Tomytec TM-18 power unit failure

I just got the Tomytec TM-18 power unit from Japan to adapt for an old model train set that had no power unit. Gave it a quick test on the track for about a minute, and it worked great. With a little modification it fit nicely to the old train. I gave it another run on the track, and in less than 5 minutes it started to hitch, jerk, and then stopped.

The motor had seized and the plastic housing melted.

When the whole motor was dissembled, there was a gray plastic/hot glue material on the armature. So I scraped it off, and cleared it out of the motor. After reassembly the unit again ran great, for about 3 minutes. Then it slowed, and stopped. This time with a little bit of smoke. Took it apart again, and found more of the grey plastic in the very back of the motor.

The little grey blob behind the armature is what came out of the motor

With all the grey plastic cleared out of the motor, once more assembled to try again. This time when it ran, there was very little torque or speed. And again it didn’t run long, maybe 30 seconds before the stopping and smoking.

So what happened? I’m making a guess here, but I think it’s likely a short in the armature. The grey plastic goo that I cleared out of the motor was probably some kind of spacer or bushing inside the motor. When the armature shorted, it heated up and melted that plastic internal part. Can’t find any diagrams or photos online, so may never know what the grey part was.

I’m calling this one a write off, as there is no fix (that I’m aware of) for a short in the armature. I ordered a replacement unit, and hope to have better luck. And just because I can’t let things be, also ordered a couple of cheap motors on eBay to experiment with.

Converting a Tomix n scale train coupler to Arnold/Rapido

 Bought a really nice new n scale train car from Tomix to run with my 25+ year old KiHa trains. Just getting back into model trains after all these years, I assumed that not much had changed. Boy was I wrong. Over these years the old standard Arnold/Rapido coupler has been disappearing on new model trains in favor of smaller, more prototypical, and nicer looking couplers. 

Tomix body mount coupler on the left, old Rapido on the right.

So my dilemma, with the nice new train car, became how to run it with my vintage ones. Tomix seems to offer a replacement bogie (train wheels) with the old style coupler, but that would mean ordering from Japan with $20 postage for a $5 part. Not an option now, and I’d rather not wait to piggyback on my next order whenever that will be. The only way to go seems to be to remove the Tomix TNs body mount coupler and try to fit a Rapido to the bogie.

Rapido coupler glued onto the Tomix bogie.

I ended up gluing an old Rapido coupler onto the Tomix bogie with epoxy. Works great! So great that I might just keep it this way.

Glue up on the left, an old car with original coupler on right.

So that’s about it. Seems to run great, so I’ll keep it this way until I decide to either update all the couplers or get the actual part from Tomix.

The Scotch Yoke Animated Slider

So I made this Interactive Scotch Yoke for the Articulate E-Learning Challenge #76.

Thanks David Anderson for making this graphic!

The animation of the yoke is done with a series of images created in a 3D modeling and animation software called 3D Studio Max.  Those 40 images were brought into Storyline 2 and added to the "states" area that is triggered by the slider.

I'm going to try to put the source file here for download...
download the Storyline 2 zipped project file

Shooting Stop-Motion Animation with a Smartphone

A really old smartphone.

The Virgin Mobile Optimus V from 2011

Below is my entry into the E-Learning Challenge #42, which is a superfun way to work on your e-learning chops and participate in the community.  This challenge is to record, edit, and publish video using your smartphone.  I cheated on the editing part.  And the publishing part.  In my defense, there is no editing or publishing software available for my vintage android phone (that I'm aware of).  Also, it's probably a whole lot easier to use AfterEffects, which was how I handled all the post work.  Anyway, here it is...

The whole thing took about 4 hours start to finish.  2 hours to set up (with about 20 minutes of shooting), and another two hours to edit.  I chose to skip how the post work is done for the video, and just run with the actual shooting.  Since post work didn't involve a smartphone - it kinda doesn't apply anyway, right?  That's my excuse. The music is from the YouTube free use library, some good stuff can be found there if you haven't used it.

Matching Futura Font on a PC

I love the Futura condensed font on my Mac.  And if I did all my media production on a Mac - there would be no problem.  But I don't.  I have to use a PC for several applications in my production process, and have been lost without Futura.

I just came upon the discovery that Tw Cen MT Condensed is almost an exact match, and it seems to be included in the windows standard fonts.  Oh happy day!

There you go.

Carry on lovers of FUTURA - I hope this helps someone out there in fontland.

Steampunk Nexus 7 Stand

I decided that it would be really cool to make a steampunk stand for my tiny tablet, and this is what came of it...

This bottom tube deflects the sound from the back speaker to the front

It took entirely too long to make, but I love it.

And here is the version that little Charlie made for his iPad...

Tiny Outrigger Canoes!

I've taken to making these tiny outrigger OC6 canoe models in wood.  The wife and the boy are active paddlers, and as I prefer to remain squarely on the beach, I consider this my contribution to the sport.

So this one is made out of some wood scraps that I found in the garage, probably an old growth pine or spruce, and a dark redwood?  That, and a lot of sanding.