In-flight display minus the stand

xamel1975 · Post by **xamel1975** » Thu Dec 23, 2004 11:28 pm

Hi guys,

Here's the challenge... I want to build a Macross VF-0S and display it as in-flight. BUT, I don't want to use a stand or any other supporting stuff to hold it. Currently, I'm juggling with the idea of using magnets.

Any other ideas/comments?

Silver Spar · Post by **Silver Spar** » Fri Dec 24, 2004 7:02 am

I tried that with a Galactica Viper - Just couldn't get it to balance, and even with rare earth magnets, you only get about a half inch of lift.

There are model planes out there that use magnets for lift, and a tether to hold it in place - would be a lot less noticeable than just about any other sort of stand...

xamel1975 · Post by **xamel1975** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 8:12 pm

Hi Chris,

Thanks for the feedback. I think some physics law need to be applied to make it work (Magnet positioning/angles?). I think I'll give it a try.

scifi58 · Post by **scifi58** » Sun Dec 26, 2004 11:29 pm

Dunno if it will help but Revell puts some in flight models. They are 72nd scale planes suspened above a magnetic base with fishing line. I always thought of getting one to pirate the parts from.

LG Johnson

naoto · Post by **naoto** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 2:23 pm

scifi58 wrote:Dunno if it will help but Revell puts some in flight models. They are 72nd scale planes suspened above a magnetic base with fishing line. I always thought of getting one to pirate the parts from.

LG Johnson

Hmm... I thought the MagicFlight kits were 1:144

Arthur Pendragon · Post by **Arthur Pendragon** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 4:15 pm

Commercially available magnet will not suspend a big model like the 1/72 VF-0S.

The only way to make an "in flying" diorama without an stand is to use an old trick... hide the suspension rods, like at this example:

http://www.culttvman.com/ted_ladd_s_id-4_diorama.html

All you need is a vertical backdrop, depicting clouds or mountains... run a fixed rod perpendicular from the backdrop, and simply fix the model at the rod, using the model to "hide" it.

dekesdragon · Post by **dekesdragon** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 5:42 pm

I once saw a film about levitating a small frog,
along the lines of the mag lev trains

the frog barely left the plate and the power to do so made the
commercial viability rather prohibitive.
No news about radiation effects on the frog.

I too have been considering such an idea,
when I find the physics equations I will share here but my
thought is to use rare earth magenets in the model and one heck of
an electromagnet in the base...
the things you think about when teaching a college physics lab...

As in all things like this I would determine the mass of the final model
and then experiment with a wooden mock up
(I just pictured power up and the jet spinning violently in a flat spin
over the e-m plate mean while your mates are screaming shut it down at loud volumes

)

xamel1975 · Post by **xamel1975** » Mon Dec 27, 2004 8:39 pm

Preliminary findings shows that the idea of using magnets is useless. Measuring almost 26 cm, the kit is too heavy for the magnet to lift it up. Maybe I should build an E-M generator in my backyard just for that purpose

. Oh well....

Thanks for the link Arthur Pendragon. I would most probably use that idea for my kit.

venomx · Post by **venomx** » Fri Jan 14, 2005 4:26 pm

get the Halloween Issue of Nuts & Volts.

it has a Article on Anti-gravity.

xamel1975 · Post by **xamel1975** » Tue Jan 18, 2005 10:23 pm

venomx,

thanks for the tip. I found a lot of ideas related to levitation and anti-gravity.

thunderbearr · Post by **thunderbearr** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 10:49 am

One trick I've seen is of a Tomcat launching from an aircraft carrier deck. The support rod was hidden in the flame/exhaust smoke.

naoto · Post by **naoto** » Wed Mar 30, 2005 12:03 pm

Now if you could only find a material with an index of refraction identical to that of air...