6 replies to this topic

[I Love Ball Machines]

I found this Japanese rc model car track.  It looks like it would make a perfect flying turns coaster trough track!! https://www.ebay.com...k-/111544978821

[X7123M3-256]

Something similar was attempted once before.

[I Love Ball Machines]

I think that this plastic track system would work much better.

[SCM]

Well, the concave shape means that the track can't be shaped without distorting it. You would be limited to the track shapes and sizes that they have. Also, from what I can tell, they're really rare. If that's the case, getting enough track for a full length coaster would be too expensive. Even with Jogumpie's piece-eating track, the amount of pieces would still be cheaper than the plastic track... plus his track allowed for customization. Double also, there's the talk about friction. How big is the track? How smooth? A heavier train will, as usual, have a better chance at completing a layout. 

Although, something similar to this but with the ability to customize would make for a decent flying turns coaster. 

[I Love Ball Machines]

You know of any other toy that has a bobsled like track, that is not super rare and cheaper to buy?  Could you use PVC pipe pieces, cut like a bobsled track and joined with connectors?

[I Love Ball Machines]

Would buying pvc pipe and 90 degree elbows in 12 inch diameter make a good track?  After you cut the pipe in half?  Then use fittings?

[X7123M3-256]

You could probably form the track by carefully heating plastic pipe and bending to shape (but I'd be careful doing that with PVC - it releases nasty fumes when heated). I think that would work.

 

But I think the simplest approach is what Jogumpie did - lay down strips of paper (or plastic if you want to improve efficiency) on top of a Knex frame. He used an absurd number of pieces and designed a very inefficient train, but I think you could scale it down and make it work better.