The Miracle On 128th Ct.

The Redesigned Christmas Train

holidaygeek — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 14:44:17 +0000

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. This christmas season had some challenges. It was not technical but more family. The display was not on as much the last 3 weeks of christmas. But on a happier note The Train did run this season when I could run it. so for those of you who missed it here it is for you to see ENJOY!! ( the caboosewill be done for next year

52 days to christmas 25 days till the lights come on

holidaygeek — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 15:03:29 +0000

Well its 11/2/11 and ITS SNOWING IN DENVER!! that just put me behind a bit on the installation of the MIRACLE. bur Since its snowing. i figured it was a good time to update you on the display progress…

1st off the train is coming nicely. we have finished many o the cars lightening them up for less weight. all cars are now made from coroplast.
here are a couple of pictures to get you in the CHOO CHOO mood.

94 days to Christmas and 66 days untill the display is lit up

holidaygeek — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 15:36:46 +0000

PANIC MODE IS KICING IN!!
The train track new design is done! and thanks to my friend Stan Hower all my truck for the train cars have been re designed to work with the new mono guide rail design on the track. All turcks have been installed on the cars and the first beta tests prove very impressive. cars roll down trac smoothly with little resistance. looking forward to full train tests coming soon… The Ice skating pond designs have been changed for more simplistic design. and the new animatroinc deer barn is in the works for 2012. We will begin the install of the display on NOV 1st and if all goes well should have it ready to run this year on Sunday 11/27 @ 5pm.

This years schedule will remain the same as last years….
SUNDAY NIGHT – THURSDAY NIGHT 5pm to 9:30pm
FRIDAY AND SATURDAY NIGHTS 5pm to 11pm

New train re-design

holidaygeek — Tue, 26 Apr 2011 15:05:57 +0000

YEP
This is it !! the final re-design of the train… should this not work the train will becomae a memory and not a piece of the display…

i am lightening the cars replacing 3/4″ ply wood with 1/4” plexiglass. the engine will not get much of a body redesign it will get a power train redesign replacing the one powered rear axle with two powered outside rail motors these will be direct drivien by power wheels motors. the caboose and coal tender are getting all new looks in plexiglass and will be painted in stain glass paint by My daughter Hollie. All the cars will get lighter axel redesigns too.

THE TRACK will be converted from a dual rail Track to a single mono guide rail track on 2/1 in ply wood. the track will be 15 inches wide whil the wheels on the train will be at 13″ of total width. the center rail will be POWERED RAIL 12 VDC! and controlled by computer control.

more to come so come back and read up

Video of the animated band

holidaygeek — Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:07:36 +0000

The 2010 season was AWESOME!! and the inagural run of the animated band was fantastic!!

here is a video from my site at vimeo.com

All

Animated band is wired up and tested.

holidaygeek — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 04:55:24 +0000

Well, were just about done with this new addidition. all servos have been wired to my lor cmb-16d board. the lips work the motions all move all the relaus have been in stalled. All that needs to be done now is to install the pight bulbs and then the plexiglass and its done will submitt some pictures tomorrow.

Animations 2/3rds done were getting close…..

holidaygeek — Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:15:20 +0000

Well Its that time again. getting on the way to getting ready for CHRSTMAS 2010. Been working on completing the ANIMATONICS for the Animated band, Santa Claus for the santa scene.

I picked up some ac/dc converters to run the servos on the animatronics. and i have tested and installed the dc controller to run the animated band and have finished the band stand and added the lighting for inside.

I need to finds som 12volt relays and 5 volt relays to controll the spinning of the animated musicians and the servo that moves santas head.

the Train will get some much needed help in 2 weeks. when we goto the annula christmas workshop. other wise were working for an AWESOME DISPLAY for 2010. stay tuned more to come…

MERRY CHRISTmas

holidaygeek — Fri, 25 Dec 2009 23:45:04 +0000

For unto us a child is born, for unto us a son is given and he shall be called emmanuel, Jesus, prince of peace, mighty GOD!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

well another christmas decorating season is coming to a close. and as always it is not with out some disapointments. The train’s new motor could not pull the train. I dod not get santa on the roof done nor did i finish the animated band. HOwever the band is 2/3rds done and should be ready for next season. the train will once again go into strage and a re design will need to be designed, and the music i had worked out was lost when the computer failed, and the tear down beging Monday night,

I hope you all had a Merry Christmas, And pray for a blessed new year

Scot

UPDATE! SEASON APPROACHING!!

holidaygeek — Fri, 02 Oct 2009 14:25:40 +0000

WOW!!

ONLY 55 DAYS UNTIL MY DISPLAY IS LIT!!

I"m sorry I have not kept up with mY blog this year I have had CATOSTROPHIC computer issues. and after 5 months of troubleshooting with Bset Buy. I finally got a new Computer!!. This failure has dramatically set me back. It will be Impossible now to get the new animated band stand ready for this season. On top of that the TRAIN is still not done. Finding a replacment motor and been a REAL CHALLENGE!!. I just picked one up this week and hope to have it delivered soon and get the engine running.

Even though the animated band will not be ready this year I thought I would at least post som progessive pictures….. So here ya go

Another Animatronic to go into the display

holidaygeek — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 18:45:45 +0000

We had a pretty wet and WHITE weekend last weekend (yes we had SNOW)

I took advantage of the yucchy weather to work in the Garage on the Display.

I finished the NEW animatronic SANTA IN HIS SLEIGH. I still have some minor Bugs to work out but here are a few Pics.