96 replies to this topic

[Dakanektr]

I have a neighbor

who has these awesome, lightweigh powerful magnets that make sparks when the

attract from a long distance. If I could ask him about LIMs, which I'm sure

he's aware of, he could probably tell me exactly how to do it. I would try it on a

coaster, but how you charge a magnet negatively I havent a clue....

[sixflagsfreak56]

My dad said he knows how these things work and he

knows what to get in order to make it work. But, I need to do some reserch, but I

have found nothing on model LIMs that other people have made.

[Dakanektr]

Cool, that means

you might be the first to make an LIM model! Congrats!

[Westside7th]

Too bad they can't be like those model railroad

tracks where the tracks are electrified and you can control the speed by the switch. If

you turn it off the train just slows to a stop. Too bad there aren't coaster models

that use that system.

[sixflagsfreak56]

Maybe! We'll just have to see how

everything turns out. I need to make some messurements right now for the ride

itself.

[Dakanektr]

Cool, I want to see

this idea in action.

[SSCoasters]

I thought I would give yall an idea of what lims look

like on a model.
http://sscoasters.net/lim.php A student from DeVry sent me

these pictures of a model that he was building with lims for his senior project.

[knex_krazy]

NOw thats what i call an 'Electromagent' lol sheeshh he must be putting a hell of alot of time into that....
Knex_Krazy.

[Pleasureland Fan]

If anyone is using the electromagnet idea there is one flaw in the description above.

You will need a SOFT metal core for the electromagnet. The core is the piece of metal that the coils of wire are wrapped around. The reason you need a soft core is this. When you turn the electricity off- stop it going round the coils- the bar of metal will still be a bit magnetized. This can lead to adverse effects for your model, so you need to use a soft metal core.

[sixflagsfreak56]

I'm starting to think these LIMs are improssibal...hopefully not...

Anways, I got some stats for you:

Robin- Cobra roll: 2 feet, 5 inches. Barrel roll hieght- 1 foot 6 inches. total launch ramp lenght (plus station and maintence) 8 feet. Messurment after barrell roll, 9 feet.

Batman- Top Hat- 3 feet. Total launch ramp lenght, 8 feet, messurment after top hat, 9 feet. Total lenght- 24 feet.

The model WILL include k'nex. I'm using them to do the details on the supports since I wont have enough to do every single one on the ride. I WILL paint this ride too. I'm still trying to figure out the cobra rolls length. My dad is going to help me with the LIMs if he can. Hopefully this wont cost to much. Thats all for now!

[Dakanektr]

Wow, your Dad must be a diehard coasterfan too if he would actually consider building mini LIMS just for a model, what kind of metal would be considered to have a "soft" core? and will normal batterys work or shoul I go with C's if I wanted to make an SS launch.

[NitroRyder33]

You know the company that manufactured the LIMs for Chiller has a place on thier site where you can order LIMs to suit your needs...maybe you should ask them if they could do it for you..

-Ryan

[sixflagsfreak56]

No, he hates coasters. But he's an engineer and knows this stuff. He likes to know the tech stuff in coasters.

[Dakanektr]

Oh cool, I wonder if he could think of a way to make a hydraulic launch scaled to KK?

[Pleasureland Fan]

Dak, to be honest I am not sure what a soft core is

either! I have been told this by my Physics teacher at school, but because of the

limitations of lesson time we couldn't have chance to further discuss soft cores

though I will find out on my next lesson. I am not in school next week (half term) but I

will find out as soon as possible. I shall have a bit of a root around in my revision guide

too to try and find what it is.

About the hydraulic launch. I found a very

useful site on Schwartzkoph coasters where it goes into great detail about a

weightdrop launch and a flywheel launch- I know this isn't a hydraulic launch but

it may give you an idea. http://schwarzkopf.c...elooptyp1GF.htm for the

weightdrop and http://schwarzkopf.c...elooptyp2GF.htm for the

flywheel launch.

[sixflagsfreak56]

I forgot to mention in my earlier post that the spike on

the ride will be about four feeet high.

[Dakanektr]

Do you have

pics?

[sixflagsfreak56]

I didn't even get the set yet. I'm getting it

for christmas so I will begin building then.

[nyteflyte]

dragon? or scorpion im guessing dragon! and i

think ud need an expansion set

[sixflagsfreak56]

Yes, I am getting an expansion set and a dragon.

I'll have to work with the dragon for a while because I'll have to save up

for the expansion set AND have to get an extra train.

BTW, I'm

making the trains out of sheet plastic, but I will be using the wheels and restraints from

the trains they give me. (If they don't have LIM cars out by then, which they

probebly wont)