A moving Fireman

gregh

gregh

electronics, computers and scratchbuilding
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This year I’ve decided to concentrate on some animation on my railway, instead of building more locos.
So as a first foray I decided to try a fireman that moves to shovel coal into the firebox. I’ve only made this mockup so far to see if it seems possible, and it looks OK.  It’s made for a Big Hauler type loco/tender, and cobbled together from bits of balsa, styrene, corroflute and hot glue. I’m just trying to prove to myself it’s possible (and worth the effort).

I used a Bachman fireman figure even though it’s a bit big for my 1:24 scale.  Whoever designed it had never held a shovel, as his right hand is upside down!  So I cut his arm and rotated it. I also reduce the shovel to scale size.
bachmann firemen.jpg
shovels.JPG

I’m using a micro servo to rotate the fireman, driven by a Picaxe microcontroller. The driver stands on a slotted arm attached to the main servo arm and a pin operates between guide rails to pull/push the fireman in and out as well as turning.  I had to use this method to allow the shovel to get past the driver, as it’s pretty tight in the cab with the overscale fireman.

The Picaxe also drives a couple of LEDs flashing to simulate the firebox when the door is open.
You have to use your imagination that the tender is on the left and the loco on the right with the cab removed.
sideview.JPG

topview.JPG
[size=14pt]

and the resulting video is here:[/size]

[size=12pt]http://youtu.be/auMVWKFnHvo[/size]

So it looks like it’s possible. I’d like to try using magnets for the in/out movement as I have trouble with the pin sticking on the guide rails (and I’ll need an ugly slot in the floor)
 
The fireman looks a hundred times better with your modifications! Worth noting even if you do not follow the animated figure route ;D thanks for sharing.
 
Very impressive!
 
Nice idea. Would be fun to have as a feature while loco is sitting in station or yard, perhaps with the sound of a steam generator and westinghouse pump going too. Just like in all the "Green Frog DVD's I have of the D&RGW. Then again you could also animate the guy in synch to Lee Dorsey's "Working in a coal mine" or Dobie Brothers' "Long Train Running".
Max.
 
Love it!!! ;D ;D
 
brilliant.. :o
 
Fantastic. Would you be able to post a wiring diagram for electronical dummies?
 
Very clever. I like you mechanism for pulling him towards the firedoor, very effective.
 
Just read your note about possibly using magnets to move the Fireman towards the firebox. You mention that the pin is sticking on the guides. You might try using slippery polyethylene for the guides. I used it many years ago for retrofitting some overhead doors on animal cages. We purchased a 4' x 8' x 3/4" sheet of it and machined the guides from it. The stainless steel and glass doors slid up and down smoothly after we did the retrofit.
 
[quote author=Madman link=topic=298181.msg306495#msg306495 date=1392753257]
Fantastic.  Would you be able to post a wiring diagram for electronical dummies?
[/quote]
Not much of a circuit diagram - it`s all in the Picaxe program.
moving fireman.cct.JPG

I can post the program as  txt  if you want.
 
Madman said:
Just read your note about possibly using magnets to move the Fireman towards the firebox. You mention that the pin is sticking on the guides. You might try using slippery polyethylene for the guides. I used it many years ago for retrofitting some overhead doors on animal cages. We purchased a 4' x 8' x 3/4" sheet of it and machined the guides from it. The stainless steel and glass doors slid up and down smoothly after we did the retrofit.
Click to expand...
I'll keep that in mind if I continue.
At present the magnets seem to be a workable solution, if a bit finicky to get in the right position. They give a nice quick 'throw' into the firebox.

Now who has some ideas on how to rotate the shovel so it looks empty on the return???
 
Tony Walsham said:
Brilliant Greg.
One nit to pick.
The fireman is holding the shovel as a R-Handed shoveler but the action is of a L-Handed shoveler. ;)
Click to expand...
Yup. I'm still trying to figure how to do surgery on the Bachmann guy to make him left handed. I have my driver on the left, so if I use the Bachmann properly he has to stand behind the driver - looks wierd too.
 
Just a thought, to change him to a left hander if you swapped the arms over his original front hand would then be the correct way up and you would need to cut and rotate the hand on his bent arm(???)
Would it work?

EDIT Oh but then his thumbs would be on the wrong sides!!!
Simplest thing would be to move the driver to the other side and pretend it is the GWR!
 
[quote author=KeithT link=topic=298181.msg306603#msg306603 date=1392854361]
Just a thought, to change him to a left hander if you swapped the arms over his original front hand would then be the correct way up and you would need to cut and rotate the hand on his bent arm(???)
Would it work?

EDIT Oh but then his thumbs would be on the wrong sides!!!
Simplest thing would be to move the driver to the other side and pretend it is the GWR!
[/quote]

The Surgeon has done his work....
I swapped the arms over and cut both hands off and reattached to opposite sides. The fingers are a bit wrong looking for holding the shovel.
On the right, the right-hander. On the left the left-hander
IMG_8974.JPG
 
Wow! I never expected it to work. It could have turned him into Frankenstein.
 
Gregh, I am looking a these on Ebay;

http://www.ebay.com/itm/271398296152?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2648

I've been trying to get the documentation to come up on my computer without success. It comes up as a bunch of computer gibberish. The seller told me to try typing in this link;

http://www.onebytecpu.com/usermanuals/user-guide-for-aztec-starter-kit-for-picaxe.pdf

I still get the same nonsense. I was hoping that the kit he is selling would allow me to experiment so that I can learn more about the Picaxe. My question to you is, does this kit seem like a good starting point?
 
Hi Greg
Another fine thread to follow.
Here is a vid of what you will be achieving!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWJUtLma6cc&feature=youtu.be
 
What a great idea looks fantastic Greg ;D
Great video Mike really like the fire effects and the ringing bell on the C-19 ;D
 
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