Dynamite Flash

[Glen A]

I've had this joke sign on my layout for a couple of years:



Now I was looking for some public interaction to add. Something they could control that wouldn't affect the trains running.

While out shopping I found a small key-ring charm that was a look a like miniature camera. It had a button on top that made the flash go off.
It used to look a lot better than this (it had a lens on the front), but I forgot to get a photo before I hacked it up



Anyway I broke into it and found 3 small 1.5v batteries inside. There is no way they would last continuous use for two days, so I hooked some wires onto the connections in the battery area, so I can hook up to an old 5v cell phone charger. I also pulled apart the push button and wired that out so I can trigger externally.



I can have a plunger out front, a push button behind the layout, or triggered by train via reed switch if required.

So then I cut a new tunnel into the mine:



And eventually you will see the flash coming from out the back while looking though here:


To be continued.....

[Artizen]

Nice! It's amazing how you keep coming up with new ideas for this layout. You might need to build a couple of new modules to fit them all in!

[Si]

Great idea.....just wish I could find an excuse to do it on my estate railway, but there's not a lot of call for dynamiting the Shropshire countryside in the 1970s!

[Gerry Bullock]

Great Glen however how about a synchronised explosion with flash.

[Adrian]

G'day Glen

JUST LOVE IT

Just the sort of thing that I like on layouts.

Pity you didn't think of it a bit earlier .... just recently tossed a key-ring thingie that had a digitized explosion sound.
Would have fitted in with it perfectly !

Interesting to see what you come up with for an operating button out front.

Cheers

[Artizen]

A big red button something like this?

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/660V-Red ... 62646.html

[Mark Goodwin]

Glen,

Brilliant idea..........now what about a loud bang and some blast as well !!

I admire how you create additional interest into your modelling and adapt items for such use
Kind regards
Mark

[Oztrainz]

Hi Glen,
Try this one from Jaycar
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=SP0786&form=CAT2&SUBCATID=978#1

I have 2 to wire in as "crash stop" switches for the Incline

Let the kids work out how to reset it - so you should get some time between KABOOMS

[Oztrainz]

This one is a bit more obvious...
http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=SP0757
with a big "DO NOT TOUCH" sign

[Glen A]

Thanks for the ideas of the buttons. But although they are big, they are not dramatic enough for me.
I want a big T handle plunger (like the top of a bike pump) just like you see in the old movies. With two bug wires running under the layout.

Adrian: yes pity you had thrown that out. I would like to add sound. but haven't found anything suitable yet. When I find something at the right price, it will get done..

[NotHarryPotter]

Glen,

on the Wayback machine Archive I found an early book on explosives use in mines, and it has some great illustrations of the equipment used (including the plunger handles).

A page in the book (for a chapter on what NOT to do with explosives) has a great image of a man cracking open TNT boxes with a pick!

I'll chase it up and send the link,

[Adrian]

G'day Glen
Glad to hear that you plan to use a 'T' handle for your switch.
Should look good.
But a word of warning .... make it nice and strong
Maybe even stronger than the real thing.
Most kids respect somebody else's 'playthings' but some don't.
Don't ask how I know.

Just a thought ......
Maybe a button out the front that operates a little man who pushes the plunger which sets off the explosion ?
That way you can use a nice solid button easily obtained although making the little man might be a little more difficult !

Cheers

[NotHarryPotter]

Glen,

this catalogue from the Wayback Machine archives is downloadable.

http://archive.org/details/blastingsupplies00eidurich

It contains information and illustrations of blasting machines.

A bit like Gomez Addams!

[NotHarryPotter]

Glen,

The attached link leads to a very interesting book. Page 42 shows the "Reckless way to open powder kegs". Definitely not advisable! The image might make a fun T-shirt logo!

The quarryman and contractor's guide; or, How to remove rock at least cost (1891)

http://archive.org/details/quarrymancontrac00kirkrich

Actually this book has a lot of early useful mining information,

cheers
Geoff

[Thorness]

I find it quite funny that with all the dire warnings about striking a spark with the pick that there is no mention of the danger of smoking your pipe!

[Prof Klyzlr]

Dear Glenn,

If you want a decent "kaboom", start with one of these

http://www.pricom.com/Trains/DreamPlayerLITE.shtml
(about as cheap as a ITTC ISD sound module, and a darn sight better in audio spec. User-loadable, and Fully purpose intergrated trigger IN and Control OUTputs too)

Source an appropriate sound file to start with from here
http://www.freesound.org/

Tweak and create a suitable end-result sound file using this
http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
(it's FREE!)

and fire the resulting signal thru one of these
http://www.mackie.com/products/srm1801/

OK, that'll scare the kids, maybe back it off and use one of these instead.
http://worldwide.bose.com/pro/assets/pd ... y_awcs.pdf

Whoops, still overkill, better try this...

http://dicksmith.com.au/product/XH2278/ ... a-speakers

Happy Booming,
Aim to shake the room,
Prof Klyzlr