Levitation

[Citris]

Hello all, I'm rather new to this hobby and I have a question.

I remember reading about someone using magnets to levitate their Harbinger of Menoth and I want to do something similar with my Egregore. I've done some research and I know I need strong magnets (preferably rare earth) and some pyrolytic graphite.

I was wondering if anyone has done something similar and would like to share any experiences, material sources, and/or tips they may have.

Thanks in advance.

[Agamemnon2]

I'm open to correction here, but I don't think you can achieve a stable magnetic levitation without guidewires, at least not with static magnets. The problem is that the system is inherently unstable, the slightest imbalance (and I'm talking about things like miniscule magnetic field anomalies here) would be all that's required to break the levitation. You wouldn't be able to move the mini, for example (I'm not sure if the Earth's movement would be enough to destabilize that sort of levitation, but air currents probably would).

NB. Pyrolytic graphite does levitate stably using permanent magnets, it seems, but I do not think you could use it to levitate anything else.

[AndyFrazer]

Yep... it's really not going to happen with magnets... especially if you want a piece you can use in a game. If you move the base the field will collapse and your nicely painted ball of darkness goes rolling across the floor.

I removed the base tab on my egregore and have it "floating" on a short section of clear plastic rod, secured to the base with putty (milliput). Much easier, and from 3 feet away, is a pretty good effect (even if I say so myself ).

Hope that helps

AF

[Bert_the_Turtle]

With a clever bit of base decoration and paint job you could even further draw the eye away from a clear plastic stand.

[AndyFrazer]

With a clever bit of base decoration and paint job you could even further draw the eye away from a clear plastic stand.

I use a bit of teased out cotton ball to form some "mist" around the base of the rod (which is only 1/4" from the top of the base to the egragore).

I had to rotate the egragore around from the normal (spike down) alignment, but the spikes pointing towards the ground help to draw the eye away from the rod.

If I had my camera back, I would post a snap... maybe I can get it at the weekend...

[I-am-robot]

I suppose if one were to use actual small chains to anchor the model to its base, one could theoretically get a *relatively* easy levitation using magnets?

You'd probably have to add more chains holding her down than the three on the unchanged model, and you'd almost certainly have to drastically alter the trailing robes and possibly where the chains connect to Harby, but if it worked, it'd look pretty cool as far as my wild imagination is concerned.

[Bert_the_Turtle]

If you used real chains, you could glue or solder them into a solid piece of metal and use them to suspend the model itself. Just attach the end of the chains to the base and use 'em as a stand.

[teejayv]

I've never tried this, but assuming the direction you want to go, you'll have something overhead to suspend this, correct? You could always just use a magnet on the base of the model, and the bottom of whatever it is you're looking to levitate, and to suspend it from the top anchoring point, I think the most translucent thing you could possibly use to draw less attention would be clear nylon thread. You could glue it to the model for better strength than just tying it, and the thread itself is extremely strong. Before I had started pinning my minis, I had painted Gauth (the reaper dragon) and the wings were so heavy that they started splaying out and the glue that had bonded them was wearing down. I used the nylon string as a fix (until I finally moved the model and dropped it, that's all she wrote) for display use and it worked just fine. It's just an option! ;-)

[Citris]

Thanks for the info folks. I've done some more searching myself and it seems the pyrolitic graphite just doesn't repel strong enough for something like this.

I think I'll go with the thin-clear-rod-underneath idea.

[Bert_the_Turtle]

I just had an idea. Imagine if you took clear rings of increasing size and used them to make it look like, air distortion, of a hovering object.

[phantem2]

Another option, at this is psuedo cheating but it will bring the point across is chains where the links are attached that hold her up.

[Citris]

I just had an idea. Imagine if you took clear rings of increasing size and used them to make it look like, air distortion, of a hovering object.

That would be a fun idea to do on exhaust vents for 'jacks. It would probably take some experimentation, but it could work.

[tarrant_01]

I recommend using a helium-filled balloon...

[Brownboot]

You could use magician's thread and hang her from a very ornate base...

[darisus]

I had some luck making things look to be floating with real chains. If you have chains trailing off something like in the harbringer, you can harden the chains with a clear epoxy or glue. It's really just the trick of instead of the chains holding something down they are really in effect holding it up. This gives the floating impression without alot of complex useof magnets and such. Just don't drop it as having the chains snap is really hard to fix(i know from personal experience, stupid cat).

[Bert_the_Turtle]

I had some luck making things look to be floating with real chains. If you have chains trailing off something like in the harbringer, you can harden the chains with a clear epoxy or glue. It's really just the trick of instead of the chains holding something down they are really in effect holding it up. This gives the floating impression without alot of complex useof magnets and such. Just don't drop it as having the chains snap is really hard to fix(i know from personal experience, stupid cat).

XD That's what I was trying to suggest hahaha.

[Rogue Sun]

I actually remember seeing this conversion a long while back, but yes, a forum member DID successfully have a levitating Harbinger using only magnets. The robes and trailing pieces of cloth were drastically modified so that they did not interfere and the model was stabilized with jewelers chain. If memory serves, the base had to be made taller in order to hold a large enough and strong enough magnet to repel the body of the Harbinger enough distance.

This can be done, but I think using solid chain would be an easier route.

[AndyFrazer]

Thanks for the info folks. I've done some more searching myself and it seems the pyrolitic graphite just doesn't repel strong enough for something like this.

I think I'll go with the thin-clear-rod-underneath idea.

Just a word of advice... if you are going to use clear plastic to "levitate" your Egragore.

Use a short section (no more than 1/2"). If you use a longer section, the ball just looks like it is on a stick (albeit a clear plastic one).

The trick is to have the clear rod short enough that the model itself hides the rod from casual veiwing (which is usually from a couple of feet away and from above), and solid enough not to snap should you have an accident.

I used 4mm (approx 1/8") clear rod from Plastruct. Although you could also use a cut down flying base.

I measured the length of my rod (ooh-er missus! ) last night and it's acutally about 1cm (~1/3"), enough that the spikes don't touch the base, but enough to remain just out of eyeline when viewed from a normal gameplay angle.

Hope that helps.

[TheLat]

What you want for levitation is a room-temperature super-conductor. I believe that they are expensive

[alexnjessi]

This may sound like too much work, but when I was in Cub Scouts making Pinewood Derby cars (a millennium ago it feels), one thing my dad did to help weigh it down was drill holes in the block, then use an acetylene torch to melt some lead fishing weights, then pour the molten lead into the drilled out holes. I'm thinking that this same technique could be used to solidify some small chains (as someone mentioned already) to hold the model up instead of weighing it down. I think the lead would also be soft enough to allow for minor bending of the chains for placement and such. I've also seen egregore models with "gunk" pouring out of the orifices and onto the ground, effectively holding up the orb, presumably made out of green stuff. Just some ideas. Obviously if you went with my first suggestion, be VERY VERY careful.

[MetalsMike]

ah, but be careful, because on any product with lead in it in the US you get this warning: "Known to the state of California to cause cancer."
apparently california are the only ones that know...

[alexnjessi]

ah, but be careful, because on any product with lead in it in the US you get this warning: "Known to the state of California to cause cancer."

So long as you don't eat your minis you should be fine.