It is time to start a new edition of the annual Winter Contest! Cedar Fair and the K'NEX company banded together and made plans for a new amusement park. SSC was asked to design one of their new roller coasters. The actual location is still unknown to the public, but since we will be developers for the park, we were provided with a map. An explanation of the map, and thus the rules, will follow.
- The building area is limited to the red rectangle (8 long grey rods by 4 long grey rods).
- The purple area has to contain the station, but can contain other parts of the roller coaster.
- The blue shape is the path for the visitors to walk on. A long straight path intersects the building area (which can be at ground level or elevated like a bridge). This path should stay clear of any roller coaster parts! The path's clearance height is one yellow/granite rod.
These are the rules related to the map. Cedar Fair and K'NEX communicated a few other rules, too:
- Height restriction at tree top level; luckily the trees there are rather tall, the restriction is set at 5 long grey rods high.
- What is specifically asked for is a CREATIVE element. It is up to the contestant to decide what is their CREATIVE element. Every contestant writes a paragraph about why his design is the right one for the park and what his CREATIVE element is, and why it is CREATIVE. Note that everything can be considered an element; a track element, theming, automation, the station, etc.
In short, there is a bunch of geometrical limits and there is need of a CREATIVE element.
The SSCoasters staff wishes you a lot of fun during building. Your deadline is January 15th, 2012.
Please post your questions in a reply to this post.
This is a fictional story. Cedar Fair and K'NEX are not actually related to this contest.
Q&A
Can we send multiple entries?
Yes, you can, but it is not recommended, as you reduce your chance of winning.
Is the template 7 or 8 grey rods long?
It was supposed to be 7, but a change in the template caused me to make an error. Now I will leave it at 8, to give you more space to work in.
Can I have two stations?
Yes, but both have to be in the purple area, with paths leading to the path section south of the red area.
Can I have a transfer track?
Yes, and it doesn't have to be in the purple area.
Why did the Winter Contest start in halfway October?
The contest runs for 3 months, the length of each season and thus winter, too. In the past we had summer contests running far into September with the final polls in October, and winter contests running far into February, with polls in March. The SSC Contest Agenda shows the approximate timeline for our contests. Now that the Winter Contest ends in Mid-January, the following Top Model and Alternative Top Model can start in February. We need our contests planned in advantage, to avoid any postponing.
Why are there (so many) restrictions?
Whereas Top Model doesn't have restrictions, Summer Heat and Winter Contest have them, to provide you with more of a challenge. When designing in real life you will always we confronted with limitations. By creating a scenario, we introduced these limitations/restrictions, so you can try to more creative.
Does everything have to be within the red area?
Yes. Everything, including track, supports and (custom) trains. You can connect supports to the outer edge of the red area, but that is the limit.
Can part of our coaster go over the big section of the queue line area?
I think you are referring to the path section south of the red area, in that case: no. Everything has to be in the red area. When you cross the path INSIDE the red area, make sure you have enough clearance.
Does the path crossing the red area have to be at ground level?
No, it can be a bridge in the air, but it can also be at ground level, it cannot be underground. If you want track to pass underneath the path, it will have to go either underground or the path has to be high enough to allow any track to go underneath it. Please note that if you make a roof over your path, it cannot hold supports for the actual track.
Do we have to include a queue line and paths?
You HAVE to have a path leading from your station to the border between the red area and the south area south of it. This is a requirement! You also NEED the straight path inside the red area, either at ground level or elevated. This is also a requirement! The blue area south of the red area is an optional area. You can decorate it with pathways and trees, but this is all optional!
Are any types of propulsion not allowed?
You can use chains, tire drives, boosters, anything apart from rockets strapped to your trains.
Can we use non-K'NEX things like paper for the station and the theming?
Yes, you can. You are not meant to cover everything up with paper, though.
Can I use electronic automation on my coaster?
Yes, you can use NXT-based automation, Arduino-based automation, mechanical (K'NEX-built) automation or any other way you can think of. Whether you have automation or not will not change the way we, the staff, look at your entry. Both automated and non-automated entries have equal chance of winning. Your NXT- or Arduino-module can be placed outside the red building area.
Edited by Jogumpie, 04 September 2013 - 02:08 PM.
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