Those animated autos and trucks. Don't go There..

MarkInLA Apr 15, 2017

  1. MaxDaemon

    MaxDaemon TrainBoard Member

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    Y'know, that makes me think. With the ability to print our own decals now - what if you measured up that slinky new Mercedes you got cheap from a Chinese vendor - and overlaid a decal showing the hood lines of a 60 Pontiac? If you painted the base-car white (or black, whatever was appropriate) and let that color show through as lines and highlights ..

    I was also considering pushing the front of said Mercedes up against a hot pot on the stove to kind of flatten out the long front and back ends of a modern car .. then add some chrome and etc.

    This is something I'll have to try. Since I have 120 2015 Mercedes (I think there's some Lexus and BMW in there too) to go on my 1972 layout...
     
  2. GP30

    GP30 TrainBoard Member

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    Sticking to the original post. To an extent, I agree with Mark.

    To be fair, I'll admit I've never seen mobile automation automobiles of non-train facets on a layout that was done "properly to scale". (not in HO or N). I must also add that I have seen significant amounts of animation on Lionel-based layout which I enjoyed thoroughly. I don't plan to animate any part of my layout (HO) aside from some minor signalling. However, I am more than willing to keep an open mind to new technology now available with servos and programming that will enhance realism in other parts of a layout. Cool to see developing, but not for me.
     
  3. Greg Elmassian

    Greg Elmassian TrainBoard Member

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    So, this is the thread that caused Mark to quit the forum? Looks like it.

    I think, no, I KNOW one of the best things about the hobby is all the different facets YOU can DECIDE to model. I think ALL of it helps the hobby.

    Greg
     
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  4. BoxcabE50

    BoxcabE50 HOn30 & N Scales Staff Member TrainBoard Supporter

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    Exactly. We each decide what suits us, for any and all aspects of this hobby. Everyone is welcome to their opinion, but any expectation the masses should agree, then follow an individual desire is crash and burn on takeoff.

    There is no reason for paranoia. Animation has been around for quite some time. It has not harmed the hobby. Few people ever bother to do it. For those who do, great. Have fun!
     
  5. Shortround

    Shortround TrainBoard Member

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    If this posting upsets some, they should go to many of the motorcycle boards. But then that's why I stayed out of it.
     
  6. RailMix

    RailMix TrainBoard Member

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    Personally, I found this to be an interesting discussion, taking everyone's opinion into consideration and not being offended by anyone's ribbing. It's unfortunate that anyone took anything posted here too seriously.
     
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  7. traingeekboy

    traingeekboy TrainBoard Member

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    Every once in a while we get a post where someone proclaims how we should do things. My experience is that everyone is doing their own thing, so whatever.

    I've seen examples of some of the auto systems and honestly they look very interesting. But, those systems cost money. And if buying a animation system comes up against my ability to buy, yet another loco, well then the locos win. :)

    But I must say that some of the now vintage HO accessories amuse me. Since I am no longer a prototype modeller, I will likely be getting some old 70's toy train items. ;)

    Out of curiousity I dug up a Youtube video showing non train animation. It's kind of fun and often silly, but I like it.
     
    Kurt Moose, GP30 and Mike VE2TRV like this.
  8. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    It really is. As all the other stuff goes from old Lionel-level silly, where milk cans go flying across thirty foot platforms, to realistic, the movement of cars remains hard to replicate.
     
  9. RailMix

    RailMix TrainBoard Member

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    At one time, I used to be on an Australian-based modelers' forum, which is no longer online. The Faller car system seen in the above video is very popular down under and a lot of those guys are well versed in its use, including adapting it to their own plaster roads. It's possible to get very good results unless you are trying to simulate stop-and-go traffic, but one problem that hasn't been solved yet is getting a battery to fit in an HO scale car. You will note that the vehicles moving in the video are all trucks and busses.
     
  10. acptulsa

    acptulsa TrainBoard Member

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    Yeah, trying to find room to stuff enough storage batteries in to make it useful is the problem with electric cars of every size.
     
  11. Burlington Bob

    Burlington Bob TrainBoard Member

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    This would be a phenomenal addition to a layout if they could get them to run in a realistic manner, such as adding momentum as we do with decoders in our trains. And we already complain about the availability of vehicles for the era that we model, so throw that into the mix for automated vehicles. Then there's the added cost for such a system! You think this hobby is expensive now, you ain't seem nothing yet!

    On second thought, I think I'll pass. After all, most of my attention is focused on the trains anyway.

    But then again, if price was no object..........
     

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