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My 1st Diorama!! AREA-51 Ufo DIORAMA!! ?? Is it possiable to make a model levetate? Using magnets?

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  • Member since
    November 2005
My 1st Diorama!! AREA-51 Ufo DIORAMA!! ?? Is it possiable to make a model levetate? Using magnets?
Posted by Anonymous on Monday, October 24, 2005 11:38 PM
This is going to be one of the first Dioramas I plan on doing!!! It is going to have a 1/48 scale S4 ufo in the middle of a test flight like it is about to take off. I noticed that Revell came out with a line of model kits that use a magnetic levitation technology that allows an aircraft model to appear like its flying! but how many magnets are in ther kit and how powerful do they need to be? I've got other questions to ask about how to do a diorama cause Ive never did one before and I think That the S4 ufo would be perfect for this diorama!!!

I also would like to know if anyone has ever done a diorama similar to what I'm planning to doinvolving magnets like to make Their Star Treck models levetate?

I need any info I can get my hands on! I'm planning on getting the model kit soon and plan to start the diorama on Christmas Break! So no need to rush.

I'm Going all out on this model kit!!!!! I'm putting the best effort I can Into it!!!! I'm painting the exterior of the ufo in Aclad Chrome, or I'm using this Chrome tape that you can buy at the Murrys Car parts store!!!! The chrome tape with the mirror finish!!!!! It will look like the real deal!!!Cool [8D] i'm going to have the EG&G ground support crew around the ufo observing and securing the parimeter! THE DIORAMA will probably be the size of my desk (or a small size train-like layout) it's going to have small working spot lights around the Heli or (ufo pad)Big Smile [:D]He! HE! HE! and will have military personel observing it take off!!! I origionally planed on doing a 1/72 scale Area51 Base layout from sattilite pictures and panorama photographs, but I won't be able to build that until I'm In my own house with possiably a Backyard Green House to display the thing in along with all of my 1/72 scale stealth Aircraft models hanging from the cealing!!!!! I plan on doing that when I'm past 50years old though!!!!!! I love building spyplanes early experimental aircraft! I love Stealthy aircraft!!!!!! Like the origional Stealth Aircragft!!! the U-2 SPYPLANE!!!!!!

Thanks,
Erik
  • Member since
    December 2002
  • From: USA
Posted by philp on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 12:45 AM
Erik,
Sounds like a cool idea. As for using magnets to suspend the model, not sure of the principals involved as to the size and strength of magnets needed. The Revell kits use fishing line to keep the models from sliding off the magnetic base. The kits are also all small, either 72nd scale single engine props or 1/144 scale jets. Might be worthwhile to pick up one of these kits and check out the principal. Maybe magnets of 2-3times the strength would levitate your saucer.
Keep us posted on this.
Phil Peterson IPMS #8739 Join the Map http://www.frappr.com/finescalemodeler
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Tuesday, October 25, 2005 1:13 AM
I've got spare 5oz., 10oz., and 20oz. Ring magnets!!! I'm going to conduct a test on a frisbee tomarrow, and one of my scrap model kits fuselages! so I'll inform everyone tomarrow afternoon and evening how my tests went! I'm planning on making this a success!!!
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 10:32 PM
You may want to look into rare earth magnets. Extremely strong and can be very small. One website is www.kjmagnetics.com I haven't used magnets to make a model levitate but these magnets could easily do it.
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Wednesday, October 26, 2005 11:46 PM
I'm going out magnet shopping at Lowes, Home Depote, Michales, Jo-anne Fabrics and the local hardware stores to get the best price I can get!!!! I'm buying a over a couple of different sizes, and of powerful ring magnets, NeoDynium magnets, (don't know if tha is how it's spelt!), and will look for the rare earth magnets!!! I'm going to do some experiments tomarrow with them and I'm Using them on a frisbee first to test for strength and to make sure I have the best ones and ones that I can work with and plae insid the base of the model!!! I just want to get a magnet powerful enough to lift up the model and not anything else that is metal around the diorama. I plan on keeping the recipts!

Thanks guys for your help!! I may need some more!!!
  • Member since
    November 2005
Posted by Anonymous on Thursday, October 27, 2005 11:00 PM
Actually, rare earth magnets are the same thing as Neodymium magnets. Hope it works out for you.
  • Member since
    June 2005
  • From: New Jersey
Posted by Matt90 on Saturday, October 29, 2005 10:43 PM
lol, like the "real deal-" wheteher they exist or not is your own choice. Anyway,fishing line with magnets embedded inside the saucer bottom half would probably work excellent. But, it will not work without the fishing line- the magnets repel each other and the top one slides off.
''Do your damndest in an ostentatious manner all the time.'' -General George S. Patton
  • Member since
    February 2003
  • From: USA
Posted by Tinker on Friday, December 23, 2005 2:14 AM

Erik:    Your idea is probably possible, but those permanent magnets may not be powerful enough.  The real question is, how large is the area of magnetic flux?  And if the mag has a large enough field, is  the field's strength strong enough, far enough out to allow some distance between the scale ground or pavement and the bottom of the model?  I have a magnet rated as 150 lb. pull that doesn't have much thickness to its area of flux.  But, when it contacts some iron, it holds-on like crazy.  Perhaps you should concider electro-magnets.  They can be made using some small gauge insulated wire and an iron core .  Use an iron nail as the core and some batteries ( D - cell, C - cell,  AA, or  flat - 9's.)  The D's, C's, and AA batteries are 1-1/2 volts each and the flat 9's are 9 volts each.  If you connect multible batteries in series, the total voltage will be the sum of all batteries.  Example:  3 D's = 4 - 1/2 volts DC ( approx. ).  3 flat 9's = 27 volts DC ( approx.).  Make a small electro-mag for the inside of the model by using a AAA  battery ( it's small )  Make sure it's  setup so that the N - S poles are on a vertical plane in the model.   The main electro-mag  ( and most powerful ) would be in the base and also with its poles oriented vertically .  The purpose of the small battery in the model is to provide an active flux field that the powerful mag in the base can REPELL without being too heavy.  You can adjust the power in the base mag by adding / subtracting batteries and / or windings.  The base can hide a lot more batteries that can the model and there's no weight problem.  Mold in a tunnel vertically through the model's body to " ride " up and down on a clear plastice rod that is anchored to the base.  Cap the top of the rod so that the model cannot be repelled up-and-off of the rod.  Oh, if the mags attract each other, simply reverse the leads of the base mag.  Don't forget an On / Off switch on the base and the model.  One last point !!  You want to wind alot of turns of the wire around the core, because that is where the mag power is rooted --- and you'll need some circuit impedence to prevent the batteries from getting hot and blowing up.  That's the reason I suggested that you experimant with mag power before building the diorama.  Go to your local library ( or on-line ) and find some info about building  small, hobby electro-magnets. 

WOW, I think I got everything down.  Experiment, be safe,  and above all, HAVE FUN!!

 

 

" 'Polls' are surveys of uninformed people who think it's possible to get the answer wrong." ...Ann Coulter
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