Large Scale Central

LGB 9001S Lehmann Rigi Motorized Ski Gondola Mechanism to Run Hot Air Balloon Up and Down

Modeling
#1

After some time away I am beginning to get back into the hobby so please bare with me on this topic.

I posted some time ago looking for ideas to animate a model hot air balloon to be featured on the railroad. I got the idea originally from visiting the home of Jack Verducci during the 2016 NGRC in the Bay Area. If I recall his balloon descended from the corner of his two story house at the eve down to a point and then back up again. Anyhow, tt was suggested on this site to look into the LGB Rigi Duo gondola system.

I’ve been looking at eBay and there seems to be a few different options. Obviously the hand controlled version is not what I’d want. But there seems to be a few others that seem on one side a little too toyish, to LGB 9001S that seems to be built pretty well.

I’m just looking for opinions from those that have used or know about of these systems. My plan is for the balloon to ascend into some redwoods to “disappear” for a few seconds before descending back down…and then back up again.

Thanks in advance for your suggestions.
Richard

#2

I built a balloon like you propose for the Wizard of Oz set-up on the Too Much Fun Railroad simply using a switch to make the motor change directions at each end of travel. But I think the motor may have been too fast so that it would not stop in time and continually “shift” the stop point a bit. A slower motor would have solved this. Reducing the voltage creates too much “stall” on start-up. If Vic would give it back to me, I would change out the motor and make it work right. (Vic?)

I run the Rigiduo on my Tortoise and Lizard Bash Railroad and set it up using a couple slow motion motors and a 555 circuit similar to that used for point-to-point train operations. When the gondola pulls into its station, it trips a switch that sends the power through a diode making the gondola stop until the 555 chip reverses polarity. This way the gondolas stop and wait to load passengers before crossing the lake.
https://youtu.be/jQ6rcU1Vbwo

#3

Hi Todd, I have a manually operated Rigi Duo cable car that I modified to have pulleys which hang on a cable and then fishing line actually does the pulling via the hand cranked wheel. I very much want to automate the way yours is described. I have zero knowledge of electronics/diodes, etc.

Can a novice like me purchase the right parts and motorize this setup (like yours)? Can you provide detail instructions / guidance for me the rookie?

Thx for any help you can provide

#4

Welcome aboard Jon. I don’t know beans about the Rigi Duo system, but keep posting and maybe I can eventually assist in something you’re up to.

Cliff

#5

I used something like this; a 12 volt high torque low speed motor for my Pola mill.

  • Feature:-The motor is Gear DC motor with micro-turbine worm, you can change the wiring-connection to change motor rotation. -Turbo worm geared motor with self-lock, that is, in the case of motor without electric, the output axis is fixed, self-lock.
  • No-load speed choice : 2rpm / 3rpm / 5rpm / 6rpm / 10rpm / 20 rpm / 30rpm / 40rpm / 62rpm / 100rpm(use M3 scews to mount)

IMG_9558

https://www.amazon.com.au/Torque-Turbo-Geared-Gearbox-100RPM/dp/B01MG208UC/ref=asc_df_B01MG208UC/?tag=googleshopdsk-22&linkCode=df0&hvadid=712290838720&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=9818260936165711044&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=t&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9070900&hvtargid=pla-814371999048&psc=1&mcid=7607c8e4f245311da7ab8baf1a91568a&gad_source=1

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…and if you need to go slower.