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The World's Smallest Model Train

Posted by samzenpus on from the tiny-tunnels dept.

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.

19 comments

  1. Not a real train - Animated Model of a Train Set by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Insightful

    Slight mis-representation, but still a neat idea and great execution.

  2. Re:Not a real train - Animated Model of a Train Se by Nabeel_co · · 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.

  3. Re:Not a real train - Animated Model of a Train Se by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Sexist!

    Kicking in the balls and/or punching in the tits...

    the and/or is for transgender children

  4. Cue someone with an atom-force microscope ... by RockDoctor · · Score: 1

    ... 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>".

    --
    Birds are not dinosaur descendants;birds are dinosaurs, for all useful meanings of "birds", "are" and "dinosaurs"
  5. Re:Not a real train - Animated Model of a Train Se by geekoid · · Score: 2, 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.

    --
    The Kruger Dunning explains most post on /. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dunning%E2%80%93Kruger_effect
  6. Re:Not a real train - Animated Model of a Train Se by Jailbrekr · · Score: 0, 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.

    --
    Feed the need: Digitaladdiction.net
  7. Talk about versatile. by donscarletti · · Score: 1

    Serves as a Z scale model of an N scale trainset and also serves as a N scale model of a Z scale trainset.

    --
    When Argumentum ad Hominem falls short, try Argumentum ad Matrem
  8. Misleading Title..... by IHC+Navistar · · Score: 2

    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.

    --
    Knowing Google's lust for data collection, the Soviet Union is still alive and well inside the psyche of Sergey Brin....
    1. Re:Misleading Title..... by clone53421 · · Score: 1

      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.

      --
      Alexander Peter Kristopeit bought his basement from his mommy for one dollar.
    2. Re:Misleading Title..... by IHC+Navistar · · Score: 1

      "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.

      --
      Knowing Google's lust for data collection, the Soviet Union is still alive and well inside the psyche of Sergey Brin....
    3. Re:Misleading Title..... by lena_10326 · · Score: 3, 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:

      • Stationary: Tester's plastic model car. Model of a city building in development. Diorama. Figurine.
      • Propelled by a tether or platform: Model plane swung with a cord. Boat pulled by a string. Model of the solar system attached base assembly.
      • Propelled by external force (on-board motor powered by external source): Slot cars. Electric trains such as HO gauge and Lionel. Model sailboat.
      • Self propelled or self powered (both energy and motor on-board): RC plane. RC car. Battery powered trains. CO2 rocket car. Estes rocket. Model cannon.

      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.

      --
      Camping on quad since 1996.
    4. Re:Misleading Title..... by ishmalius · · Score: 1

      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)).

    5. Re:Misleading Title..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      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.

      Actually it isn't. If you cannot pack in the necessary detail, it stops being a model train. Nobody except perhaps the most die-hard fanatics would demand a model steam train to have replica steam engine (although those do exist) but the common definition of a model train is that it moves under its own power along a track. This doesn't. Or maybe you, who expect and accept less detail in smaller models are interested in buying my model of the Eiffel tower? Most people would call it a needle, though...

      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.

      "Cool" is subjective and sure, this is pretty neat but it certainly isn't a model train and a model train of this scale would be really, really cool.

    6. Re:Misleading Title..... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

      I model everything by drawing a dot.

      (it's very small).

    7. Re:Misleading Title..... by kimvette · · Score: 1

      You don't complain that a regular model train isn't powered by a scale replica steam engine.

      Well, maybe you don't. ;)

      --
      The Christian Right is Neither (Christian nor right). See: Matthew 23, Matthew 25, Ezekiel 16:48-50
  9. Re:Not a real train - Animated Model of a Train Se by iamhassi · · Score: 1

    "Holy crap as you all serious? you are dismissing it because it isn't on its own tracks? You are all stupid."

    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 and he hands you a matchbox car. Sure, technically it's a "new convertible", but it's a serious misrepresentation.

    --
    my karma will be here long after I'm gone
  10. Re:Not a real train - Animated Model of a Train Se by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    If you think getting punched in the tits is anywhere near as bad as getting kicked in the balls, you've obviously never been kicked in the balls. There is no way getting punched in the tits can hurt anything remotely like getting kicked in the balls.

    More like grabbing their tongue and pinching it as hard as you can... BTW, every woman should be required to try this on herself, and then remember it any time she's tempted to kick a man in the balls.

    Seriously, if any women out there are reading this: stick your tongue out, grab it between your thumb and forefinger, and give it a long, hard pinch. You don't even have to pinch it very hard if you don't have the balls for it (ha ha). Just a long, little pinch. It hurts like hell. If you did it hard enough to someone, you could probably make them puke... which can also happen if you get kicked in the nuts, in case you weren't aware.

    P.S. I've heard that grabbing an aggressive (as in, it means to kill you, not the biting-the-mailman sort of aggressive) dog's tongue if it tries to bite is an effective way of avoiding getting bitten. I'm not particularly interested in sticking my hands into aggressive dogs' mouths, but then again it might be the most viable alternative in some situations.

  11. Re:Not a real train - Animated Model of a Train Se by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    Please learn the difference between its and it's.

  12. Re:Not a real train - Animated Model of a Train Se by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0

    YES! A car analogy! THIS we can understand! ;)