20 replies to this topic

[megabuster9000]

Hi, I am new to the community here but I have been building rollercoasters for many years. They were all micro style coasters as that was what I had. But recently I have been collecting SS and RR sets because a club on my campus wanted to build a rollercoaster so we are making a recreation of Viper from Darien Lake. It is one of my favorite rollercoasters and is a very good arrow dynamics ride. I have only spent a few days making this but it is coming along well. Any suggestions would be welcome as this is the first time I have built with SS track.

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[Chaos]

That is huge! Very ambitious for your first SS style coaster. Main suggestion: add more supports under the track - especially under the pullout. Not only will you be able to shape it better, but you will conserve speed that way. Basically, don't let the track look like it "sags" at any location.

[megabuster9000]

Thanks for the advice I've been working on it alot today and also lubricating all my cars for it. There a few improvement areas. The loop needs a little bit more shaping work but it is working with my trains.

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[FrIeDeGgS]

This is very big! It's nice to see someone new starting a roller coaster here. I do like that you're trying to emulate the arrow supports (which I haven't seen most people do before), but you need something to support the track in the gaps of the supports be it a spine or just something connecting them all together that would allow you to have more track-to-support connections. I don't know what degree of accuracy you're going for with this, but there are a couple things here that don't match the real thing. The transition into the turn looks weird, kinda like it banks and then unbanks before going into the turn. Some of the picture angles are weird, but the drop looks too steep, since the real thing only has a 50-55 degree or so drop. The height of the loop is accurate, but arrow loops are more teardrop shaped while yours is more circular, almost like Schwarzkoph loops.

 

I found a good picture showing the first drop and loop so you can see what I'm talking about.

 

https://img.buffalon...mNvdmVyIn19fQ==

 

Another thing: as you continue making this, using the Google Maps satellite view is a good way of making sure the proportions of everything is correct. I want to emphasize I'm not trying to roast you or anything and I like that you're attempting this, but if you really want to recreate this accurately (unlike RCC) then those things need to be addressed. It might seem nitpicky, but these are the types of things I look for when making realistic K'Nex coasters.

Edited by FrIeDeGgS, 18 February 2020 - 01:07 PM.

[megabuster9000]

Thank you for the advice alot of what I've done so far is kind of a rough draft of the track. I'm working on improving that first turn because that picture you included shows that the bank isn't as pronounced on the first turn as it seemed in some POV footage I was watching to see if the tun was banked or un banked. I think I'm going to rework it a bit to improve the look.

[megabuster9000]

Just a small update for today. I have re tracked the first turn and the loop to shape them more closely to the actual ride. Looking to get started on the Batwing element soon.

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Edited by megabuster9000, 23 February 2020 - 05:28 PM.

[Rollerfreak987]

This is really giving me Vortex by Venometer vibes... LOVE IT

 

Really makes me want to build an Arrow. I just love the look of the supports

[Britfag]

I would look into making a spine on the track - it doesn't have to be intrusive, but a few green rods strung together through the holes in the Crossties (green track connectors) can really help stiffen up the track.

[CartRacer56]

^ to add on to that, if you have the pieces for it using the grey rods you're using for supporting the track in place of the green ones also does wonders. Staggering the rods will help eliminate sharp and straight spots (those aren't much of a problem with your coaster though)

 

This is definately a great build to see progress and I wish you the best of luck! already doing really well for your first SS

[FrIeDeGgS]

That is looking really nice now! I agree with both posts above, having some kind of non-intrusive spine will definitely help keep speed and allow you to maintain an accurate Arrow support structure

[megabuster9000]

I have been working slowly over the last few days and the input is greatly appreciated. I'll have an update tomorrow probably. But today I just got in 23 pounds of parts to help finish this coaster

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[megabuster9000]

This is this weekend's progress. The station/transfer track/brake run area was where most of the time was spent. I attempted to get a rough draft of the batwing to work but it didnt so I'm going to re-track it and possibly bring it little closer to the loop. It would look a little different from the real things but it will help conserve speed. I'm also going to work on making the supports a little better.

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[CrayCray for coasters]

nice transfer track the supports on the loop are very good quick question though do you add weights to you train?

Edited by CrayCray for coasters, 03 March 2020 - 02:20 PM.

[megabuster9000]

nice transfer track the supports on the loop are very good quick question though do you add weights to you train?

I have not added weights to my trains.

[RCT2123]

It looks like the train should be able to make the batwing.  I'd try beefing up the supports.

[megabuster9000]

This is an update of this past weekend's progress. The shaping needs a little improvement in a few places because some of my tube track was very twisted when I bought it. The second half of the batwing couldn't be as tall as the real ride but it does come out with enough speed to make it over to the mid course brake run. I will probably have the mid course brake run elevate the train bu a bit to make it easier for the ride to get though the double corkscrew and helix before the final brake run.

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Edited by megabuster9000, 09 March 2020 - 04:00 PM.

[Britfag]

There is some general roughness on that batwing - I'll try and make an image for it  

minor bumps really take a lot of speed out of these SS cars. 

[RCT2123]

FYI you can toss the tubing on low heat in your clothes dryer for a few minutes and it will take out all the kinks.  

[megabuster9000]

Thanks for the advice

FYI you can toss the tubing on low heat in your clothes dryer for a few minutes and it will take out all the kinks.

This will also be the last update for I dont know how long becuase my campus is shutting down classes for the time being due to the coronavirus outbreak. I hopefully will be back in late April at the earliest but from the looks of how this is going it wont be untill next fall.

The coaster is nearing completion there is just the second corkscrew and the final helix to complete. I know that the track work isn't perfect but it is working quite well but I'll probably need to get some more parts to finish this up. This has been an exciting project to make so far and I hoping one day I can complete it.

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[Chaos]

Dang, I just saw this post and that sucks! You must be the only one us us who's more restricted from building K'nexes due to the virus. Hope you can get back to school soon!

 

Also, I love how expansive this whole thing is . . . and how you combine the classic support structure with the tube supports. Just like Arrow in real life!