Hello there, haven't done much KNEX in the last few years. Have started some projects here and there but never finished due to the all time classic problem of friction an speed loss.
As you may have seen my latest threads I always loved custom trains and did many approaches to build a good looking one by glueing KNEX and other plastics together. Never reached the degree of realism I'd liked to achieve. Due to my mechanical engineering study I learned to 3d model and had a friend of mine with a 3d printer printing some custom seats for my inverted VV gauge train. I really liked the outcome of it but university took much time again and I have kept my KNEX in the attic for like 2 years untouched.
In February of 2021 I finally got a 3d printer for myself and started doing private 3d modeling for a coaster train. First I started with some basic carriages and put some bearings inside them to allow for the correct articulating of the carriages. As a student I'd looked for a cheap option for building the train. When I realized that I can reuse some SS-Train parts inside my build things went on and my research of bogies and pivot/knuckle lead me into using the axles of SS-wheel assemblies for the connection between pivot and bogie. The relative long axle had me to hide as much of it as I could. At one point I saw a Gerstlauer Infinity Coaster bogie and pivot and knew that I have to use this type of bogie. I redesigned all my parts I modeled for the custom train and came up with an 3d model of such a train.
The 1:32 gauge I was going for used Rippin' Rocket tubing. The aimed scale was just 3 mm of the SS gauge. Due to my university sucking a lot of time of mine I decided to change the bogies distance to another by exactly these 3 mm and now have a fully functional 3d printed IC train that runs on SS track.
At this point I like to mention my Instagram account for those of you that like to see the progress of this train: https://www.instagra...rain.engineer/
Here I'll post progress of the track and anticipated controls of the coaster.
As always comments, suggestions, opinions are appreciated!
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