I moved this here from the Electronics and DCC forum after more than 2 days with a lot of reads, but no responses. I’m hoping somebody is familiar with this product that supposedly has been out there for about 15 years.
Has anyone used the Miniatronics Fire and Flame kit to simulate a fire in a building?
I searched all of the Model Railroader Forums, but only found references to it. Nothing at all on their product reviews. The internet – nothing. I posted to the yahoo MRRElectronics user group and nothing there except a few good comments to use Tea lights. This is not a new product so I can’t believe no one has tried it.
Miniatronics has a video out on youtube, but I find it so totally unrealistic as it cycles on for maybe 5 seconds of somewhat fluttering flames and then shuts off completely for a second or two, the whole building goes completely dark and then repeats the cycle. Very unrealistic. Fires don’t completely extinguish, go full bore, completely extinguish, etc. in a set pattern. Annoying in the least if this is typical.
Talked to a sales lady at Miniatronics, and she said yes, it simulates flames and is supposed to be that way. I tried to clarify it, but she was adamant about it. I don’t think she thought about what she was saying and was maybe just shooting from the hip, so I then sent an e-mail to Miniatronics to see if that reset-off cycle is a feature (?) that can be turned off somehow or maybe the video had a glitch when it was made.
After two days they responded back they had no complaints after 15 years of the product being out there.
Uh, gee that’s good to hear, but they didn’t answer my questions, at all! All those people just might be happy with on/off fires, but that’s not what I am looking for.
So, if you have used it, does it do as I described
How about a link to the video? I’m curious what it looks like. We have a simulated burning building down at the club done with LEDs and some billowing “fluffy stuff” that I don’t find particularly realistic and would like to compare.
The shadows cast by a fire range from none to complete dark - so I don;t think it’s totally out there the way it works. A simple red-orange LED or light dimly on constantly would provide a consistent background glow. Thought he Miniatronics thing is probably better suited to a campfire than a house on fire, at least just a single unit.
The color and action of the flames isn’t bad, but the going out isn’t realistic. That the flames would grow or diminish is possible, but go out like that, no.
How is it set up? Are there bulbs on several sets of wires that you place around inside the building? If so, having two set in the same building might cover the total out phase. However, a pain to have to have two to do one job.
I have seen a fire scene somewhere that the flames flickered, but didn’t blink. Wish I could remember where I have seen it or better yet, had asked what they used to simulate the flames.
There appear to be 2 bulbs, but they are both the same color so I assume there are 2 so that they can vary the effects. For $25+ each, this one isn’t worth it to me to have to put 2 in a building to overlap the darkness cycle.
I don’t feel I’m being too picky because if I didn’t expect realism, I would just stick in some flickering or fluttering LEDS of red, yellow and perhaps a flickering RGB LED for $2 total and call it good enough. But that’s not me. I expect some realism and while the glowing emissions are surely acceptable, the going entire building going completely dark for a second or two, is not.
To bad one could not get a schematic of the circuit board,I’m sure the timer circuit could be altered,to eliminate the dark period…But I doubt,they will offer one…Years back I built a Star Wars Millennium Falcon model for one of my son’s that hung from his ceiling,with the laser cannons blazing away,with red LEDs and a timer circuit,with power from a 9v batt,looked fantastic at night… Some where around my stuff,I probably still have it.
Have you considered using 2 or 3 orange LEDs along with the Miniatronics unit, powered seperately? They could simply be left on at full brightness to fill the gaps between the flames.
By the way, I totally agree with you that the Miniatronics effect leaves a lot to be desired. Its kind of like watching fireworks fizzle out.[|(]
Several years ago I cobbled together a fire effect using nothing more than Christmas tree lights of various colors (red, blue, white, green).
After I determined their voltage and how they were wired, I put together three strings that work from 12 Volts DC, with a flashing bulb in each one. Much cheaper than Miniatronics’ product since they were a set that I no longer used.
Thanks to all who commented. I’ll likely build my own using a red LED and red and yellow flickering LEDs and a fluttering RGB LED (i.e., taking the flickering tea light idea a little further). Likely a total cost under $3 , so I’ll be saving around $25 or more.
What amazes me, despite being asked on numerous forums and user groups, likely read by many 100’s of modelers and not one person has used the Miniatronics Fire & Flame kit. Really amazing for a product that has been out there for 15 years using state of the art electronics according to the vendor and has received no complaints in all that time.