Will there be a new flasher for the up-coming NuEnterprise?

MillenniumFalsehood · Wed Jul 08, 2009 11:44 pm

Anyone who watched the new Trek movie probably noticed that, unlike every Federation vessel which preceded it, the new Enterprise-Nil had a double-flash for its position markers. So will someone take up the necessity for a flasher for the up-coming Round 2 1:2500 NuEnterprise kit?

photoguy · Post by **photoguy** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 9:04 am

Dad and I went to see the new movie not long after we had been working on the lights for my Defiant model. THAT was one of the FIRST things he mentioned during the film.

"Ah-HA, and you thought you had the lighting all figured out didn't ya..."
Good Times

jwrjr · Post by **jwrjr** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 10:24 pm

I did that a long time ago. It wasn't particularly hard.

MillenniumFalsehood · Thu Jul 09, 2009 11:17 pm

So . . . you gonna tell us the big sekrit? Maybe link to a PDF?

Pretty please?

jwrjr · Post by **jwrjr** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 11:23 pm

No big secret ... if you understand PIC programming language. There are subjects in science fiction and also the real world that use double and/or triple strobes.

MillenniumFalsehood · Thu Jul 09, 2009 11:44 pm

Figures . . . a PIC job.

I know they'd be super-easy, but for some reason I have apprehension regarding PICs. Any easy way to do it with solid-state CMOS chips?

jwrjr · Post by **jwrjr** » Thu Jul 09, 2009 11:56 pm

Possible, yes. Easy - that depends on your definition of easy. Right off hand, without having drawn out a schematic, I'd say that it will take 3 chips (a 555, a counter, and a divider) and a transistor. (A CMOS chip will never drive more than one led per output at full current.)

Often wrong Soong · Post by **Often wrong Soong** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 3:03 pm

Gonna have to give myself a crach course in PIC's, seems like they're FAR easier to use once you're over the learning curve

jwrjr · Post by **jwrjr** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 3:19 pm

I think so. But then I've been programming them for a while. It doesn't hurt that the average one that you will use for this sort of thing only has around 35 instructions (and you will only use a third of them). I do some extremely complicated things with them. For examples, see the VoodooFX website. I design and program most of his lighting effects (we are just now finishing up a new one.)
JIC, I will see about drawing up a schematic for those comfortable with older technology.

MillenniumFalsehood · Post by **MillenniumFalsehood** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 3:52 pm

Thanks, jwjr.

en'til Zog · Post by **en'til Zog** » Fri Jul 10, 2009 8:00 pm

I've been using the 4060 chip for double blinking beacons for years. One chip, one cap, one resistor. Also quad blinks, and others. (Just make sure you do NOT get teeny tiny surface mount chips, use 'through hole' ones, much easier to work with.) The "Heart Sizzle" is a double strobe blink - among other things.

Here's a batch of How Tooo's on the 4060:
http://www.starshipmodeler.com/mecha/cj_cpd.htm - DORVAK
http://www.starshipmodeler.com/tech/cj_blink.htm - Uberblinker
http://www.kc6sye.com/images/circuits/4 ... w_tooo.jpg
http://www.kc6sye.com/images/circuits/4060_how_tooo.jpg
http://www.kc6sye.com/images/circuits/4 ... how_to.jpg

and your friend, the reusable breadboard:

http://www.kc6sye.com/images/circuits/Bread_board.jpg

jwrjr · Post by **jwrjr** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:28 am

The schematic is done, but I want to check it over after a while to make sure that there are no errors. It took a little doing to make sure that the parts are all commonly available.

Often wrong Soong · Post by **Often wrong Soong** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 4:18 am

jwrjr wrote:I think so. But then I've been programming them for a while. It doesn't hurt that the average one that you will use for this sort of thing only has around 35 instructions (and you will only use a third of them). I do some extremely complicated things with them. For examples, see the VoodooFX website. I design and program most of his lighting effects (we are just now finishing up a new one.)
JIC, I will see about drawing up a schematic for those comfortable with older technology.

Hi JWRJR, could you point me in the direction of any good online how-to's or 'introduction to PIC programming' type sites? I'm getting more and more inclined to learn about these little dudes but not sure where a good jumping in point would be?

Madman Lighting · Post by **Madman Lighting** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 4:35 pm

Well I can do one too.

I have seen the movie but havent reviewed the lighting effect in detail, yet. Sounds like I better see it again with a notebook in hand.

If people want a lighting effect for NuEnt, all I have to do is change a few entries in a data table and I'm done. I've already thought about a blue tinted spinner effect for NuEnterprise Warp Engines. Take one of my Delux Spinners and attach blue LEDs instead of red and yellow and I'm done again.

AND!.. (but wait theres more) I've got a lighting kit in the works for the Revelle-Germany Republic Star Destroyer. Here's a photobucket shot of the prototype: http://i603.photobucket.com/albums/tt11 ... 0_1494.jpg

and I may yet release a power supply kit that would power all my kits, up to three cards at a time.

I'm trying to come out with a complete line of plug n play lighting systems that all work together so you guys can get any effect you want.

Thanks!!

-John C.

jwrjr · Post by **jwrjr** » Sat Jul 11, 2009 11:33 pm

The schematic is ready. Unless there is a way that I can post it here, send me an email address and I will send the PDF.

Often wrong Soong · Post by **Often wrong Soong** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 2:38 pm

jwrjr wrote:The schematic is ready. Unless there is a way that I can post it here, send me an email address and I will send the PDF.

Any chance I could have a copy of the schematic?? I'll PM you just in case

jwrjr · Post by **jwrjr** » Mon Jul 13, 2009 3:01 pm

No problem. Check your Inbox. I made sure that the parts would be readily available before I used them.