Starship Modeler Discussion Forums

I figure to tear into and apart some old consumer electronics for small gears and motors. Stuff like stepper motors and hopfully a mini slipring could be found in discarded VCRs, computer printers and sic drives. The goal I have in mind is to get one going around and around well enough to do more th...

Gap filling CA glue....Stuck and stuck on real good!

Spiffy Stuff!
It will allow for builders with ordinary solder skills take it to the next step for the smaller components projects.

I like useing the Tamiya clears as well...
And we are very lucky to see them in use here with Robiwon's photo.
Well done with that Bat dash board there, Robert!

Update 10/19: Now appears good news to hear that the B5 Space Station and Starfury plastic kits are making a comeback from Revell. Motivation to motorize is more heightened! Seriously guys... where can mini slip rings and small clock motors with low RPMs can be found from suppliers in North America?...

$16.99? Ya got to be kidding. I will have to run down to my local HF store and check that out!

OK then...with such a savings, go blow your wad of cash for a sheet of new cut to size Lexan!
Go nuts!

redfinger wrote:... but what about a pressure pot?

Uff Duh! What about that stuff you smoked befor High School science classes? Make physics work for you. Here is some ingrediants:

Bell Jar $50
.5"Lexan Sheet Plastic scrap $5
3cfm AC Vac-Pump $300

Castings... flawless

A year or so ago a SSM member posted his NX-01 glow blue Nacelle FX by inserting 5 mm Blue LEDs at both the ends of white drinking straws. The straws were laid out flat and fixed together side by side with plastic strip and epoxy. The best brightness of the viewing angle of the LEDs glowed down the ...

Also, can it really be cut to *any* shape? For another project I'm working on, I'd need round shapes to light up. Yah sure you bet! So long as you have two of the contacts on whatever shape you cut from the EL Sheet. Like this stuff I got from Miller Engineering 4X6 inch sheets: http://www.culttvma...

I'm sure I have seen him announce something new at the CultTVman bulliton boards. This was late last week.

3 red .....Left Side (2) main hull (1) Aft Warp Nacelle 3 green.....Right Side (2) main hull (1) Aft Warp Nacelle 4 flashing NAV lights white flashing strobe lights...Top near bridge, Bottom Eng section and aft on each Warp Nacelle Iv'e modified my WWB circuits, etched smaller dome circuits and adde...

I wonder how fast they turn Cygnus? What device did it come form? The motor... I want to fix to a stationary shaft...geared down and pinoned to an internal ring gear fixed to the rotating cylinder. One or 2 items I did find at my LHS was some roller bearings used on most TRAXES RC cars. This is the ...

I have not played around to much with the 4060 chip but I do know and recommend a IC chip socket on your board rather than soldering the chip direct onto the board. You can then lift and remove the chip from the circuit. I have read also to take precautions for this chip about avoiding static electr...

I still use the good ol' LM3909 LED blinker chip for the Nav Strobe effect (Out of production...But, I have a sourse)
The chips control of the white LED is definately off on the down cyle.

Guys,I find this data very usefull. I've watched a few episodes recently principly to observe the graphics used in the Starfury cockpits. I agree that it should turn faster than a sweep of the second and of a clock motor. A pinion gear from a clock motor going into a larger ring gear would be a real...

It's been frustrating to find an internal ring gear that will fit the inside diameter of the main O'neil cylinder of the kit. (35.9mm / 1.38in) One that fits to the ID and one that's cheap! I think I may have to have it made to order. A machine shop could charge as much at $300 for metals like steel...

LOL! So happens I have one of them 7441s chips left in my parts rack.

Became obsolete back in the 90s and I had to do a serious re-design from a 5 step chaser circuit now resulting the 3 step WWB TOS Warp circuit board with a 4017.

I don't think I'll ever use it.

Not sure how soon but I have the circuits laid out, parts handy...I just got to build it. Looks to be a busy week if all goes well on other projects already commited to.

This one then at Kingbright...

http://www.kingbrightusa.com/product.as ... H1005RWF/A

Would anyone happen to have a schematic for an led rotating bussard for TOS Enterprise or NX-01...with a trimmer pot to adjust rotating speed. I'm making adjustments to a working circuit kit I got going now...I have to build and test on it some more. But the circuit so far in the domes works OK and...

I've been searching for these leds for a while!1 THAT'S BULLY! Me too...I have known of these a while. I just had the gumption to get me sum! At such a small size they are so small to be in scale for whatever spot light apperatus detail would apear on the "real deal" size vessle. Also cou...

I just got in ten (10) white Nano sized LEDs from www.Ngineering.com My intent is to use these as the spotlights on the NX-01 1/350 scale from Polar Lights. Touted as the worlds smallest LED these would be mounted on the exterior surface of the Enterprise model in front of the bridge and to its side...

Not sure what the circuit does, so I can't advise on that. Blinks LEDS real fast with a small 4.7uf capacitor and 555 timer chip on a simple circuit board. http://www.dlmparts.com/images/229_KBOP_board_parts_.jpg http://www.dlmparts.com/images/150_KBOP_Engine_dr.jpg I can't recommend 9volt DC batte...

when I light it, not just drill round holes. Any ideas as how to do this? I would offer these tips to make a round window look square: 1 Proceed on with drilling round holes. Maybe just a little bit oversized 2 Use a length of Fiber Optic and set it into the round holes and make them flush to the m...

Pat I think bearings at the ends of the rotating O'Neil Cylinder would be a good idea too. So far my search on the Google (if I could find my way past all the 1/1 scale automitive transmission parts) lead me to Small Parts Inc to thier machined brass miniature ring gears. I found most of them, the l...

I'd like to motorize the Mongram kit of the Babylon 5 Space Station. I am sure a clockworks motor with a ring and pinion gear would be involved as well as a slip ring to get power the the rotating cylinder. Also some fun with LEDs and fiber optics would be included. Has anybody else tried this befor...

Thanks for that link to the calculators, Frank.
It's easier and more detailed than the other Java Script calcs I have used. Got it marked down as a favorite!

Jeff

Zog has a good point about your desired operating voltage. Bring it down to the voltages that your LEDs need which is mostly 2.5 volts for color LEDs and 3.5 for white. Lowering it will also still operate the 555 IC chip circuit. Probably at a lower and more desired speed of blinkin'.

Tony sent some pictures of the boards. I think what causes that noise was that one metal "Can" transister T3 replaced the kit provided resin transiters. From my past experiance with the can types got hot on this circuit and mayby drew a lot of current? Also sugested is to have a AC wall co...

Now that you have it all together and it all works your skill sets earns you an upgrade to EXPERT , Congratulations. I have knowledge about the steady on diming of the interior lamps. This evens out after all LEDs with thier resistors or lamps are in place from bow to stern. Use the pads for lamps i...