avatar_seadude

Levitating UFO?

Started by seadude, February 13, 2015, 01:52:34 PM

Previous topic - Next topic
Print
Go Down Pages 1 2
User actions

NARSES2

#15
February 17, 2015, 02:27:32 AM
Quote from: zenrat on February 14, 2015, 03:27:23 PM
You could "tether" it with a couple of figures pushing it into or out of a hanger.



That sounds a nice simple idea  :thumbsup: I assume that even if it's a large saucer the sheer fact it levitates would mean it would be easy for a couple of guys to move around ?
Do not condemn the judgement of another because it differs from your own. You may both be wrong.

zenrat

#16
February 18, 2015, 01:58:36 AM
My thinking - no friction other than air resistance.  Easy to move once you overcame it's inertia.  A bit like giant air hockey.

Which thinking about it is another way to levitate it.  We have a miniature (2' long) air hockey table which works by a battery powered fan blowing air from below through loads of small holes in the surface.  One could modify the table to resemble part of Area 51.  Or build something specially for the purpose - it wouldn't be too difficult.
Getting a decent height off the ground might take more airflow than is practical though.
Fred

- Can't be bothered to do the proper research and get it right.

Another ill conceived, lazily thought out, crudely executed and badly painted piece of half arsed what-if modelling muppetry from zenrat industries.

zenrat industries:  We're everywhere...for your convenience..

zenrat

#17
February 20, 2015, 01:25:30 AM
Might be a bit noisy.  Especially on a table at a show.
Should get the UFO to a nice altitude though.
Fred

- Can't be bothered to do the proper research and get it right.

Another ill conceived, lazily thought out, crudely executed and badly painted piece of half arsed what-if modelling muppetry from zenrat industries.

zenrat industries:  We're everywhere...for your convenience..

Mossie

#18
February 20, 2015, 01:52:29 AM
We had one of those in the physics at college for demonstrating momentum, it was only capable of rising the float by a mm or two.  Trouble is that you get air spill and need quite a powerful pump to give you a small rise, hence the skirt on hovercraft.  And if you introduce skirt, the body may rise but the skirt will be just off the ground.

In apology, I seem to be pulling everyone's ideas down.  The trouble is, any amount of levitation or 'anti-gravity' is hard to achieve, it's been a holy grail of physicists and continues to be.  I feel like Scotty, yeh canna break the laws of physics! ;)

That's not to say it's impossible.  I mentioned earlier that there are certain circumstances where it's possible for short periods time.  When a magnet repels another, there's also an attraction force from the opposite pole so it always tries to flip over, that's why it's unstable and needs a tether.  There's one way to prevent this, and that's to introduce spin.  There's a small window though, too little and you don't get any effect, too much and it wobbles too much, flipping over again.  There are commercial products that can do this (Levitron, but I have no idea if it'd work for a model as large as the Testors S4.

After saying all that, I think having tiny tethers might work, anyone remember (you've got to be a child of the eighties!) the Flight of the Navigator?
I don't think it's nice, you laughin'. You see, my mule don't like people laughin'. He gets the crazy idea you're laughin' at him. Now if you apologize, like I know you're going to, I might convince him that you really didn't mean it.

zenrat

#19
February 20, 2015, 03:11:32 AM
Quote from: Mossie on February 20, 2015, 01:52:29 AM
...anyone remember (you've got to be a child of the eighties!) the Flight of the Navigator?...

Yep.  Tried to interest The Boy in it.  Failed.  Not enough Ninjas, Turtles or shape shifting ten year olds in it for his taste.
Fred

- Can't be bothered to do the proper research and get it right.

Another ill conceived, lazily thought out, crudely executed and badly painted piece of half arsed what-if modelling muppetry from zenrat industries.

zenrat industries:  We're everywhere...for your convenience..

Mossie

#20
February 20, 2015, 03:36:47 AM
Kids these days, don't know they're born. ;D
I don't think it's nice, you laughin'. You see, my mule don't like people laughin'. He gets the crazy idea you're laughin' at him. Now if you apologize, like I know you're going to, I might convince him that you really didn't mean it.

Joe C-P

#21
March 13, 2015, 03:52:17 AM
A clear column of plastic, perhaps tinted blue or green, from the ship to the ground could work, especially if right next to a person or a cow.
In want of hobby space!  The kitchen table is never stable.  Still managing to get some building done.

Caveman

#22
March 17, 2015, 07:51:14 AM
Do what they did in that shot... Hide a dirty great forklift behind some polythene sheets  :lol:
secretprojects forum migrant
Print
Go Up Pages 1 2
User actions