Gerrits Tagebuch Vol. 21: Zielgerade oder Schlingerkurs?

Welcome to the next episode of Gerrit's Diary.
Last time I said the modelmakers bring the models to safety,
so I won't knock them down with my planes.
But now we're using dummies for the lanterns,
so we can see if our sketches are correct and
if any planes get caught in the lanterns.
If they're still standing later on, we'll drill holes for the real lanterns.
Last episode I promised that one of our main topics
will be the automatic recharging station for the planes.
We are behind the layout now.
These are the three levels I've mentioned in past episodes.
This is the middle level: The shadow airport, for planes waiting to take off or land.
If a plane is empty, then it drives up to the level above.
The computer notices this via speed measurement, if the plane slows down.
Also, the voltage inside the plane is measured and transmitted into the street.
If one of the two criteria is fulfilled, the plane is steered to this third level.
The Air France machine is currently the most empty
and I'll use it to demonstrate the charging process.
The plane is driving into the charging station, there are eleven in a row.
We couldn't do it differently due to lack of space - but there's a problem:
If the planes in the front are still charging, but those in the back are done,
then the whole charging station is jammed.
That's why we have to develop our own charging sytem that's able to
receive the command to reposition the plane.
I have to be able to tell the charging station to move the plane up a bit,
so the whole charging curve and everything that has been measured
must be conveyed via a bus system to the new box.
There the plane is picked up and charged further.
The plane is nearing its goal over here. It has slowed down noticably
and will pass this contact and will then slow down even more.
I'll switch on a sensor in the ground, that I hope will be recognized,
and in that moment of recognition the plane stops - very abruptly because
right here a pole extends from the ground to find the funnel of the plane.
I only have one try, because there is no reverse gear.
The plane can't leave and retry because there are other planes in the front.
So the first attempt has to succeed.
It works 95% of the time, although I still observe every single attempt
because if the plane stops a little too late or too early, it won't work.
But it has halted correctly. The poles are going into the fuselage, the funnels,
that we also use for take-off and landing, and they are lifting the plane.
The smallest planes weigh about 600 grams, the largest up to 2 kilos.
So we have a lot of contact pressure on this brass pole
to create a contact charge to feed 2 ampere or more
and are ready to go again in one hour.
After the plane is charged completely, it is set down again.
Another goal was: This isn't allowed to happen.
But we didn't have a single case where this happened,
only a little swerve to the left or right. That's what this contact wiring is for,
so no matter what happens, the guiding magnet will always find a wire.
We have implemented all 15 stairs and all of them have to be adjusted.
It's very important that the stairway docks correctly to every plane.
We built a little device to help us. I'll set it down over here.
We'll drive the stairway all the way to the stop - level 10 please!
If it's a perfect match, then it is the same each and every time.
Now we'll have to enter the position für every stairway at each parking position.
Yes, fits perfectly at No. 1!
It may look simple, but we worked half a year on this complicated technology.
We made a circuit board that is able to control four stepping motors.
Stepping motors are able to execute really small steps
and are repeatably positionable to 1/10th millimetres.
That's very useful because the stairway always has to stop at the same spot.
We're using this board all over the layout; for the stairs,
pushbackers and fingers. And those are next.
Since this week, all ten fingers are operational.
They have been painted and installed by Stefan.
Now they have to be hooked up for operation. This one is hooked up.
The challenge: Every airplane is different.
With some, the finger has to be lifted over the propulsion unit first,
with others, it can be adjusted right away.
Of course, the movement is supposed to look different with every plane.
The movement consists of turning, lifting, lowering and extending.
The adjustment is a lot of work, but I'm looking forward to doing it.
Could you lift to position seven, please?
Change it to 7200 or - switch to nine.
Could you allow 50 more and then click directly on 10?
65, go up to ten.
Yes, now it fits.
All in all, it takes about five minutes per plane...
Ten positions, 20 different planes - I don't want to think about it. Next topic!
When you build something for four years, you're not immune to mistakes.
And I've noticed two big mistakes.
Let me show you this picture - we've verified this with a survey on a few guests.
Most adults see this bus driving to the right.
Most kids visualize and compare this, and thus see it driving to the left.
Because: Where are the doors?
I seem to be an adult because I've made the same mistake on five positions.
The bus drives up to the plane, in a way that the doors are to the right.
So we have to build busses with doors on both sides
or just hope no one notices the mistake.
Let's get to the second big mistake so far: Our self-maneuvering positions.
The plane arrives, turns, finds its position.
Self-maneuvering position because it is able to back out without pushbackers.
It looked great on paper: We already had vehicles and busses driving around.
Until we decided to use the large tankers because we liked them more.
And lo and behold: When the tanker tries to go round the plane, it won't work.
So we have the choice to build smaller tankers for this position or
we'll just say: Short-distance flights don't need to refuel.
And with that I'd like to thank you for tuning in.
But I'd like to close again with plenty of images from our test mode.
We have 15 planes in operation now, almost 40 or 50 cars.
And when they all come together, it looks really great in my opinion.
Thank you, see you next time. Bye!