15 replies to this topic

[Mr. Miggles]

Hey I'm new to the site(although I have looked it over, and it spretty awsome) and I think I am gonna start getting into coaster building. My biggest question is, on average, how many SS and RR sets do you guys use? Also, would it be cheaper buying the SS and RR sets, or just going for the parts individually? Any help would be greatly apreciated.

[BGEurope Kid]

Welcome to the site! To answer your question, I have 1 RR 2 SS and an extra set of RR tubing. I also some other smaller sets from before I started building. Personally I find RR to be cheaper (and more worth it to get), but make sure you get atleast 1 SS for the train, motor and chain links. Also if your not interesting in coaster parts i.e. crossties and tubing, check for just cheap bulk parts of knex. There is always a good deal out there it's just a matter of finding it. Hope I helped you some!

[colintaylor]

I'd say, to start off with, you should have about 3 ss sets on handy. Plus you might wanna be able to have some extra/miscellaneous pieces from e-bay/ and knex.com

[SuperTKDKid]

Welcome to the forums! To answer your question, I build with 3 SS right now with a bunch of extra peices. I just got a terrain trekkar, but mainly for the motor.

[2015ASM]

Welcome to SSC. I think i have 4 or 5 SS and 2 RR plus a bunch of other sets. I have found that the supports in the roller coaster sets are very minimal, and you shud definitley get some random knex peices in bulk off of ebay or even at the store. Hope this helps....

~2015AsM

[Mr. Miggles]

Thanks alot for the input guys! I'm planning on getting at least one SS and RR at the minimum. As for individual pieces, I found this website that seems to have a pretty good deal for track connector, tubing, etc. K'NEX User Group (US$) - Connectors
If you guys know of any better deals let me know.

[RCT2123]

As a member who has been here for a long time, here is my advice...

1. You cannot have enough sets! To me, trains are more important than pieces so I would go with SS sets. The piece count is pretty much the same, and trains are the most valuable thing you can have. I personally have 3 of each. If you can find one for 25-30 dollars, grab it. Just make sure to have at least one SS set for the train.

2. It is usually more efficient to buy sets rather than pieces. The SS and RR sets give you a pretty good amount of pieces, plus coaster parts, so unless you are super desperate for a lot of pieces, stick with buying coaster sets.

Welcome to the site.

-RCT2123

[ForgotToGrowUp]

Got a lot of good advice already. I agree the most cost effective way to get a lot of parts is to buy sets. At first you want to buy coaster sets to get the cross ties, tubing and particularly SS sets to get the train, chain and motor (although those motors are really weak)

eBay is a great source but you have to be patient, lots of times the sets get bid up to a very high value. I think this is worse just before Christmas than at other times. Also pay attention to the shipping costs, that can often be more than the selling price. Anytime you can buy local is better because you save shipping, try Craigslist.com

Some of the other big sets can be found cheap and have a lot of parts. Big Ball Factories in particular are good for lots of parts.

Another piece of advice you should get a lot around here is to start building small. It is very tempting to build bigger than your parts and skill support. Better to get a good small coaster working than to fail making a large one....

[Mr. Miggles]

Once again thanks so much for hte input, my friend and I plan to try and build one for the science fair, something that hasn't been seen at the school yet. I completely agree on the idea of starting off small and working our way up. Should be a fun experience, we just have to think of something to test on the coaster, but we have ideas.

[ForgotToGrowUp]

conservation of energy, teachers will eat it up.

[SuperTKDKid]

Yeah, make sure you do something with weights on the trains. Just make sure your supports are super solid so shaking doesn't effect it.

[lazor 22]

You could also look at coasterdynamix. Not sure what is going on right now with them but you can find a used scorpion every now and then on eBay. Just be careful buying them used because CD is hobby grade and requires care, alot of people abuse there's and that's one reason they never get them to run right and hate it. I prefer it over knex anyday.

[-=TK=-]

Hey welcome to the site, and I'll just start with answering your question. As you probably don't know yet, we as TK build with the 2 of us. I think the sets you need to build awesome coasters are like 3 screamin serpent sets, but to build bigger, you need more of them. Together Tom and I have 6 ss sets and 2 rr sets, and it builds very nice. Some other sets for building are also very good to have, and I recommend the Big Air Ball Tower, because it is a very good boost of parts, and doesn't cost that much. An all terrain trekker might be handy for the motor, or a 12v pack.

-=TK=-

[jespercoasters]

I Have
3ss (Screamin serpent)
2st (storm mountain)
2sh (shark run)
2rr (ripin rocket)
1dr (dragons drop) micro knex
1ob (orange box)
1ll (looping lizzard)

Welcome on the forum's im glad you asking all these question's

[chaindogg33]

Funny how this is turning into another "how much knex do you own?" thread.

Oh hell, i'll jump in to. I have about 7 SS and 2 RR. But i did get a boatload of knex "lots" on ebay. Personally (depends on how you build) I find that i need more of cerrtain pieces like 7.5" greys or blue 3d's, so i'll buy lots of them.

My 1st coaster was made up of about 2 SS and 1 RR. and some extra pieces, and i agree with everyone that you should start off small. A small ride can be easily moved and doesn't take up too much space.

[colintaylor]

^ Agreed lol. Also if you keep an eye out in the "construction thread", you can use the topics to help you. I consider building threads like 6 day tutorials. When people need help shaping, they post pictures of their loop in the beginning, then in the middle, then the whole loop. Use these threads as well as the tutorial threads as guidelines to help you build. Remember you don't learn anything from copying. Hope this helps!