Motorized 1/72 VF-1 Ranger and Launch Arm Completed

[arbit]

I'm pinning the final video at the top. WIP follows.

I've been working on this for a while on the Workbench, and since it has passed a reasonable stage, I thought I would give it its own thread.

This is also a call out for help to finalize, because I need to find really small limit switches that are Normally Closed  (Edit: This has been solved with an Arduino sketch and instructions attached further down). I found small limit switches based on a similar project by DorobouHige, but they turned out to be Normally Open, which does not work in my wiring diagram for reversing a DC motor with limit switches.

This is what the limit switches I have look like (9x5.5x2mm ). I believe they may be available in Japanese electronics stores with Normally Closed options. Larger "micro" switches wont fit in the Valk. Any help solving this would be greatly appreciated.

Edited April 11, 2018 by arbit

[arbit]

Found this. Someone used a servo to motorize the wings in 1/48 with remote control.

 

[NZEOD]

that's servo controlled though.

 

[arbit]

14 hours ago, NZEOD said:

that's servo controlled though.

 

Yeah, he needs to slow down that servo to make it look cooler.

But not clear if the servo would fit underneath.

[Urashiman]

Okay, I think I got it now. I'll send you the explaination via PN.

Edited January 7, 2018 by Urashiman

[arbit]

9 hours ago, Urashiman said:

Okay, I think I got it now. I'll send you the explaination via PN.

Thanks Urashiman. I will test shortly and let you know how it goes. It's great to have electronics geniuses on the boards!

For everyone's benefit, this is a circuit to reverse the motor with NO limit switches. 

Urashiman has been kindly trying to solve this problem, since really small limit switches seem to only come NO, as opposed to NC as required in the typical reversing circuit displayed previously.

Edited January 7, 2018 by arbit

[ChristopherB]

Nice work so far, I like how you've integrated your system inside such as small space.  Not sure if there is any way to reduce the noise, whether it's the motor or the gears.  Although the final assembly and enclosure will help alleviate it somewhat.  The method used with the 1/48 is interesting in that the movement is more fluid/advanced, but just look at the size of the unit barely visible underneath.  While it's high tech, it seems quite large and impossible to place inside the 1/48.  He found a method, whereas your project seems much more feasible.  Good luck and looking forward to updates.

At the current rate of technological advancement, I bet we'll see actual transformable valkyrie toys in our lifetime should there be an interest in the future.  We already have large scale cars and a valkyrie that have limited transformation. 

[arbit]

14 minutes ago, ChristopherB said:

Nice work so far, I like how you've integrated your system inside such as small space.  Not sure if there is any way to reduce the noise, whether it's the motor or the gears.

Thanks! The noise is from the motor and some vibration... the gears don't make any noise at all. I can speed up the motor with a higher voltage.

I am doing my best to keep all parts hidden with a clean valkyrie on the outside, but given the tight space, I am willing to sacrifice a bit if necessary.

Edited January 9, 2018 by arbit

[big F]

This is excellent work so far, I have often wondered if one could motorise parts of one of these kits, although I was thinking a 1/48 scale might be the way to go.

[arbit]

17 hours ago, big F said:

This is excellent work so far, I have often wondered if one could motorise parts of one of these kits, although I was thinking a 1/48 scale might be the way to go.

Thanks. I didn't think it would work either.

Now that we have solved most of the wiring issues, I have ordered a new motor from gizmoszone which I hope will be quieter.

Final gear set up complete. I added some screws to lock the arms on the body, and a track for the gear to run, for sideways display on a launch arm.

Edited January 19, 2018 by arbit

[arbit]

I've found a second solution for reversing the motor with a momentary push of a limit switch. This approach is with Arduino. The sketch is attached for anyone interested. This uses the exact same set up as shown here on Adafruits site with the L293D motor driver. Only the sketch is different.

You can use two limit switches in parallel for up and down limits. I am working on an update to this with a built-in counter so you can blink lights, move the motor once or twice, then go on with more blinking.

For this project, I prefer Urashiman's circuit, because the Arduino approach will take up too many pins.

Motor_Reverse_with_Switch.ino

[arbit]

This is my second priority after the motor. I've used 0402 SMDs in parallel, with liquid electrical tape to minimize space. Cant wire them in serial because 5v is not enough for three. Plus if one goes out, I don't want all three to go out in serial. Should be safe  since they are the same type, and with a 100 Ohm resistor, double the requirement, for added security.

I would prefer to control the wing light and the two warning lights separately, but I need to reduce wires for movement. 

I'm planning a Low Vis scheme. Black primer with gray on top. The black primer will doubly serve to occlude some light seepage. Any suggestions for the mix for the gray? 

Edited January 21, 2018 by arbit

[Return To Kit Form]

Looking good Arbit - props for all of the electrical black magic going on in this build!

Do you have a particular flaviur of paint you prefer?

 

- Brett

[arbit]

Thanks RTKF. There is really no magic here. The issue is that I am learning on the job. I also had some experience with this type of gear on my Nautilus build, which I micronized further here. For any knowledgeable person, the wiring would be a breeze. But as I am trying to teach my kids, you can do anything if you put your mind to it.

I will take any combo of recommendations for the Low Viz scheme, just as long as the primer is black. One layer for the gray and done, given my skill level. I like the blue shade in the 1/60 Yamato, but it's a bit too much blue.

I use Vallejo Air paints (I know, Tamiya is better, don't kill me, I am not a good painter or very artistic). 

Edited January 23, 2018 by arbit

[arbit]

Got the left wing up. 

I'm using screws to seal the body, in case I ever need to open it. The screws don't stress the plastic, they connect to bolts on the opposite end.

Now I need to figure out how to attach the backpack and super parts without glue. Maybe magnets. 

[Urashiman]

On 23.1.2018 at 2:23 PM, arbit said:

Got the left wing up. 

I'm using screws to seal the body, in case I ever need to open it. The screws don't stress the plastic, they connect to bolts on the opposite end.

Now I need to figure out how to attach the backpack and super parts without glue. Maybe magnets. 

Hehe, I like the blue and red LEDs on the wings. Want to make them blink like on real planes?

 

Edit:

And yes - Magnet should be the best to accomplish this. My Warhammer player buddies do this with their tanks to change equipment. If you get high power magnets this will work good.

Edited January 24, 2018 by Urashiman

[arbit]

20 hours ago, Urashiman said:

Want to make them blink like on real planes?

Blinking will be handled by a micro Arduino.

[NZEOD]

On 24/01/2018 at 2:23 AM, arbit said:

Got the left wing up. 

I'm using screws to seal the body, in case I ever need to open it. The screws don't stress the plastic, they connect to bolts on the opposite end.

Now I need to figure out how to attach the backpack and super parts without glue. Maybe magnets. 

Definitely magnets. And it's fun fighting the tiny buggers when you go to mount the second one and the magnetic field from the first one keeps attracting it or causing it to flip

[arbit]

2 minutes ago, NZEOD said:

Definitely magnets. And it's fun fighting the tiny buggers when you go to mount the second one and the magnetic field from the first one keeps attracting it or causing it to flip

Hah! Seen that before... Maybe one at a time then. I'm also considering screws for that.

[arbit]

I've decided on screws for the backpack. It needs to carry the weight of the entire valk and elctronics sideways on the launch arm, so magnets wont cut it.

I need to replace the pan head screws with flat heads, then some thin pla plate to conceal the screws, and we will call it "custom panel detail".

Edited January 27, 2018 by arbit

[arbit]

My valk is now totally screwd. No Glue.

 

Edited January 27, 2018 by arbit

[arbit]

Fitting limit switches. I decided to go below the gears, rather than on top, to save space for all the wires up there.

Edited January 27, 2018 by arbit

[arbit]

I got Jasmine Models cockpit photo etch for the cockpit lighting; I was hoping that the side panels would have holes in them for the light to go through, but they turned out to be solid and wont backlight. One option is to scan and print them on plastic sheet. I have scanned and printed on plastic sheets before, but the resolution is no-where-near good enough to capture that small detail. Another option is to scan and print them as decals on a lightbox.

[MechTech]

Your Valk is coming along AWESOME Arbit! Great details and electronics work! - MT

[arbit]

Thanks Mechtech! 

Got the cockpit closed up. This is my take on the DeAgostini Falcon.

It has 4x leds squished inside, including 3x RGB SMD Neopixels, chained on just one set of wires for space.

Edited February 11, 2018 by arbit

[505thAirborne]

Those LED's are awesome!! Between this and the wings, all you need now is to add motorized landing gear! 

[big F]

27 minutes ago, 505thAirborne said:

Those LED's are awesome!! Between this and the wings, all you need now is to add motorized landing gear! 

Now youve done it...

 

Next up landing gear.

[kajnrig]

Then full transformation.

THEN THE WORLD!!!!!!!

[big F]

Quote

 

[arbit]

On 2/4/2018 at 10:08 PM, big F said:

Now youve done it...

Next up landing gear.

Got the engines going this week. And after I made such nice little light boxes for the landing gears, I managed to put the red and blue on the wrong side !!!  I knew there was something fishy going on with those little things. There ain't no going back now...

Edit: Going back to change them... Fortunately I was able to pop them off and switch them without splitting the leg.

Edited February 12, 2018 by arbit

[MechTech]

AWESOME LED work Arbit! the cockpit especially. It looks like you swapped out motors for the wing sweep? It looks looks like too much blinking in the engines, but I know you're experimenting with the coding still. This project is top notch! - MT

[Graham]

How difficult would it be to incorporate moving feet to simulate thrust vectoring?

[arbit]

On 2/12/2018 at 1:21 PM, Graham said:

How difficult would it be to incorporate moving feet to simulate thrust vectoring?

That would be awesome. Maybe Mechtech can do it in the 1/20 scale. I'm sure someone will make that thing fly like this:

 

Edited February 13, 2018 by arbit

[arbit]

On 2/11/2018 at 10:25 PM, MechTech said:

AWESOME LED work Arbit! the cockpit especially. It looks like you swapped out motors for the wing sweep? It looks looks like too much blinking in the engines, but I know you're experimenting with the coding still. This project is top notch! - MT

Thanks Mechtech! Of course you got me into motors in the first place.  Hope it comes together in the end.

I'm sticking with the same motor. I found out that the noise is from the vibration rattling the plastic. I think once it's epoxied down it will improve. If you can believe it, the 5v Gizmoszone motors are too long for the space, plus I don't like their wobble.

[arbit]

Super Parts and Engines are up with some new coding I learned. Let me know if anyone has suggestions for a different color sequence.

Putting it together was a royal pain due to all the parts.

 

Edited February 21, 2018 by arbit