Animated Teetering Boulder! | Bandit Canyon Railway

BCRy Part VI. It's time to add some animation to the On18 Bandit Canyon Railway in the form a a teetering boulder - straight out of the old Disneyland Mine Train Ride! I use a 3RPM DC motor and a simple linkage to make the carved foam rock "teeter" back and forth as the trains pass below. It takes a little trial and error, but the final effect makes for a very fun effect. Follow along as I building the animation mechanism, tweak it 'till it works reliably, then carve and color the polyurethane foam rocks.
Thanks for watching, amigos!
Dave
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[@MichaelGanschowGreen]

I feel like I’m on the Mine Train through Nature’s Scenic Wonderland 😎

[@aaustin7532]

I don't know why, but I'd like to see a coyote sitting on the rock going for a ride . . . maybe it's just a holdover from watching WB cartoons as a kid. Fun project and fun to watch!

[@vagabondprime1691]

It's funny, I haven't done a model railroad layout yet, but I do a lot of scenery for tabletop wargames. And I have to tell you, I have been more inspired by your amazing builds and tutorials than all of the tabletop channels put together! You do great work, and you REALLY make railroad modeling look tempting! Thanks for all you do!

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

Thank you so much

[@captainsparrow9512]

As an avid fan of your work, as well as a long-time watcher of your channel, I find myself feeling quite giddy at your mention of the Bandit Canyon's rockwork taking inspiration from the rocks of Bryce Canyon, since I live only 30-45 minutes away from it, and one of my aunts works there, too! You should also check out the nearby Red Canyon too, it has a lot of rock formations similar to what you've been doing so far. Keep up the awesome work, man, you are truly an inspiration to us all!

[@McGowJobs]

Something that stuck with me from visits to Bryce Canyon as a youngster is that every sandstone column or pillar has a protective cap of harder white limestone (or sometimes black basalt) on top which kept the softer sandstone beneath from eroding away as quickly as the unprotected sediment that originally surrounded it. Somewhat similar to your "carve away everything that isn't a rock" process, when you think about it.

[@davevan8864]

I did not know Americana Foam Tech went out of biz in the middle of the COVIDS.......they were just a few miles from my house even though they would never sell direct. Thx

[@markdeschane4467]

You do have some nice tools, Dave!

[@lynnmccurdythehdmmrc2561]

Loving it. Using the same motor to raise and lower a mine car but rethinking the set up after watching yours.

[@davidgekler]

Love that old style Weller Soldering iron. Quick note: I knew a church organist that actually grew up in Jerome - she got the local paper from there till she died 10 years ago. Her mother was a pianist in one of the many brothels in town(30's to late 40's) father a miner. She learned piano from her mom and got out of town as soon as she was old enough and came to Southern California actually played the organ in Walt Disney's home!

[@davidbales8053]

Would love to see more of these set animations! Some great inspiration for mechanical systems are the automatons of Paul Spooner, has the same whacky whimsical creativity as Thunder Mesa. 😊

[@lasseystad3266]

Thank you for this video. I will copycat this one, but will also try to add a sensor to the rails so it only rock the stone when the train passes, thats my idea anyway 😃

[@royreynolds108]

You have the right idea. If you use music wire or string, keep it in tension; otherwise use a rod to ride on the cam like in an engine, ie the valves which will then be in compression. The tower should be in three thicknesses so the pivot for the rock will be supported on 2 sides and not be cantilevered about the shaft and start twisting after some wear. The support post would be easy to do your way then cut in two and cut out or hollow out for the post and rod(or wire) and glue back together. Neat animation.

[@michaelschlobohm8877]

My 4 yr old now wants one on our layout... *Sarcasm* Thanks Dave *Sarcasm* In all seriousness though I think I saw a clearance issue with one of the incidental rocks as you were wrapping up the video. Not a bash on your work, just a fellow modeler looking out for a venerable mentor.

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

I caught that in the edit too. Thanks! Fortunately, foam rocks are ease to trim.

[@jsjs3570]

Hello Dave! Well done again! Another lovely and exciting detail added to the layout 👍

[@ROSS2629]

I like it a lot; however, I think some shrubs or grass on the top of the base to hide the wire might be in order.

[@Elf_Hour]

Love it! Reminds me of an animated whirligig

[@debbiegipson4512]

You were right at a tipping point....almost derailed on this one but you got back on track. Thanks for another great video.😊

[@keithcomfort1625]

incredible build. thanks much.

[@loispadgett6306]

Great idea and looks great too. I enjoy your videos so much can't wait to see whats next. GOD BLESS 🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖🚂💖

[@markharrison3445]

I wish I could give this video more than one thumbs up!! I am motivated. Thank you.

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

You are so welcome!

[@NYCJDClark]

Awesome. I love it

[@richardromo2826]

Great idea Dave. I might have to make one for my layout.

[@vincenthuying98]

Dear Dave, very cool how you did this teeter-totter project. Love the vid and the included learning curve. Cheerio

[@ddyodaman5515]

Just was up at Bryce Canyon! Gorgeous!

[@theragingdolphinsmaniac4696]

It would be cool to trigger the rock movement with a motion sensor so it would only move when a train passes so it doesn’t rock back and forth all the time

[@davidwalker1130]

Great project. I enjoy watching problem/solution process in your work. What do you think of a bird on the tip of that teetering boulder? Kind of like the old teetering car on cliffs edge gag.

[@rayj645]

Hi Dave I got a unrelated question regarding Knuckle Duster figures have you got both 0 gauge and 28mm figures on you layout?

[@ThunderMesaStudio]

I am using the 28mm figures on the Bandit Canyon layout. O scale on the Thunder Mesa.

[@wolfgangpfeilergartenbahnd6530]

🎥👍👍👍👍😍