25 replies to this topic

[BubbleMan 32714]

SInce I have been looking around this site for a while now I have been noticing a lot of members like building with tube supports. I figured it wouldn't hurt to give this a shot! So all this week and all of next week I will be showing you guys how to build with tubes and different shapes and angels. Comments and suggestions are appreciated.

Here are a couple picks of the sizes but most of you should all ready know them by now.

White Tube

Blue Tubes

Yellow or Black Tubes

Metallic Green or Red Tubes

Gray Tubes

All Tubes

[Jogumpie]

That's really basic, but yeah, these (and especially the largest two) are important in tube support design.

[SuperTKDKid]

when i build them i build the tube more continuous so it is hard to change the size of it.

[The Stig]

Helpful. Can you do some dual tube and A-frame examples?

*edit* I guess I got distracted by the pictures and didn't read all of your first post. I'll look forward to updates.

[BubbleMan 32714]

Chapter 1

Building the base for the support column. Many people use different types of base supports to keep the tube in place here's one example Speed O Fear had a very easy base to build to hold the tubes in place. Today I am going to show you how to build Speed O Fears Base

Step one build this! Make suer that all steps are correct.

step two: Add spacers to the 4 white rods.

Step Three: Add the grey locks on top of the spacers like so

Step Four: then add blue locks to hold the tube in place.

Step Five: place white or silver rods on the bottom of the tube either side is fine

Step Six: place the tube in the center of the base.

It should look like this when completed. Comment's are welcome

[The Stig]

Of course! It all makes sense now.
This makes me want to revise my wobbly support bases.
I have a feeling this is going to be my favorite tut thread.

[SuperTKDKid]

this is basically what i do, except mine i have a blue and gray 3d together in the center with a blue rog on the top, then insert the tube and dot the rest but with 90 degree connectors on the top instead of single coonecters on the rod.

[Sniggeh]

You should build tube to tube connecters next. Ex: A Frame- supports

[SuperTKDKid]

this should be stickied

[Knexrule11]

Well..... The problem is that when the weight of the tube/coaster gets put on it. It will, A. Will unconnect the white rods that hold it up. becouse the connection for the rod is vertical. So it will just slip right out. 2. The tube's grey rods will just slip right through the white snowflake connector. If you look at the support connections on my Giga's tube supports. The are very stable:



But I like the idea of this thread.
Keep it up! I would just check them first, to make sure that there strong, and can hold up alot of weight.

KR11

[BubbleMan 32714]

You guys asked for it. You got it!

Chapter 2: Basic A frame building. The A frame is simple it just depends on how big you want it or how small. I'm still going with speed O Fears structure cause thats the only one I know how to build so far so bare with me. I am going to show you how to build the wrap around turn on speed o fear and placing the track on as well.

this is how far I got last night. I might get the chance to finish this tonight or tomorrow so inspect some updates.

Step 1: Is basically the same. build the base

step 2: Extend the tubes by placing 2 half moon connectors and 2 brown connectors

Step 3: It should look like this when it's complete.

Step 4: building the turn to hold the tubes in place be sure that they are built correctly as shown on both sides.

be sure to extend the center as well in the middle
Left side

Right side of turn

Step 5: Place another tube on the left side and place gray rods to connect the both of them.
Step 6: Basically the same thing just add another tube on the right side.

Step 7: You Should have this when it's Finished.

Again I might have the A frame section done later tonight or Tomorrow Comment's are appreciated .

[Jonny]

Cool but, the coaster in the background need more banking on the drop.

[Blackkitty]

How about layering the tubes?

[chaindogg33]

I like this thread alot, esp since I'm building w/tubes right now. I figured I'd add something to it, I hope u don't mind.
When I started w/tubes, i had problems keeping the headers from moving down the tube. In other words, i needed to secure the snowflake connector at the top somehow, so the header would stay in place over time. Here is an example of a secured header on an adjustable loop tube support:



Look at the front tube. Notice the ball joint holding the track is connected to the purple/blue 3d. (I like using ball joints bcuz they are adjustable) The 3d is held in place by 4 blue rods attached to the end of brown ladders (u can only see 2 of them well). Here is the footer of same tube:



The 2 front greys are in the same location on the tube as the 2 blue rods in the above photo, and are held by the ball joints at the bottom. This way the 3d can't slide down at all.

Here's another example of a tube with a ball joint header held in place by a blue/purple 3d:



The 3d is kept from sliding down by the grey single hinge attached to the white rod.



The white rod is butted against a grey that continues all the way down to the footer. (it's actually 2 greys connected by a brown ladder, but u get the point)



This footer is more solid than the last one, but hinges for angling. Well, I hope this helps some people. If there's a better or nicer looking method, let me know.

[BubbleMan 32714]

Thanks for the example Chaindogg33 I appreciate it. If any of you feel the need to show some other examples go right ahead. This forum is open to every one.

Chapter 2 continued

Step 8: Place 2 black or yellow rods with brown connecters as shown here place a blue rod in the middle of the 2 brown connecters do the same for the left and right ones too. This is in the center tube which is the highest one.

Step 9: Place these 4 pieces as shown on the top of the center tube

Step 10: Place an Orange or white 45* connecter on all blue rods as shown

Step 11: now build and extend the tube as seen here.

Note: connect the tube to the 45* connecter once it has been built.
Step 12: Adding the tracK. This step is quite simple really just place the track to the on the highest tube which has the 4 pieces on it and do the same on the 2 bottom tubes.



Once you have done that Congrats you have built a partial wrap around turn. Comments suggestions and concerns are appreciated.

[Jogumpie]

That is not the correct way to build tube support footers. You want to have the tube to be connected to the base as sturdy as possible.

In this picture you can see how I connect my vertical tubes to the ground. Notice that there is a BLACK snow flake connector right underneath the tube, to support all the grey rods!

Edited by Jogumpie, 04 September 2013 - 12:23 PM.

[SuperTKDKid]

you havent built that right, the track is way too tight and the 2 tubes closest to the middle dont get diagonal tubes

[The Stig]

How do you connect your supports to your track?

[ickus305]

This thread is great, but can we keep expanding on somethings. I would love to see more examples of connections to bases and also to the track.

I built a few tube supports to use to modify a pirate ship ride, the biggest issue I notice with the supports is that they want to bow when placed on an angle, how do you over come this?

[The Stig]

^ I agree. I really liked this tut.