Trufans...

[nscaler711]

Cute. I made something similar on a MTH SD70ACe about 15 years ago.
the fans in the radiator spun fairly freely so all i needed was a very small motor (think phone vibration motors.)
You. Dont. Notice. Them. While. Running. 

I like innovation in our hobby, this isn't it. I want more advanced tech in our trains. like where they communicate with each other for consisting, or wirelessly send information to a locomotive to change sounds like uploading new sounds, or adjusting lighting features. get rid of CVs entirely. About the closest thing we have is RailPro. I have it in a couple G scale locomotives and its nice, but the sound is... ok....
I know it is kinda there, but not really. Basically all we're doing is trying to install Windows 11 on a computer that was built in 2005. (good luck without RUFUS) 

[Rasputen]

Maybe that's just some conceptual prototype, but shouldn't the fan blade tips be a lot closer to the shrouds? 

[dem34]

Cute. I made something similar on a MTH SD70ACe about 15 years ago.
the fans in the radiator spun fairly freely so all i needed was a very small motor (think phone vibration motors.)
You. Dont. Notice. Them. While. Running. 

I like innovation in our hobby, this isn't it. I want more advanced tech in our trains. like where they communicate with each other for consisting, or wirelessly send information to a locomotive to change sounds like uploading new sounds, or adjusting lighting features. get rid of CVs entirely. About the closest thing we have is RailPro. I have it in a couple G scale locomotives and its nice, but the sound is... ok....
I know it is kinda there, but not really. Basically all we're doing is trying to install Windows 11 on a computer that was built in 2005. (good luck without RUFUS)

While I kinda agree on mainline power. Having this on small power. Is I think the big difference, combine the small power with a switching layout properly set up with a ProtoThrottle and that's when this will pop.

[Chris333]

Maybe that's just some conceptual prototype, but shouldn't the fan blade tips be a lot closer to the shrouds?

I think so

[pmpexpress]

Where is/was this diesel locomotive fan graveyard located?

[Chris333]

That pics was here:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1705904,-80.7238822,550m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e4?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTAwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

https://photos.app.goo.gl/VPVWXdCs4zEI9XrC2

But they seem to have moved down the tracks a bit:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.181996,-80.8674349,1101m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e4?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTAwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

[daniel_leavitt2000]

I updated a few models with BLMA and Trainworx etched fan parts. I bent the blades to be more fan-like and installed them on the post without glue. This allowed them to freewheel and the effect was pretty good for N scale.

But this gimmick takes up a boat load of room, and I don't think it provides the wow factor they think it will.

The blurred out shirts and paperwork make me think this project was offered to a more established company, and they passed on the offer after it reached prototyping phase.

[pmpexpress]

That pics was here:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.1705904,-80.7238822,550m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e4?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTAwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

https://photos.app.goo.gl/VPVWXdCs4zEI9XrC2

But they seem to have moved down the tracks a bit:
https://www.google.com/maps/@41.181996,-80.8674349,1101m/data=!3m1!1e3!5m1!1e4?entry=ttu&g_ep=EgoyMDI1MTAwOC4wIKXMDSoASAFQAw%3D%3D

The LTEX dead line and scrap yard look like they could be condensed into a really neat N-Scale diorama.

The firm's location, which is adjacent to the CXS mainline and near the CSX Lordstown yard appears to be quite strategic.

Thanks for sharing.

[DirtyD79]

Cute. I made something similar on a MTH SD70ACe about 15 years ago.
the fans in the radiator spun fairly freely so all i needed was a very small motor (think phone vibration motors.)
You. Dont. Notice. Them. While. Running. 

I like innovation in our hobby, this isn't it.

Yeah, it's a nice idea but I'm pretty sure the novelty will wear off quickly and like you said you won't even notice it when you're actually running them. It's like rotating bearing caps. They look cool if you're looking at the models up close and all but eventually, they fall off into Neverneverland and make you wonder "Who the ***** thought this was a good idea?".

[tehachapifan]

I think these will be way more noticeable than rotating bearing caps. Much bigger and on top of the loco where all the light is. I've pondered how to possibly achieve this in N scale off and on for years.

It would also make a difference on how fast they rotate. If they go so fast that they essentially disappear then, yeah, probably not worth it. But these appear to rotate at speeds that would really catch the eye. Probably even more so with the speed variations and changes between fans.

[Tad_T]

Do these fans turn at prototypical speeds?

200 rpm (idle) - 900 rpm (max cooling)

Can you see the fan blades on the oscillating fan on your porch?

[tehachapifan]

....Can you see the fan blades on the oscillating fan on your porch?

I just went out and looked. Can't even see a fan on my porch. Actually, I can't even see a porch (it's more like an enlarged cement step).

[Maletrain]

In regard to how much these fans will be noticed, I think that the changes in the number running and the speed difference between idle fans windmilling backwards and then starting and running forwards will be eye catching.  It is changes in motion that we are most sensitive to catching, even "out of the corners of our eyes".

[Tad_T]

I’m sitting on my porch and I looked at the fan, it’s on low.

I can’t see the fan blades.

If you want to see the change in rpm, you’re going to have to have some kind of notch feature.

To be prototypical that notch feature would need to be in sync with the cooling needs of the prime mover.

If you have a vehicle with an electric fan…

[tehachapifan]

The video in the OP shows prototype locos with fans (quite visibly) spinning. Yes, the second clip appears to have that (video?) phenomenon where blades look like they are spinning slower than they actually are, but not the first clip. Anyway, it doesn't matter. Those who like this feature will but it and those that don't won't. I think it's cool as $#!+!