NTS&B Hidden Military Base Bunker Entrance Complete

The assembly now has all electrical and scenery items added.  The motor drive had to be redesigned, because the original operation was too intermittent.  Power to the radar tower, bumper, and door drive have all been installed from the appropriate power strips.  Here is what it looks like, and the steps involved:

Final Result, with Lionel #44 Missile Launcher coming out getting ready for action.

 Re-designed motor mechanism.  Rubber band is to apply spring tension to pull it up an additional 1/4 inch when opened.  Limit switches are applied with hot glue to the side of the DC motor, and was done MUCH  neater the first 10 to 15 times.  The motor is powered using a DC HO power pack connected through a double pole, double throw, center off switch. The switch is wired to reverse the DC and turn off power through the switch.

Internal connections for radar tower, bumper, and motor power.  Voltages are applied through a 6 pin connector at the base of the platform, so the assembly can easily be removed to work on.

 Scenery was done using joint compound, textured with an old come to give the appearance of rock blasted out with dynamite.

 Assembly is now painted.  The wire sticking out is for radar tower.  Also, there is a bulb sticking out that is wired in parallel with the motor, which will be on only when motor is on.  If a limit switch fails, the motor will stay on and  possibly burn up, so the light is wired to stay lit until the motor is off.  

Picture of finished assembly, with door brick wall installed.

NTS&B Hidden Military Base Bunker Door Started

The last module I had to build was the bunker door assembly.  It sits on the end of the hidden track at the Top Secret Headquarters, where the Lionel #44 Army Missile Launcher lies waiting for action.  The assembly will consist of 1) a 'dummy' track bumper mounted on the door to simulate the end of the siding just past the coal loader, 2) an operational door for the bunker, 3) Track power for the bumper and siding, and 4) Power for the Lionel Radar tower which will sit on top of the bunker.   Here are the initial pictures:

 Structure built, with bumper mounted in door panel.

Side view with bunker door opened.

I used a slow speed DC motor I had purchased a few years ago for this project.  I used fishing line to open the door, and added counter weights under the bumper to help close the door.  Limit switches are hot glued on to the side of the frame, and on the motor casing.