Under The Hood: Updated FastTrack Giraffe/Brakeman Actuator!

I've also seen coat-hanger wire used in this capacity. Don't remember where I read it, but the customizable length of such apparatus allowed the giraffes (or anything else actuated by the trackside ramp) to do their thing for as long as needed. Bend the appropriate entrance/exit ramps on each end, and anchor the ends into holes drilled into the benchwork (or roadbed).

---PCJ

(nodnods) Yus!

I read the above coat hanger suggestion and IMMEDIATELY headed to the basement to give it a try - it works great! I really like two features of using a coat hanger in place of the 3376-105 cam actuator; #1 is price! Pretty much free compared to $24 for the genuine article in VG condition on the bay. #2 - the coat hanger has a much lower visibility factor than Lionel's original implementation - you can barely see it from a distance.

Did I mention #3? It's easily tweakable with a pair of pliers!! I read elsewhere, cautions about the eccentrics on a steamer hitting this thing, so some testing will be in order, but I'm betting that the tweakbility of the coat hanger will overcome any issues.

The only other factor is the coat hanger itself - will it hold solder? I had a bronze colored hanger that I used. I believe the bronze color was just a varnish coating on the wire. I sanded it to bare metal and applied the Weller gun (no pencils for this job, not enuff heat!) The hangar held solder quite nicely - can't say what other hangers are made of and how well they would solder up, just have to try one and see.

Here's a short video below of the completed project.

GeoPeg posted:

I read the above coat hanger suggestion and IMMEDIATELY headed to the basement to give it a try - it works great! I really like two features of using a coat hanger in place of the 3376-105 cam actuator; #1 is price! Pretty much free compared to $24 for the genuine article in VG condition on the bay. #2 - the coat hanger has a much lower visibility factor than Lionel's original implementation - you can barely see it from a distance.

Did I mention #3? It's easily tweakable with a pair of pliers!! I read elsewhere, cautions about the eccentrics on a steamer hitting this thing, so some testing will be in order, but I'm betting that the tweakbility of the coat hanger will overcome any issues.

The only other factor is the coat hanger itself - will it hold solder? I had a bronze colored hanger that I used. I believe the bronze color was just a varnish coating on the wire. I sanded it to bare metal and applied the Weller gun (no pencils for this job, not enuff heat!) The hangar held solder quite nicely - can't say what other hangers are made of and how well they would solder up, just have to try one and see. 

VERY clever implementation! What Railride had in mind was actually drilling holes in the roadbed next to the track, but this seems to be quite elegant and can be moved with the track if needed!   

Here's another concept recently developed by JohnD's dad, Joe, using acrylic sheets bent to shape:  

Once trimmed and fitted to a layout, these are REALLY invisible! 

Mitch 

Very clever acrylic design, and you're right - a transparent operation!!! I have never worked with acrylic, I wonder if special tools are needed? Trying to imagine how to create that nice smooth curve, hmmmm….

I used my heat gun (the kind you remove house paint with) last night to gently heat one of my very broken, orange tell-tale poles, and bend the little bits back into shape before gluing. A delicate operation indeed. Even with gentle heating, the plastic suddenly becomes quite viscous, and another half second or so of applied heat would have created an orange puddle!

I would like to hear from JohnD or Joe how he accomplished the bends in his design.

And yes, my implementation of the coat hanger cam actuator was done with carpet layouts in mind!

I'll see if I can get Joe to do a writeup of some sort.  Note the black marks on the acrylic; I think those are guide markings... 

Mitch 

Try a hand held hair dryer for heating and bending plastic. It can get pretty hot but gentle.

Here is mine using a hanger and fast track.

Works great!

Can't see yours, Mike.

Neither can I, Mike.   

It is a hanger wire just in front of the engine opposite of the tell tales

The pic itself is saying "Image Not Found".  Could you reupload it, please?   Thanks!   

Uploaded photo again

I make many of these for layouts I give away each year to see kids smile at an old fashioned tactile toy,  I use plain old copper house wire 12ga works best as it's a little stiff, bend it roughly the shape of the original actuator but leave the ends long (hanging down).  Drill a hole straight down through the FastTrack roadbed beside the rail about even with the ends of the ties for each wire end to poke through.  Adjust the height of the wire ends by trial and error until it works right then super glue the wire in on the bottom side of the FastTrack.  It's easier if you leave the holes a little tight so the wire barely fits, tack it from the top, recheck operation, then finish gluing it from the bottom to avoid too much glue showing on the topside.  You can make the trigger as long as you want.  They work really well and after you make one, you will know how long the vertical wire ends need to be.  I don't even paint them, the copper wire looks cool bare and is not nearly as noticeable as an original trigger.  Kids love the animated cars and it helps promote the hobby for the next generation.

Chris Sheldon

Any issues with Post War GG-1 pilot trucks here?  Mine ride up the original actuator plate and derail on Tubular track.

Jon

KOOLjock1 posted:

Any issues with Post War GG-1 pilot trucks here?  Mine ride up the original actuator plate and derail on Tubular track.

Jon

Painful experience has taught me that GG1 steps and gi-raffe actuators simply don't mix.  However, I DO happen to know where a GG-1 with custom shaved steps for gir-affe service may be purchased!   

Mitch 

Imagine having the giraffe drop through a tunnel just in time, that'd be cool

TheTrainMain posted:

Imagine having the giraffe drop through a tunnel just in time, that'd be cool

That's actually in the works!  

Mitch 

TheTrainMain posted:

Imagine having the giraffe drop through a tunnel just in time, that'd be cool

Or how about the Polar Express Hobo ducking the tunnel!

Big Jim posted:

TheTrainMain posted:

Imagine having the giraffe drop through a tunnel just in time, that'd be cool

Or how about the Polar Express Hobo ducking the tunnel!

The PE Hobo just vanishes into thin air in the movie.  I bought an add on hobo car a few years ago, but my wife was more disappointed that he didn't disappear automatically  than that his fire didn't light.  I told her he needed Jim Morrison's baby for that one.  (Bad joke, I know!)

Everyone has good ideas here.  The Razorback GG1 is really cool, Mitch!  I hope you find a buyer.  I'm quite strapped for cash myself, and am preparing a bunch of stuff to try peddling as well.

It's pretty sad that a multi-million dollar company like Lionel makes us resort to using coat hanger scraps.  No reason they can't release an actual product to do this or an updated giraffe car more suited to Fastrack.  

Montclaire posted:

It's pretty sad that a multi-million dollar company like Lionel makes us resort to using coat hanger scraps.  No reason they can't release an actual product to do this or an updated giraffe car more suited to Fastrack.  

Well....

http://www.lionel.com/products...eindeer-car-6-36849/

Though, from the photo, I don't see how it would work with the Fastrack...  

Mitch 

That's a strange looking Gee-raff!

TheTrainMain posted:

Imagine having the giraffe drop through a tunnel just in time, that'd be cool

I am doing that also, no limit to how long they are when they are just a coat hanger or copper wire.  Just place vertical supports every 6" or so.  I even bent mine around curves in tunnels.

Sorry don't have a GG-1 to test it with, doubt seriously it would work with any GG-1.  I know, how can I call myself a train guy without a Postwar GG-1?  I spent all my money on dumb stuff like food and shoes for the kids.

Chris Sheldon

Big Jim posted:

TheTrainMain posted:

Imagine having the giraffe drop through a tunnel just in time, that'd be cool

Or how about the Polar Express Hobo ducking the tunnel!

That would be goofy.  

It would be possible to kitbash a disappearing hobo, though, I'd think. Glue the hobo on the arm in place of giraffe, and put some tissue with a slit cut in it (painted to match the roof) to cover the roof opening, so the hobo would appear to disappear when it dropped down.

M. Mitchell Marmel posted:

TheTrainMain posted:

Imagine having the giraffe drop through a tunnel just in time, that'd be cool

That's actually in the works!  

Mitch 

I think Dad has that.  No need to keep the head down the entire time so long as inside the tunnel or mountain there is enough head room.  Of course, you'd put one on the way out so the illusion is that the head is ducked the entire time.

GeoPeg posted:

 

I would like to hear from JohnD or Joe how he accomplished the bends in his design.

Dad actually bought a hot wire bending contraption. It heats the plastic (Lexan/Makrolon) and then you can  bend it.  Not as cost-effective as the coat hanger. Its FTM, inc  model FS-24 . http://www.fabricationtoolsand...heatfreestanding.htm 

He uses a jigsaw to shape the edges.

More info from dad:

1/8" Lexan or Plexi from Lowes.

Cut with a hollow ground blade on table saw.

Sand cut edge with 600-grit and then polish with polishing compound to get the rail nice and smooth.

Whoa! It sounds like Dad was doing acrylic forming long before he did train stuff! That's a pretty healthy collection of tools and I'm certain a VERY healthy dose of skill that went into the making of that actuator! Nice job, Dad!

GeoPeg posted:

Whoa! It sounds like Dad was doing acrylic forming long before he did train stuff! That's a pretty healthy collection of tools and I'm certain a VERY healthy dose of skill that went into the making of that actuator! Nice job, Dad!

Well...not really...but kinda.  He's a retired mechanical engineer who spent 30 years in manufacturing designing automation machines to make lipstick and nail polish and rice. They use this stuff in safety guarding quite a bit.  He's a hands-on engineer who made friends with the guys in the shop.  He learned to use their tools and sometimes went in after hours to, uh, practice on projects for around the house.

Very neat, John!  Thank you for sharing what your dad used and how he did it!!  My dad could have been that type engineer if he had gone to college.  He was very innovative with home repairs in a 1880s house.  He was very sick after high school, then recovered only to be drafted in '52.  When he got home, he became reacquainted with Mum, married, and I was born in '56.  Now he and Mum have been in a personal care home for a year.  He has gotten used to it as best he can, and does welcome not having the responsibility for the house and looking after Mum.

Hey Mitch

Since you like gi-raffes so much, this word definition reminded me of you.

Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.

RoyBoy posted:

Giraffiti: Vandalism spray-painted very, very high.

Hee!  Good 'un.

Mitch