smoke generators

robsmorgan said:
Don't think we are talking in the same ballpark here :confused: - the Massoth unit is over £70 (Dragon G Scale) but provides pulsed smoke based on the output from a decoder..
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Rob, I was referrring to the bog-standard Massoth smoke unit that's the equivalent spare part to the LGB unit (as per the early posts before conversation got round to the super-duper Massoth pulsed unit). Comes in 5V, 18V and 24V flavours. £22.75 from Dragon G scale. It looks identical to the LGB unit, therefore I reckon must be made by Seuthe also. It's been said in the past that the LGB smoke units are made by Seuthe.

The difference in price between £12 and £22 for what are effectively identical Seuthe items is quite surprising. Ok, add 50p for a couple of metal connectors ... but still... the LGB and Massoth items seem a bit of a rip-off.
 
Sorry Nick, my lack of G scale knowledge is showing!!!

Rob
 
Pauly said:
Can anyone recomend a good source for decent smoke geneys?
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Only 11 months later.... I have fitted a pulsed smoke generator to my Bachmann 'Annie' - if it's not too late Pauly this may be useful info:-

Smoke generator £38.45 from..... http://shop.huntersystems.co.uk/smoke-generator-tm-141-p.asp < Link To http://shop.huntersystems...generator-tm-141-p.asp
plus small 5v twin fan £14 (have not identifed supplier as they weren't the easiest to deal with)
Mounted both items on metal base cut from old biscuit tin - and fixed into void (left after removing original Bachmann bog-standard unit)
Linked fan to Bachmann chuff sound cams (a seperate 9v battery with reversed current to avoid conflict with sound generator) and believe it or not, it works a treat....... I am experimenting with an LED (from Ross) sited down the chimney to illuminate the smoke - amber looks best so far.

I can provide more detailed info if anyone wants it.

Regards
Rob
(p.s. sorry if I have mis-spelt anything - the spell checker is still sending out source code!!!!)
 
Back in the days when I was into model ships that were battery powered I made my own smoke generators.... a length of ni-chrome wire wrapped around some fibreglass tape that was wrapped around a bit of brass tube that sat in an an aluminium softdrink bottle lid with, wait for it WD40 in it. Apply current to the ni-chrome wire and clouds of smoke was the result. Getting the resistance just right was the only catch, too hot and it ignited, not hot enough and nothing happened.... I found that if it drawed around 1 amp the smoke was very good....

So years later one of these models of a Murray River paddlesteamer ( P.S. Tyro) was sold to a Musuem in Melbourne and they decided to have it in a glass case with the paddle wheels turning via the old push the button and make it work technique..... First I heard was an angry phone call telling me that the glass case had filled with smoke....
 
Yunno I thought about having a look at these. I have one in my tiger, they have a little pump that pulses the smoke. Twin output too.
smokeunit.jpg

http://www.howesmodels.co.uk/RadioControl/viewProduct.php?ProdID=5285
Chap here has replaced the noisy pump with a PC fan
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9T9XuP-UsVE
 
How is that smoke unit holding up? I have read good and not so good reviews on them.
 
tramcar trev said:
Back in the days when I was into model ships that were battery powered I made my own smoke generators.... a length of ni-chrome wire wrapped around some fibreglass tape that was wrapped around a bit of brass tube that sat in an an aluminium softdrink bottle lid with, wait for it WD40 in it. Apply current to the ni-chrome wire and clouds of smoke was the result. Getting the resistance just right was the only catch, too hot and it ignited, not hot enough and nothing happened.... I found that if it drawed around 1 amp the smoke was very good....

So years later one of these models of a Murray River paddlesteamer ( P.S. Tyro) was sold to a Musuem in Melbourne and they decided to have it in a glass case with the paddle wheels turning via the old push the button and make it work technique..... First I heard was an angry phone call telling me that the glass case had filled with smoke....
Click to expand...

:bigsmile: Been there, tried similar Trev. Mine was a steam Customs Launch and the s/gen wasn't electric. I had a Humbrol paint tin with the lid section removed. Inside I put pieces of compressed charcoal from hand-warmers, soaked in engine oil and parrafin. Took a bit of lighting, outside, but once going did a superb job. Lasted longer than the batteries. :laugh::laugh: Happy days!
 
OK you guys with plenty of money :bleh: I've been trying to find ways of achieving good effects without draining my v. limited resources too much :nerd:
ALSO it's all very well coming up with stories about mini bombfires in spacious model ships - but I'm working with a plastic Bachmann loco which would look a tad strange with the boiler hanging 'Dali-esque' over the front bogie truck..... but thanks for the anecdotes!

Herewith pics of the Hunter Smoke unit & twin fan blower, mounted on a piece of cut & bent-to-fit (Christmas special) biscuit tin (note 2mm gap between plastic blower casing & smoke unit body)
057c02f533fa484494dc83d35fc747ef.jpg


and then squeezed into the void after removing the Bachmann installed unit
d5f3c3595ace496b8304f9069ba73608.jpg


further work:-
I have shortened the brass chimney and squeezed it to oval which then provides a better shape plume of smoke puffs (timing taken from the standard 'chuff' sound cam. THEN I added LEDs (to illuminate/highlight the smoke) inside a home made US style spark inhibiting chimney..... quite effective me thinks :party:
Total cost under £56.00

Regards
Rob
 
:rolf::rolf::rolf: Well you know what they say..................if you cant stand the smoke, stay out of the kitchen.

:rolf::rolf::rolf::rolf::rolf::rolf::rolf::rolf::rolf:



Sorry; suitably chastised! :laugh::laugh:
 
Rob - sorry to ask this question (me being "El Thicko") - but how do you arrange it (or how does it work?) using a reversed current on the same set of contacts as for the sound unit?
 
Hi Mick
Happy to explain my thinking - not for use with household mains circuits though!!!

Basically I wired the units in parallel but with the batteries back to back rather than in series........... hope this diagram helps.

ce7c2c60547c44df994d55f156cb71f7.jpg


The idea is to use the same 'switch' mechanism but without diluting the power to each function.

Regards
Rob

p.s. Note the correct polarity when connecting each unit or you won't have sound and could be sucking the smoke out of the generator 8|
 
Don't know if the original question was answerd.

The old or existing wheelsensor used for LGB analogue soundcards cannot be used to feed the pulsed smokegenerator of Massoth.
 
bobg said:
tramcar trev said:
Back in the days when I was into model ships that were battery powered I made my own smoke generators.... a length of ni-chrome wire wrapped around some fibreglass tape that was wrapped around a bit of brass tube that sat in an an aluminium softdrink bottle lid with, wait for it WD40 in it. Apply current to the ni-chrome wire and clouds of smoke was the result. Getting the resistance just right was the only catch, too hot and it ignited, not hot enough and nothing happened.... I found that if it drawed around 1 amp the smoke was very good....

So years later one of these models of a Murray River paddlesteamer ( P.S. Tyro) was sold to a Musuem in Melbourne and they decided to have it in a glass case with the paddle wheels turning via the old push the button and make it work technique..... First I heard was an angry phone call telling me that the glass case had filled with smoke....
Click to expand...

:bigsmile: Been there, tried similar Trev. Mine was a steam Customs Launch and the s/gen wasn't electric. I had a Humbrol paint tin with the lid section removed. Inside I put pieces of compressed charcoal from hand-warmers, soaked in engine oil and parrafin. Took a bit of lighting, outside, but once going did a superb job. Lasted longer than the batteries. :laugh::laugh: Happy days!
Click to expand...

Ahhhhhh well Steam launches are my forte. This is a very practical smoke generator for the average fruitcake who enjoys such pursuits. Actually a fullscale copy of launch used by the "Illawarra Steam Ship Co" for the purpose of sending messages and the "odd, very game" passenger out to a waiting ship OFF THE COAST!!!!!!!!! in howling gales and very high seas, can you imagine the cost of insurance for such practises to day. I loved this boat, it gave me more pleasure than even the as yet to happen evening with Elle MacPherson....
Sorry for even more anecdotes, I just cant help myself.....
myself at times....:thumbdown:

c7c298bb686f4ee399f1cff26e2d03d5.jpg
fab7c586b25842da9bf5900e68c191e9.jpg
e136c7ccb5bf4f808946c19bf0c13cac.jpg
 
Very nice Trev, I've been considering something similar for my next major project. My trouble is 'major' projects tend to take 'major' years to complete, so I think they'd be burying me in it (unfinished).
 
Cheers Rob - all is explained I see! Paralell? I had visions of immediate short-circuits:rolf:
 
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