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Ok, everyone should be able to "Like" now. Can someone try it out?

I was under the impression you had to have actual construction photos of your model before posting in this section.

I was also under the impression you had to be sponsored/directed by a company to post here. Not sure if your company was approved or not yet, if it has my bad, but until you have been approved as a company you should still be posting in freelance construction.

I am sure you spent plenty of time and long thought went into the layout of this coaster, but all I can see besides intersecting black lines are the three things you labeled on the diagram. Usually people color-code each element or segment so everyone can see the different elements you have planned. You see when all the elements are one color it is much harder to see what is going on...

think before you post.

I think you need to take your own advice here. I have not seen a single post from you on the forums where you did not mis-spell something, or had a punctuation/grammar error. I think you should have microsoft word open at all times, and just post what you want to say there. Once you are ready to post run a spelling/grammar check prior to posting on the forums, because your mistakes are borderline rediculous man.

Today Coasterkiller05 came over to my place to do some tests with the ball-bearing assemblies. We compared them to a below average regular train and to an above average regular train. And we put them through some tight corners to see how they do.

 

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This turn is too tight for a regular car, because the bottom wheel covers are rather large and hit the cross ties.

 

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The ball-bearing assemblies do not have this issue and are therefore suitable for very tight corners. Ideal for wild mouse coasters, especially when you combine the fact that these ball bearings reduce the minimal angle of declination for the car to start rolling.

 

 

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Tight crests have never really been a problem for the regular cars, apart from the chain dog grabbing onto the cross ties, when going backwards, when there's no middle tubing.

 

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The same goes for these ball-bearing assemblies, as the chain dog is untouched.

 

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Now I went overboard with making a tight valley. Obviously this is too tight for a regular car.

 

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The ball-bearing assemblies can handle a lot, but this is also too tight for them. But that's only because of one part...

 

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The front assembly touches the tubing when the valley is too tight. For practical purposes (imagine using it for a Eurofighter lift) it is no problem, though. One would never build a valley that tight.

 

 

 

We had the first drop on my new ride extended into a makeshift valley with a vertical spike at the end, so we could see how far back up the train would roll after being released from a certain height. The below average regular train (of 2 cars) went from a starting height of 140 cm (55 inch) to a height of 94 cm (37 inch). The ball-bearing assembly train went from a starting height of 140 cm (55 inch) to a height of 117 cm (46 inch). Once you experience these ball-bearing assembly trains, you cannot go back to regular trains.

 

I do have one feature request, however. Would you be able to print a chain dog holder onto the assembly for the last car?

 

I will send you a PM about a probable order I would like to place. Coasterkiller05's next order can be added to that then, since we live so close to one another.

Hey all!

 

Just reading over some of the recent comments.  My guess as to why the site has struggled recently is that K'nex is basically a dead product in a market that has to compete with electronics for kid's attention, and forums have fallen out of fashion (sadly) for things like reddit, twitter, etc.  It's a real shame about forums considering you can actually build real relationships here, while everyone is basically anonymous on reddit.  There's definitely still a desire for kids to build roller coasters, Disney and such is as popular as ever.  I think it's difficult for them to find the resources, though, having grown up with K'nex being basically unknown (and a pretty awful product with everything being micro).

 

I'm not sure how to bring back the glory days of SSC.  This place certainly means a lot to me, but I can't help but think it'll need to change to attract a younger audience.  Maybe source used K'nex and selling directly through the site?  Some advertising on youtube, or sponsoring by popular members who are happy to do it for free before their coaster videos?  Maybe an entire new user experience is required.  More like reddit or discord.  

 

Regardless I hope there is a new renaissance of SSC.  I'm in tech these days, BGT, so if you have any ideas, let me know.  I'd be happy to help out!

Steve jobs died in 2011. Bill gates is still alive. Windows wins
LOL jk that was a terrible joke I'm sorry guys

Final Video!

cool

 

So back in the day we used to have a minimum word count to avoid posts like this.  Since the forums are pretty dead these days it obviously isn't required anymore, but I'd still like to make a friendly suggestion.  Just saying "cool" doesn't add much to the conversation, and doesn't give Chaos any real feedback on his coaster.  If you're going to post you should take the time to say something that's at least a little insightful.  

Anyway, Chaos, cool coaster :-P

It's been a while. Almost 2 years. 

 

It's been a busy last 8 months or so. I started my first job as a doctor back in August and with all that's going on at the moment it might get a bit busier. My new 'covid' rota whilst looking pretty gross on the surface does, however, give me chunks of time in between sets of days and nights. I can't do any of my other hobbies, sport and photography, so I needed to do something with my free time, and so I cracked open my k'nex. 

 

An ambitious project, and one that's got me saying I'm gonna need more pieces :/ 

 

Any guesses? 

 

https://www.flickr.c...8/shares/MY66Jt

https://www.flickr.c...8779@N08/viGpzq

 

Also if anyone can remind me how to embed flickr photos, that would help.

[The uploader always crashes on me] 

 

 

Coaster is complete! Probably my fastest build ever. Wouldn't have been able to do it without all of Jonnie's help.

 

In one week, Rhys a.k.a. Britfag, Joe a.k.a. Micronex and me will go on a week's journey to ride some awesome coasters in the neighbourhood. Some highlights: Fenix, Taron, Expedition GeForce, Monster and Baron 1898. I can't wait!

Now I can see all those fun little details you were talking about yesterday. “Heeeeeeere’s Johnny.”

As I promised a long time ago, here is a quick circuit test run of my flying coaster, Charger:

 

I actually rarely receive reputation. Maybe once or twice a year.

Hope everyone had a great Christmas!

As seen on the Magnum XL-300 coaster model - here is how to dye yellow crossties red. In my opinion, this works much better than spray painting, as it coats all surfaces evenly, and leaves a smooth finish which is nearly indistinguishable from the original finish.

 

It does not seem to work on any flexi-rods, or any plastic with a glossy surface, but most standard rods and connectors should be fine. Just keep in mind that with dye, you can only get it to a darker color (so gray, white, and yellow pieces work best).

 

Materials:

1) RIT Synthetic dye

2) Yellow K'nex Crossties

3) Bowl or Pot

4) Cooking Tongs (Metal)

5) Large Tupperware Container

 

Process:

1) Pour 10 cups of water into pot/bowl

2) Heat up to just below boiling

3) Add 1 bottle of dye

4) Add crossties to the bowl

5) Let sit for 10 minutes

6) Transer crossties to tupperware

7) Rinse the wet crosstie with water (at least 3x) 8) Let pieces dry.

 

DP but I have an update! Well, sorta. I've started a mini side project: a small white-rod woodie. There's something I love about building things that have way too many pieces.

 

It's a little slow around here so I'm not expecting comments, but I'll always be watching... and waiting... hiding behind my screen with a sinister smile watching as you comment. 

Comment... if you want.  

It's been a little while since I posted anything. 

 

I haven't actually done anything to the coaster it self. I've been looking and looking for some sets that can allow me to finish the ride in the color scene I wish to. (Mostly because I didn't want to spend too much for a set)

 

 

Apart from that Christmas came early this year..  Johnny contacted me about his Ball-bearing wheels. Today the mail man handed them over and I installed them on my trains. The result? It's shocking!!

 

I've not really tested them but I don't feel like its needed to give them a major test since the result is way, way, way to obvious!

 

Video #1

My original best trains, best trains by quite some bit. They are lubed and weighted! Note: The chain on the MCBR is on! 

 

 

 

 

Video #2

The new ball-bearing trains. They run the same weights and are not lubed! (I've read that lubing makes them slower so I'm not trying that..) Note: The chain on the MCBR is off! 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The difference? Not that hard to see is it?

Thanks everyone!

Beautiful coaster. I hope you can pull off the theming, and I look forward to seeing the automation in action.

I don't either, but jo-jo rolls seem to be a classic element in k'nex coaster layouts.

Thank you! I'm now having second thoughts on the theming for a couple of reasons. One, it will be a TON of work and (depending on how my job interview goes) I might not have time before I have to dismantle this coaster and move out. Two, it would look really cool, but it would cover up the helix inside the mountain, and I'd like to be able to see that. Perhaps I can only cover certain parts of the mountain and leave the rest open? Kind of like how Expedition Everest only looks like a mountain from the front, but it's blank walls on the back.

Dang that looks awesome! I would like to see the station have a little more detail with a roof, and a catwalk for the break run and then i am happy! Can we see a full test run as well?

Ask and you shall receive! Well, the station roof at least. I'll be adding a catwalk to the brake run and beginning of the launch too. I couldn't get a test video, though, as all of a sudden my trains aren't making the full layout anymore. I may have to add more weights.

They're very fun to ride But this looks like it'd be even more fun!

This is a gorgeous coaster and the creative layout tells me you've had a lot of fun building it. I can't wait to see the automation you have in store either! That part is as exciting for you as watching this construction has been for us (which is a lot!).

Oh hi there Jumpge, thanks for stopping by You're darn right, I'm having a ton of fun with the automation! There's nothing I love more than to sit back and watch the coaster do its thing all by itself.


The automation is about 70% done. I'm using an Arduino and servo motors to control everything. And I'm finally getting to use that control panel!
There's also a contact switch in the station so I can get the train to stop in the right spot. Everything else (including the launch reset) will be estimated by timing. Basically, I turn on the launch reset motor for a specific amount of time and assume that the catch car will stop in the same place every time. That's how I automated Clockwork and it seemed to work well enough.

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^ The weird blue thing just controls the voltage being sent to the launch reset motor. It's real sketchy, but it's cheaper than doing it the "right" way (with electronic relays).

I think you need to try to push to contact someone higher in the company.

 

PS promoting this on the Facebook page to maybe get some more opinions.

This is one of my micro knex rollercoasters made about a year ago. It includes a vertical vengeance set, a cobras curse set and classic knex pieces from screaming serpent and tons of other sets. At the time is didn't really know what to do with the filming of the video so please excuse the POV parts.  (if i manage to upload the video) 

 

This coaster is tube supported with micro and classic pieces and is in my opinion a "hyper coaster." There are 4 cars on the train giving it a more realistic feel. Again i was limited in pieces and this is what i could do with the few that i had.

 

Link to youtube video of coaster - https://youtu.be/_SoEB4Z2Axs

 

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