This will be fun. So the control is a real one as used on the bridge, i like that idea.

That's pretty cool.

Thank you Bish and modelcrazy for your expression of interest.

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Doing some reverse engineering.

The museum is a non-profit organisation and has limited funding. I spent a few months designing and drawing up plans at a minimal budget.

Peter, that is a fantastic project ! I have family in Alstonville and visit the museum whenever I am in Ballina.  I have been following your progress on www.shipmodels  I look forward to seeing this in action.

Hello!

That's a very cool project, and very original, too! Good luck with it and thanks for sharing, have a nice day

Paweł

WOW!  That is super neat.  I really want to see this come together.  Best of luck.  This is an exceptional project.  

Great interesting project and educational too! Best of luck with it. What boat model are you planning on using? What scale 1/72? Cheers Sharkbait.

Peter ;

 I think you are headed in the right direction here . Now a suggestion . Why don't you use some model rail ideas for moving the boat and bridge to simplify everything in case of a breakdown . You could use a pin for the front and rear of the boat on a Engine below on a short straight track . Simple chain hoist for the bridge hidden by the bridge structure . 

 You could use a continous chain or belt ( Small , inside one of the towers and Use it to raise it and just gravity assist to lower it . Balance would be critical though . 

Thank you Wirraway, Pawel, mmthrax, sharkbait, and Tanker-Builder for your comments and show of support. Much appreciated.

Tanker - Builder

Peter ;

 I think you are headed in the right direction here . Now a suggestion . Why don't you use some model rail ideas for moving the boat and bridge to simplify everything in case of a breakdown . You could use a pin for the front and rear of the boat on a Engine below on a short straight track . Simple chain hoist for the bridge hidden by the bridge structure . 

 You could use a continous chain or belt ( Small , inside one of the towers and Use it to raise it and just gravity assist to lower it . Balance would be critical though . 

Just to let you know, I am already 2/3 in completion of the project. I came to this forum late. So I am posting what has already been done, on a daily basis, until I catch up to where I am at.

In this regard, the method of mobilizing the bridge and boat has already been decided on, though it has not yet been totally assembled and tested. I hope it will work. 

The bridge model system does not require counterweights. The ones shown in diagram will be false (balsa) and I am relying on gravity (and weight of span) for lowering the span as you mentioned. 

The boat will have a vane attached, and hopefully it will float across the table (about 2 mm) above the water, for it will be running on rails under the table. The boat will not be fixed to the vane, but resting on it via keyways.

Thanks for expressing your support and ideas.

As Dr. Spock says "fascinating"! Look forward to seeing your next post.

Mike

The museum workshop is too small to include this display table, so I am building it at home. Since I have no garage, the lounge-dining room will have to do.

When the timber arrived, it got marked out, cut, and assembled. The line you see across the table os a 3 mm gap/slot for the boat vane.

Under the table will be a control box. After the diorama is built, both table and box will be assemble at the museum. Together they won't fit through the door. The box has two doors for accessing the motors, pulley-cable system, and various electronics.

mrmike

As Dr. Spock says "fascinating"! Look forward to seeing your next post.

Mike

Thank you Mike.

Nice work Peter. That's really going to be something to see in action.

Wow. What a project. I will be following.

This is a cool project.

Ok, like Tanker-Builder, I might have tweaked it a bit.  Like using a pair of rare earth magnets to both float and drive the boat.  In 1/72 scale, I would have a full set of working lights (from the railroad section), too.

Now, I would include a small sound system, too.  That's because the boat, per local waterway regulations typically halts and signals the bridge with a horn.  The bridge operator then sounds his horn when the bridge is fully raised, at which point the bot can proceed.   At a distance downstream from the bridge, the bridgekeepr sounds the horn again (3 short in US inland waters IIRC) to caution the boat that the way back is about to be blocked.

Ok, that's a bunch more work, but also incredibly prototypical for a museum setting.

That's my 2¢, spend it wisely

modelcrazy

Nice work Peter. That's really going to be something to see in action.

Thanks. I too am looking forward to see in action.

Bakster

Wow. What a project. I will be following. 

Thanks for following.

CapnMac82

This is a cool project.

Ok, like Tanker-Builder, I might have tweaked it a bit.  Like using a pair of rare earth magnets to both float and drive the boat.  In 1/72 scale, I would have a full set of working lights (from the railroad section), too.

Now, I would include a small sound system, too.  That's because the boat, per local waterway regulations typically halts and signals the bridge with a horn.  The bridge operator then sounds his horn when the bridge is fully raised, at which point the bot can proceed.   At a distance downstream from the bridge, the bridgekeepr sounds the horn again (3 short in US inland waters IIRC) to caution the boat that the way back is about to be blocked.

Ok, that's a bunch more work, but also incredibly prototypical for a museum setting.

That's my 2¢, spend it wisely 

This is getting better all the time.

modelcrazy

This is getting better all the time.

Thank you modelcrazy.

The first thing I build for any electronics, with its own Power Supply Unit (PSU), is to build the PSU. From this unit all other circuitry can be designed, proto-boarded, and tested.

This project requires 24, 12 and 5 volts. Each capable of handling 2 amperes. I designed the circuit board to include space and tracks for a spare voltage, source in case I need it.  Though I made sure that only one motor will be on at a time. I do not know what the practicle loads will be. I might need another 12 volt source to handle any excess.

Unserviceable equipment have been cannibalized for spare parts. On this circuit board I used heatsinks from old PC PSUs.

The circuit tested okay.

Ok Pete .

Here's a solution to the boat shape . A double ended passenger ferry .Problem of direction solved !

Tanker - Builder

Ok Pete .

Here's a solution to the boat shape . A double ended passenger ferry .Problem of direction solved !

Thanks Tanker-Builder, that is a great idea . Wish I had thought of that, or joined the forum, earlier.

Just before Christmas I ordered two cheap model wooden fishing boat kits from China. Last month I built and joined two bow sections. I will show how they turned out later.

However, here is the online photo of the kit boat, and I edited it to see what 2 x bow sections will look like. The boat is short in length too, which gives the appearance of the boat further away, and having more time to travel under the bridge.

Oh wow, that's really cool! Love how the former actual controls are worked into the display. And good call on the boat, sounds much easier than trying to rig some system so it can turn around. 

Love to see a video clip of the whole thing in operation when finished if possible. 

Thank you Gamera for supportive comments.

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Start of building the bridge.

Very nice work and good job on the power supply!  I'm ok with the electronics and the ship model, but I'd balk at the wood work. Glad you're doing it and not me Looking forward to seeing this thing fly... or rather float....

Cheers,

Russ

Hi , Peter !

 Nice idea with the boat . Now that said .Take the vessel and build a small overhanging deck with semi-flat ends , after removing the Bulwarks . . Go up one level and take the wheelhouses , Blend into one and put in the center . Viola ! One small double ender ! She would have probably one life boat ! 

 You can use the bulwark material to build up the sides of the passenger area .

Striker8241

Very nice work and good job on the power supply!  I'm ok with the electronics and the ship model, but I'd balk at the wood work. Glad you're doing it and not me Looking forward to seeing this thing fly... or rather float....

Cheers,

Russ

 

Thank you Russ for your compliment and supporting comments.