Levitating UFO?

seadude · February 13, 2015, 01:52:34 PM

I've got one of the old Testor 1/48 scale S4 UFO model kits I want to build in the forseeable future. But for me, having it sit on an airfield tarmac or in a research hangar isn't enough. I want to have this model UFO levitating off the ground. and have nothing to show looking like it is "supporting" the model. Only thing I came up with is using magnets. Problem is, I'm not sure what size I need, or the amounts, or how powerful of magnets I'll need. Not even sure how many to put in the model or the locations. Anybody got any suggestions?

Rheged · February 13, 2015, 02:31:17 PM

No idea about how many/how strong the magnets should be, but I'd like to see it done. The other alternative is a single transparent Perspex support.

Mossie · February 13, 2015, 02:44:27 PM

Neodymium magnets. They're relatively inexpensive. You'll still need fine wire to tether the model, but much finer than a usual support and you might be able to incorporate it into the diorama.

Revell did a Magic Flight range years ago using this technique.
http://community.revell.de/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=472

luft46models · February 13, 2015, 08:45:59 PM

Someone did this at the Oz model show in Melbourne a few years back with a SF3D kit of the pk85 Falke from Hasegawa - looked very impressive and he walked away with a first at the very least

http://www.whatifmodelers.com/index.php/topic,38002.0/topicseen.html

William in OZ

Mossie · February 14, 2015, 03:34:48 AM

Quote from: Flyer on February 13, 2015, 03:02:30 PM
Quote from: Mossie on February 13, 2015, 02:44:27 PM
Neodymium magnets. They're relatively inexpensive. You'll still need fine wire to tether the model, but much finer than a usual support and you might be able to incorporate it into the diorama.

Revell did a Magic Flight range years ago using this technique.
http://community.revell.de/viewtopic.php?f=66&t=472

With a well thought out base to hold the magnets surely tether lines would be unnecessary. Seen it done with ball bearings etc... a unrestricted hovering UFO would be cool .

Possible but difficult, if I remember magnetism 101 from my physics lessons. It's basically impossible to maintain stable magnetic levitation without a tether, but in certain situations you can for a short period of time, probably not really practical for a model of the Testors UFO size. Might be worth getting Kit on board as he worked on developing maglev trains.

Cobra · February 14, 2015, 04:01:16 AM

there is a place called American Science and Surplus, they might have Magnets for You to Get for Your Project, the web Address is: sciplus.com ! hope this helps, if not just Google them. Dan

PR19_Kit · February 14, 2015, 07:04:00 AM

Quote from: Mossie on February 14, 2015, 03:34:48 AM...................Might be worth getting Kit on board as he worked on developing maglev trains.

Insofar as we used bits of the MagLev control system on the APT-P tilt system.....

Maglevs use variable flux magnets controlled by quite sophisticated electronic systems and their lift height is usually fractions of an inch so the application isn't really comparable I'm afraid.

Captain Canada · February 14, 2015, 02:22:01 PM

I'd like to see it done ! But even a small tether wire would be acceptable I would think

zenrat · February 14, 2015, 03:27:23 PM

You could "tether" it with a couple of figures pushing it into or out of a hanger.

The magic words to search for on Evil-Bay are "rare earth magnets"
http://www.ebay.com/itm/New-10-20-50-100-PCS-Strong-Small-Disc-Magnets-5x2mm-Round-Rare-Earth-Neodymium-/381059342620?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&var=&hash=item58b8e8211c
You might even be able to find someone selling them in the USA!
These really are very strong magnets and I don't think you'd need many to levitate your flying saucer (it's not really Unidentified is it?).

PR19_Kit · February 15, 2015, 04:54:47 AM

Quote from: zenrat on February 14, 2015, 03:27:23 PM
The magic words to search for on Evil-Bay are "rare earth magnets"

I've always wondered how it is that there are SO many 'rare earth magnets' around if they're that rare......

Captain Canada · February 15, 2015, 09:40:25 AM

We use magnetic tools at work to do downhole corrosion inspection of the casing in oil and gas wells. The older tool is an electro-magnet, but the new one uses permanent magnets. It pulls your feet ( when wearing steel toe/ shanks ) out from under you ! also a big pain in the but to service, rips the tools right out of your hands !

kerick · February 15, 2015, 10:41:11 AM

What if you disguise the tether as a cable with a claw on the end snatching a victim!

Hobbes · February 16, 2015, 12:38:07 AM

Quote from: PR19_Kit on February 15, 2015, 04:54:47 AM

I've always wondered how it is that there are SO many 'rare earth magnets' around if they're that rare......

I believe the 'rare earths' are called that because they aren't found in high concentrations (unlike e.g. copper and iron). There's a lot of it, but it's spread around.

McColm · February 16, 2015, 01:58:19 AM

There's invisible thread that magicians use, the Science Museum has a similar toy that they sell. Looks as though its hovering in mid air. Got one as a Christmas present, very impressive.

NARSES2 · February 17, 2015, 02:25:53 AM

Quote from: Hobbes on February 16, 2015, 12:38:07 AM
I believe the 'rare earths' are called that because they aren't found in high concentrations (unlike e.g. copper and iron). There's a lot of it, but it's spread around.

Yup that's what some metallurgists I knew at work said when I asked the same question. You have to dig an awful lot of other stuff up to get a tiny bit of what you want