Now that it appears that the Maglev is on it’s way, are any of you thinking about modeling it? For those of you that are, what scale would you use? Would you actually try to model the maglev mechanism itself or would you try a disguised two rail system? The system that is the “best” one out there is the German Transrapid. Do any commercial models exist of this system, perhaps made in Germany by Marklin or Fleishman? Maybe an outdoor layout would be best with this stuff? I would like for some of you who are really advanced craftsman to weigh in on it. At least at first, this would be the realm of the scratchbuilder.
right now, I don’t know of a lot of interest in minaturizing the tech to do it, though I wouldn’t be surprised if somone out there isn’t trying. I’d bet G is the starting point, because of the size, possibly O. In HO, the best option is a remold of the old monorail out there by E-R models.
Since maglev equipment actually doesn’t require any electronics on board (the track is used for propulsion) it would be possible.
For the maglev itself, you’d need a body with a bunch of permanent magnets on the bottom of the train, placed exactly (remember, any error is multiplied by 83 or whatever scale you’re modeling in, on the prototype!) and alternating polarities just like the prototype.
For the track you’d need thousands of tiny electromagnets with a power proportional to the real thing, a flawless guideway (the electromagnets won’t be very powerful, meaning the guideway will have to be closely matched to the maglev, so there won’t be much room for error in any direction, and a power source. The electromagnets on the guideway would alternate polarities, with every other electromagnet on each side reversed in wiring. The electromagnets on each side (where each rail would be) would be staggered in polarity.
The speed controller would actually be pretty simple. The speed control knob would be connected to a pulse speed controller, so changing the speed is basically changing how fast the magnets swap polarity. The faster they change, the faster the maglev goes.
Engineering it is no different than the real thing. It just requires precision, a thorough knowledge of how real maglevs work, and a lot of trial and error to figure out the optimal magnet spacing and other techincal specifications. That and a LOT of electromagnets!
Cosmetically model the track. Run the trains on hidden wheels. The train rides so low, nobody will see them, and it’s no worse than a track-powered HO diesel, let alone steam!
Put some pickup strips in the track for electrical power.
Heck, you could build the whole thing around off-the-shelf track, paving up to the railhead outboard of the rail. Then build the train on an Athearn Hustler chassis. This is the role the Hustler was born to play!
I could do a pretty accurate job of modeling the one maglev design that really is on the verge of being built out, the one now being sponsored by JR-East.
For visible line, I’d need about seven linear feet to model the short fills at the tunnel portals, the concrete causeways and the rather beautiful bowstring arch that crosses the river and road at the bottom of the valley. The bottoms of the two one-way guideways would be moving belts running at 560(scale)KPH.
The train, totally unpowered, would simply sit on the belt and rocket through the scene once every few minutes, just like its prototype. I leave figuring out how to transfer it from one guideway to the other someplace under the mountain as an exercise for the student.
Historically, the Japanese have been experimenting with maglev systems for over fifty years. It was considered for installation on the New Tokaido Line (the original Shinkansen,) but maglev development wasn’t sufficiently advanced at the time. Now, 45 years later, the management of JR-East, announced plans for an expansion of the present 43 kilometer test route - just as the financial system came unglued.
Chuck (Modeling Central Japan in September, 1964 - without maglev)
Ooh! I’ve got another idea (partly from tomikawaTT’s belt idea)! The train could be on rubber wheels (to keep it silent), and have a neodymium magnet inside on the floor. The track would be hollow, and an internal belt would move another neodymium magnet through the track. The track magnet would grab the train magnet, so the train would run down the track without any visible mechanism (like electrical rails, or an outside belt)![^] I’m sure there’s someone that makes hollow square rods, so it may be a (somewhat) simple project.[:D]
Extruded aluminum tubing would be just the thing. If you used channel,the bottom could be open for maintenance of the cable.
Now, if we want to get really sneaky, maybe we put together two pieces of channel and insulate between, then power it for lights. Hmm…and make the train magnet an electromagnet. Energize it and it grabs the belt magnets and takes off. Supply AC to the rail and operate the train magnet and lights off half-wave rectifiers to separate the two functions. Now you can stop at stations with the lights on.
I think this project would be right up your alley, Darth. [:D]
How about a retro-futuristic Victorian maglev, like something out of Jules Verne, powered by steam? Locomotive like a huge version of the Bradford monorail locos, with great big generators, and lots of open conductors on insulators, brass, and rivets everywhere, hauling gents in top hats to the airship depot. [:D]
How did I know we were going to hear from you with some ideas on making this contraption. So when will you be posting your video of the operating model? [:-^][swg]
Air hockey. Angle perferated PVC pipe between rails with variable small fan to control speed. Valves can be installed to control blocking etc. Bottom of train is smooth like hocky puck. Hit the air and roll.
Air requires only one moving part, the fan, and no critical measurments and no mechanical devices to jam or malfunction, speed would be very fast like the proto, much faster than a magnetic belt device. Even flexible fish tank hosing could be used or even a hollow house door with perferations drilled between the tracks, and the fan could fill the volume of the door with the propulsive air in effect making a model train air hockey table. Somebody could come up with the details of construction with not much effort if they were interested in doing it for real.
