Motor drivin Christmas Train [Archive]

Brightside

11-14-2007, 01:35 PM

I have seen this done a few places, and though I have seen some great ones, I have only run across one how-to that is similar to what I wish to do.
Has anyone else done this? DOes anyone have or know of any how-to's?

Here are the 2 that I found.
http://www.planetchristmas.com/Train101.htm

http://pages.sbcglobal.net/strailroad/construction.html

Nancj

11-14-2007, 02:29 PM

oh my word! was that ever detailed!!!
I dont think there are enough days in the year for me to work on such a project. especially with our freezing Chicago weather.
very cool.

Brightside

11-14-2007, 02:36 PM

Here is another great one. It doesn't have a how-to, but it is a great setup.

Sickie Ickie

11-14-2007, 02:42 PM

...er where?

childofthenight

11-14-2007, 03:14 PM

cool, the wind would kill those trains here! but nice how to!ps I think some members here are trying to put together a monster list web page for x-mas. hope the have good luck.plus this new section here will fill up quick i'm sure.

Brightside

11-15-2007, 06:20 AM

oops, sorry. Here it is.

http://www.kindlachristmas.com/Pictures.asp

SantaPaws

11-15-2007, 06:34 AM

Yes, Bryce is the king. There is another one but he doesn't show how to build it. You can see more information here. The best way is to contact them.
http://www.magicchristmas.org/

There is another guy, but I would have to check around. He has a larger size train that goes around his yard, which he can haul kids around it. Now that is cool!

Wait till you want to build a Christmas Ferris Wheel or Roller coaster. I have links on those as well.

Brightside

11-15-2007, 06:36 AM

Post them, Please. Those are the type projects that I am interested in.

SantaPaws

11-15-2007, 09:51 AM

Sorry, I am going to need 42.50 please. LOL

Sickie Ickie

11-15-2007, 08:44 PM

http://www.magicchristmas.org/

That link doesn't work for me. (?)

Sickie Ickie

11-15-2007, 08:48 PM

Yes, Bryce is the king.

Says the king of location sites. :)

SantaPaws

11-16-2007, 05:56 AM

You might have to type in just www.magicchristmas.org Sorry..

Brightside

11-16-2007, 07:10 AM

That link doesn't work for me. (?)

try this one

http://www.magicchristmas.org/magicchristmas_017.htm

Sickie Ickie

11-16-2007, 05:21 PM

Got it now, thanks!

woodmizer

11-17-2007, 03:17 PM

I have the old Popular Mechanics do it yourself encyclopedias from the 60"s that have a set of plans for a children's working locomotive, give me a few days and i'll scan them and send them to you if you like.

Brightside

11-19-2007, 08:43 AM

Great, looking forward to it.

MrDEC25

11-19-2007, 08:55 AM

SantaPaws

11-19-2007, 10:21 AM

I know someone was selling a christmas ferris wheel. That was about two years ago. I think it went for about 1400 bucks.

Brightside

11-19-2007, 10:54 AM

Do you know what kind of motor they used on the ferris wheel?

SantaPaws

11-19-2007, 11:01 AM

I saw a picture of it but not sure what brand it is. I know you can probably just get a high torque one and that should do the trick.

thehoghunter

11-19-2007, 11:10 AM

Home Depot has a ferris wheel in their Christmas display. I looked at it a few weeks ago (before Halloween) but was busy so didn't pay that much attention to how it was made or cost.

Brightside

11-19-2007, 11:38 AM

I looking to do a home version. Just trying to decide what type of motor to use.

Sickie Ickie

11-19-2007, 08:23 PM

k-mart has it for $200+ dollars! :eek:

MrDEC25

11-20-2007, 09:10 AM

I believe I saw them(ferris wheels) at Lowe's for $189. I was kind of keeping prices in my head as a who's got the best and I know they were cheaper than Kmart.

michael myers

11-24-2007, 07:40 PM

I believe I saw them(ferris wheels) at Lowe's for $189. I was kind of keeping prices in my head as a who's got the best and I know they were cheaper than Kmart.

Not sure if the Kmart ferris wheels are made by the same people as Lowe's, Home Depot, etc., but our Kmart has one on display that has been up for about 2 weeks now-put up so that the public cannot touch it, and the motor is already making a serious grinding noise...I would research the mfg. before I bought, if they are not the same, I would stay away from the Kmart brand...remember, you do get what you pay for!

Off the subject, does anyone know where I can get those 16-22 inch outdoor safe figures like you see in the ski lift thats always on ebay at christmas? Wife is wanting me to finish her motorized ski lift, ala fcg method, using cable and bicycle rims. I don't want to have to buy two of those just to get the figures and possibly use the ski chairs-I would much rather build my own.

Mummy deer-est

11-24-2007, 08:33 PM

Ooohhh....a ski lift...we...neeeeed.....picturrrrrresssss!

please. :)

michael myers

11-24-2007, 08:52 PM

Nothing to show right now, just pieces and parts. I've gotten past the design stage, but I'm still trying to collect all of the parts to build the ski chairs and the figures to ride in them. Once I get those, I will start posting pix throughout the entire build.

Sickie Ickie

11-25-2007, 08:58 AM

Sickie Ickie

11-25-2007, 10:00 AM

Not sure if the Kmart ferris wheels are made by the same people as Lowe's, Home Depot, etc., but our Kmart has one on display that has been up for about 2 weeks now-put up so that the public cannot touch it, and the motor is already making a serious grinding noise...I would research the mfg. before I bought, if they are not the same, I would stay away from the Kmart brand...remember, you do get what you pay for!

I have to agree. The ferris wheel at our K-Mart has been crap since they've had it up past a week. The motor keep dying on it. :(

Mummy deer-est

11-25-2007, 10:50 AM

I'll keep my eye out for your pics, Michael. Thanks.

michael myers

11-25-2007, 12:43 PM

FCG or Axworthy? Either way, should look great. Do you have a link to an e-bay item that shows what you are referring to? I'm trying to follow, but I'm lost. Would this be one? http://cgi.ebay.com/CHRISTMAS-CHARACTER-YARD-DISPLAY-LIGHT-UP-SKI-LIFT_W0QQitemZ270051447602QQihZ017QQcategoryZ20510 QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

It looks as if you could use any stuffed animal, and waterproof it like you would boots. (?)

Yea, one of them two!!LOL!!! Here is the link to show what I am talking about.

http://cgi.ebay.com/YARD-CHRISTMAS-OUTDOOR-LIGHTS-ANIMATED-SKI-LIFT-SANTA_W0QQitemZ130175658098QQihZ003QQcategoryZ3379 4QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

OOpppsss...posted link without paying attention to the one you had SI!! Thats the same thing!

SantaPaws

11-28-2007, 08:46 AM

Sorry for going off subject but I once saw a display that was a amiamted Reindeer trainning school. I would like to do that one day.

gamesmuck

11-28-2007, 06:05 PM

Here is the ski lift cheaper than ebay.
http://www.abcdistributing.com/home/catalog/showsearch.asp

gamesmuck

11-28-2007, 06:06 PM

ooops try this or just search ski lift!
http://www.abcdistributing.com/home/catalog/cat_item_pg.asp?G=465&P=508&Rec=1&Ntt=ski+lift&N=35&Nao=0&R=19977

Sickie Ickie

11-28-2007, 06:44 PM

good price. Quwstion is, can it be built homemade cheaper? :)

michael myers

11-28-2007, 07:19 PM

good price. Quwstion is, can it be built homemade cheaper? :)

Thus, the question that I have been racking my brain for 1 1/2 years on...

1. The stuffed figures are next to impossible to find by themselves
2. That ski lift does NOT move in any forward motion; all it does is shake the ski chairs from side to side

The closest thing to stuffed figures I have found is at Wallyworld and they are $6 each. I think it was you, SI, that also suggested that I look at stuffed animals and waterproof them-that is going to have to be the way I go, although the waterproofing is $6 a can & I'm guessing that it will take at least 3 cans as I want 6-8 characters on my ski lift.
I have what I think are some great plans that I have come up with based on the axworthy method to make a fully rotating, motor driven cable/pulley system that will make this thing work, but as far as being cheaper...not for what I want mine to do! Of course, you know as well as anyone, us propbuilders will take any simple idea and build it to the extreme!!!

Sickie Ickie

11-28-2007, 07:26 PM

LOL aint that the truth! I like the idea of actual movement up and down better than just swaying anyway. :)

michael myers

11-28-2007, 07:29 PM

My thoughts exactly...what good is a ski lift if it you can't see the chairs rotating around the line? If I ever get this thing finished, I bet this will be a good candidate for the monsterlist of christmas decorations!! LOL!!

Sickie Ickie

11-28-2007, 07:51 PM

Good candidate? It's a shoe-in! :D

PS I have pull with the owner of it. :p

spookineer

11-28-2007, 08:52 PM

what happened to the trains? or has this thread been "hijacked"?

Sickie Ickie

11-28-2007, 10:04 PM

I'll put my red ryder rifle away. Back to your train schedule. :)

Brightside

11-29-2007, 08:35 AM

Ok, check it out,,,,, I still want to build my own train, but with limited time, I was trying to find an alternative. I'm still not sure I will get to it this year, but I think I found a option. There are these great little battery powered ride-on trains that they make for kids.
http://www.homevisions.com/hvprod/assets/product_images/51412_f.jpg
I was thinking you could buy one of these, and paint it and decorate it with a Christmas theme.
You can also buy extra track for them.
Thoughts?

SantaPaws

11-29-2007, 08:40 AM

Not sure if that train can handle being outside in the cold, if you are in a cold climate.

Brightside

11-29-2007, 08:41 AM

Well, I'm in the south, but it is light and could easily be put away at night.

Mummy deer-est

11-29-2007, 09:21 AM

Would you try to light it in some way?

Sickie Ickie

11-29-2007, 09:23 AM

Well, it can't hold more than 45 lbs, and costs $230 plus shipping. I don't see anywhere where you can buy extra track ?

For that price, you may want to try to beat the deadline and build one that may be either static or a simple wiper motor/deer motor drive that you can eleborate on for next year. Of course then you can only carry stuffed animals.

Brightside

11-29-2007, 09:35 AM

Well Mummy, my goal is to eventually have something like this.
http://www.kindlachristmas.com/Christmas2006.asp
Sickie, if you look at the few designs that are out there, alot of these guys seem to be using the motors from these ride-on toys.
I was thinking of using a rotisserie motor myself low speed, high torque. One battery to power the motor and another to power lights.

Sickie Ickie

11-29-2007, 09:41 AM

That would make sense to me, brightside, to use the rot motor. I've found a few at the thrift shop here for about $2-3 each. Car window motors have a huge amount of torque too, and is what Bourno uses to make his crawling corpse. He also rigged it to be remote control. May be worth checking into?