louiej5

Hi there,

I'm thinking of maybe building my own Knuffingen-styled airport, but at a 1:400 scale. I understand conceptually how the rods work in takeoffs and landings.

But does anyone know how do their planes taxi around? Is there a sub-surface magnet controlling the nose gear? Or is there an onboard computer brain controlling the nose gear steering? And what's that thing that sticks out in front of the nose gear? And are the planes being "dragged" around, or is there really an onboard battery that powers the landing gear wheels?

Thanks

louiej5

I wouldn't have thought that Knuffingen museum would have divulged their secrets on how their airport works, but they did. I found out their taxi system uses the Faller car system, and that metal thing that protrudes ahead of the nosegear is a magnet. The planes themselves have an onboard battery that powers the main landing gear wheels.

If the magnet is required to maintain contact against the tarmac surface, that would introduce too much friction for my design, unfortunately.

hiki08

But if they run their display constantly, surely they have sorted out the wear issue?

Not sure if I've come across this before but finding a video of the airport model of Knuffingen museum online was a satisfying watch. Amazing interplay of aircraft and vehicles and an even more amazing level of detail within the terminal!

louiej5

It just so happens that I'm thinking about a moving mechanical model of Kai Tak airport and the surrounding Kowloon City. To avoid having to cut a large groove through the City, I'll have to use a very different system than Knuffingen airport. I'm envisioning using fishing lines suspending the airplanes from above as they approach, which is a system that Knuffingen had considered but rejected.

I thought you'd be interested given your display picture of Cathay.

aibflyer221

I think that there is a sub-surface magnet controlling the nose gear, so the aircraft can move on the taxiways and ramp area.