Simple Idea I Had in Mind

[Brickstarrunner]

Ok, this is going to be short because I'm going to type this up on my iPod Touch (and you don't want to know how annoying it is to type [and I can't put smilies D:])

But anyways, here's my idea:

You know how you hang your model planes with strings attatched to the celling? Why not attatch it to a mechanism that swings the plane forward and back ward, and has it rise and fall? Imagine it. You can have an airplane, in your room or at a Brickcon or something, take off at a runway, make a lap around a city, and come down again?

I will make a more, in depth topic in the morning with a primitive Microsoft Paint picture...er, Pacific Standard Time ^^

[Legoist]

Anything can be done... it would certainly be successful at an exhibition.

Lots of design challenges however:

- it's a 3-dimension movement, so the pulling system is going to be quite complex, and it cannot move at constant speed if you want the plane to land and stop and then take off again

- it needs a lot of work to attach the strings on the plane in the proper positions, so that the plane keeps moving straight without spinning for example

- the plane bricks may probably need to be glued together to minimize the chances of the plane to fall apart while flying

- definitely requires weeks of testing before finding the right dynamics of the pulling system

Were you thinking of using only Lego parts for the pulling system itself? One crazy idea could be to create a monorail track (because it natively has up/down slopes that will be put in places corresponding to takeoff/landing points) and attach it to the ceiling above the airport. A Lego monorail engine would run on the track, with strings hanging down from it and linked to the airplane. I don't know if you can "program" the monorail engine to change speed and stop for a while by using only Lego stuff (I guess at least with Mindstorm you can, but it'd be really expensive), but you can do that more easily if you accept to use custom electric circuits.

[vmln8r]

Ok, this is going to be short because I'm going to type this up on my iPod Touch (and you don't want to know how annoying it is to type [and I can't put smilies D:])

But anyways, here's my idea:

You know how you hang your model planes with strings attatched to the celling? Why not attatch it to a mechanism that swings the plane forward and back ward, and has it rise and fall? Imagine it. You can have an airplane, in your room or at a Brickcon or something, take off at a runway, make a lap around a city, and come down again?

I will make a more, in depth topic in the morning with a primitive Microsoft Paint picture...er, Pacific Standard Time ^^

I sort of get what you mean. You could even mount train tracks to the ceiling (like in some toy shops), hang the string off a train and 'fly' your plane around that way. However I imagine it would take a fair amount of work to do for each show.

[Legoliner Pilot]

One way to do that is to attach a pulley to a high point on two walls, and align a string through the pulley. I saw this on a YouTube video. I will get the link to it later.

[Rick]

This is not a 'simple idea' , but I certainly would like someone trying. Just like cars with magnets running around a town on a track mounted below road plates, but even more fun and challenging!

[MetroiD]

Indeed, that is quite challenging and not all that "simple". But it's not impossible either!

Regarding what VMLN8R said - I myself have had that kind of "psychedelic" idea in my head for some time now. You could combine PF and 9V in order to create an elevated railway track which goes overhead (like

, for example) and is somehow connected (String? PF-controlled pulley?) to an airplane, thus allowing it to hover over the city, all the while going around the track "up there".

Some crazy train route, eh?

[WesternOutlaw]

Interesting topic. I have thought about hanging Indiana Jones planes in the office, but had very bad luck with attempting to do the same with some old Hasbro Star Wars ships. I used fishing line which can cut into your model. Balancing the ships were also difficult (at least for me).

[Brickstarrunner]

Interesting topic. I have thought about hanging Indiana Jones planes in the office, but had very bad luck with attempting to do the same with some old Hasbro Star Wars ships. I used fishing line which can cut into your model. Balancing the ships were also difficult (at least for me).

Actualy, remember that video I showed you with the boat in the water in Hanburg, Germany? They placed a metal rod through the place. I might try that, except with a clear plastic rod and glued the parts toghether.

I think, though, that when using fishing line, use small, light airplanes or helicopters.

This is Brickstarrunner, signing out