The World's Smallest Model Train 19
New Jersey's David Smith has built a model train that is 35,200 times smaller than the real thing. It took months to build and the locomotive only cost about $11.
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The World's Smallest Model Train
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The explanation requiring the fewest assumptions is the most likely to be correct. -- William of Occam
Not a real train - Animated Model of a Train Set (Score:1, Insightful)
Slight mis-representation, but still a neat idea and great execution.
Re:Not a real train - Animated Model of a Train Se (Score:2)
Slight misrepresentation?! It's more like kicking a kid in the balls while simultaneously telling him there's no santa right at christmas morning.
At least that's how I felt. It's not a train unless its on tracks.
Re: (Score:3, Insightful)
While I would say this is a model of a train, it's not what anyone would be expecting. I was hoping it ran on tracks under it's own power. That would ahve been cool and my son would have gotten a blast, but this? meh.
Re: (Score:1, Flamebait)
Holy crap as you all serious? you are dismissing it because it isn't on its own tracks?
You are all stupid. Stupid stupid stupid. Its pretty damn awesome, regardless of whether it has tracks or not.
Re: (Score:2)
Sorry but you have to have a track to be a model train: "Model railroading (US) is a hobby in which rail transport systems are modelled at a reduced scale, or ratio." So no track = no model train.... sry HTML link isn't working, just see the wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rail_transport
This is kinda like your friend telling you he bought a new convertible and you run out to see it an
Cue someone with an atom-force microscope ... (Score:2)
... to build a 1:10^8 scale model of the flying Scotsman, complete with London-Edinburgh track.
That would be on the order of a micron across, so you might even try making the track/ landscape with something resembling conventional chip-making technology.
That sounds too close to being serious. I'd better add a "<G>".
Talk about versatile. (Score:2)
Misleading Title..... (Score:3)
Not even close to being a model train. The train moves WITH the tracks. It's technically a plastic tube with the end cut to look like a train AND tracks.
A true "Model Train" would move under it's own power (it's own electric motor being powered by electricity from the tracks), and move independently of the tracks.
This is an animated miniature diorama of a train, NOT a miniature train.
Still neat though.
Re: (Score:2)
It's a model, not a scale replica...
You don't complain that a regular model train isn't powered by a scale replica steam engine.
The smaller it gets, the less true to the original it is. The smaller it is, the less detail you can pack in. That's just to be expected.
It's not as cool as it would be if it did move under its own power and run independently of the tracks, of course, but it's still pretty damn cool.
Re: (Score:2)
"You don't complain that a regular model train isn't powered by a scale replica steam engine."
-No, when I mean under it's own power, I mean that it moves itself. The train in the article doesn't move itself.
For example, Lionel trains and cars move themselves, and they draw electrical power from the tracks. The cars and tracks are all independent from the tracks and each other.
The article describes a plastic tube carved to look like a train, cars, and tracks, with the tube connected to a motor.
Re: (Score:2)
Well, maybe you don't. ;)
Re:Misleading Title..... (Score:4, Informative)
You are wrong. It's a model. It's working because it moves. Therefore, it's a working model train.
Models can be stationary, propelled by a tether, propelled by an external force, or self-propelled with onboard machinery. Examples of such models:
This model would fall under tethered.
A model is simply a reproduction of the original, generally on a miniature scale. There are no requirements for mobility or accuracy of internal machinery and external appearance to be called a model.
Re: (Score:2)
The Slashdot title might be wrong, but the original author is perfectly clear that it is a model of a model train. That's two meta-levels, and can be as removed from the original as it needs. obj = model(model(train)).