEDs) are now reasonably priced in the relevant navigation colors. For a while, the white LEDs were quite expensive for hobbyists. LEDs don’t have heat issues of de-forming plastic and will last a lifetime.
It wasn’t that long ago that Tamiya came out with a 1/32 Zero with motor, lights, and even sound. They also have/had a so-called “Prop-Action” family of a dozen or so 1/48 motorized planes up to a 4-motor . Some of these used that motor you mention. I don’t think goofy applies to Tamiya kits; in some cases the non-motorized versions used the same molds and simply did not include the bag of electrical parts.
OTOH I would use goofy to describe some DIY motorized models I’ve seen where the prop spins so fast and with an obvious blade imbalance or mis-alignment that you think it’s going to self-destruct any second.
As for rigging techniques, look at the Dynamic site mentioned above. You have to hunt around a bit but there’s a variety of aircraft types with different methods of how motor and lights were rigged, and how fiber optics can be applied.
There have been occasional stories in publications by Paul Boyer that have motors and lights in aircraft. The previous issue of had a lit starship and IIRC a recent issue had an ad for some company selling lights for models.
Pager motors (that make the thing vibrate) are excellent. You just have to remove the weight from the shaft to keep it spinning straight. You could probably get away with using a flat “coin-style” batter that most computers use on the motherboards or some watches use. I remember seeing something like this recently, with a Spitfire. The battery was placed behind the canopy, and the antenna was used as an “on/off” switch. I’m planning on doing something similar with a 1/48 C-130J, but will be using a small PLC to control engines, lights and ramps from underneath the base.
I’m hoping this year to motorize all four engines on my Revell B-29 that’s going to be built as the Soviet Tu-4!
I’ve gotten some wiring and LED’s from miniatronics. They are a good source for small wiring, etc. Good luck with your project.