The AXIS 4D Coaster Model Construction Forum

[Ccron10]

AXIS NEWS

Prototype Construction has begun.

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For a project I need to do to graduate I am going to build a working roller coaster model! But it's not a normal coaster model because it will be of a Multi Dimension coaster! Here's the rundown of the facts.

-The Scale 1 inch = 10 feet

-Scaled height 320 feet

-Number of Inversions 10

-1 jojo roll

-an Immelmann as a first drop

-2 over-banked curves

-1 loop

-a zero-G roll with a flying snake dive

-1 lie to fly

-1 corkscrew

-1 fly to lie

- a countless number of 90 degree banked turns

My objective is to get it done by the beginning of 2009 and post updates. Below will be my first update if I can post the pictures.

 

-Chris-

[Ccron10]

Here are the pics and I'd like to hear your opinions!

What the layout will look like.

The site plan of the jojo roll and the start of the lift hill.

The Multi Dimension Car (Front view).

The Immelmann dive.

Here's another view.

The site plan of the stations and the twisted first drop.

[Guest]

Wow isn't that really difficult to build ...?

[MrMorgan]

2009? OMG! You could build a FULLsize model in that much time! haha.

Good luck with your project, and be sure to post pics of your progress! What are you planning to use for building materials? Have you made any models in the past?

 

I recently read this article, you might find it interesting and or helpful. Check it out:

 

http://www.aglasshalffull.org/article-roller-coaster.html

 

This one, too:

 

http://www.achterbahnmodelle.de/info_en/scorpion.htm

[CP_RULES]

Wow, this sounds VERY interesting, I'd love to get more details such as building materials, and other things. Will there be real working brakes? Will the cars really rotate? These are all things I'd like to know, I cant wait to see this thing get going.

[ECZenith]

What are you going to use for track? I reccomend using ball bearings for the wheels if you are in fact building this from scratch. Good luck, this is a hell of a venture.

[snuggles]

Make a giant model from coaster dynamix parts

[jarmor]

Looking at your drawing if thats your base plans they seem unlrealistic. I suggest ising a CAD program to actually design the coaster (preferably nolimits) then that way you can get an idea of what all your gonna have to use.

[xX-Linde-Xx]

^^ I agree buliding it from paper plans may cause some problems

[b52fdb]

Magnum was built from paper plans.

[Ccron10]

Well, yes I do know that it's going to be very difficult to build which leads me into MrMorgan's post. The project is due in 2009 ,but since it's a complex project I'm starting now so if I run into a snag I could be able to fix it before it's due and I did car models in the past, but I don't think those would count. Also thanks for the link! I think it might be very useful. I will build the track and cars out of wood because my dad is a woodworker and he has A LOT of wood.

Now to CP_RULES's post. Yes I have been thinking about working brakes, I was thinking of brakes of being shaped like a forewards and backwards L, but after a little thought I came up with normal shaped brakes with rubber padding so when the brake fin goes in between them it will come to a nice stop. Yes the cars will rotate and that's one reason why I picked this type of coaster to do.

I might look into dynamix parts, I've heard about that.

Next jarmor. That's not really what I'm really going to fully use. I plan on using CAD but I was thinking of AutoCAD, but nolimits might be better. I'll look into it.

Oh I almost forgot! You (as in all TPR members and admins.)can create the name of the ride! It just has to be school safe (no foul language) and I'll pick the top 3rd or 5th best and allow you guys to vote for the best! I'll announce on this topic when you can vote and I'll set up a topic for that. Remember to post any questions, problems, or comments on this post.

 

-Chris-

[Ed]

You do realise that the loop is infact going to need insanely large clearance if you're going to use 4d model trains.... They're like 20ft across in real life!

 

Not the mention the JoJo roll will have have to be a good 30ft above the ground to keep the train from hitting the ground...

 

I think this is too far far-fetched. As a model it would work, but it's a very unrealistic design for a 4D.

[Angry_Gumball]

Are you planning on getting this 4d to actually flip according to the 2 extra rails on the track? I assume you aready know how a 4d coaster works...if not, here's a breif explanation taken from Wikipedia:

 

S&S/Arrow 4th Dimension (4-D) roller coasters

 

In 2001, as a part of Six Flags Magic Mountain's conversion into the "X-treme Park!", the park unveiled X, the world's first (and then only) 4th Dimension coaster. A 4-D coaster is a coaster in which the seats can rotate forward or backward 360 degrees in a controlled spin. This is achieved by having 4 rails on the track; 2 for the train, and 2 for the seats. The 2 rails that control the spin of the seats, or "X Rails," vary in height relative to the track, and spin the train using a rack and pinion gear mechanism.

 

It is a unique ride design, however, the design was a prototype and cost the Arrow Dynamics and the park itself a lot of money due to technical difficulties and design flaws. In 2002, the park sued Arrow Dynamics, which went into bankruptcy. Since then Arrow was bought out by S&S Power and became the company's steel coaster division, S&S Arrow. For years, the 4-D coaster has been shelved due to the X incident. However, Fuji-Q Highland in Fujiyoshida, Yamanashi Japan did build a 4-D coaster which opened July 19th 2006 under the name Eejanaika, which translates to something along the lines of "Ain't it great." For more information visit: [1]

 

Wish you luck with this, especially if you plan on using those "X" rails to determine which way the train's going to flip...(I personally would probably let them spin freely on it's axis and drop the whole "X" rail concept.

 

 

Actually, I have an alternate as the layout is going to be difficult for the 4d. With the rage of spinning coasters due to NL's 1.6 update, why not make a spinning coaster? This actually be more feasible than the whole 4d plan.

[thomas2]

Well you're going to have alot of work on this model! The concept sounds really good, and I wish you much luck with your realisation!

[Ccron10]

Ah yes the loop, it still might be possible because the height of the lift hill on the model will be 32 inches which would equal 320 feet in real life so there could be enough space for the cars and the diameter for the loop.

 

For the jojo roll, I am certain that It's possible if I built the station up higher the arms could get by.

 

Well, the X rails I might drop which means I would need to draw the site plans up again, but thats no problem for me. That spinning concept is an exellent idea! That would mean that this would be a new kind of 4D coaster! I'll display them when I get each section done.

[Hobbesx2]

Wow! This sounds pretty cool! I used to get long thin pieces of cardboard and bend them for a track and then tape them on to furniture like a rollercoaster, but this should be PRETTY cool! I can only wish you the best of luck!

[Ccron10]

Thanks. Last night I started making a few modifications to the layout like making the loop wider and making the draw-up plans easier to see and read. After I create another drawing which shows more detail to the ride I'll then create a side view of the ride. Then finally I'll use those drawings to copy the design onto AutoCAD. Simply after all that I'm ready to build.

 

By the way how is the loading and unloading station set up on X? Does the train pull into to a seperate station to unload and move into another station to load or does it load and unload all in one station?

[CoasterExpert13]

Seem pretty difficult, but cool...can't wait to see the finished product!

[Ccron10]

I've got big news! I have my second update!

Here's a close-up view of how the loop will be done.

Here's another flat view of the layout.

Here I present to you to where I do my drafting. Take notice of all the objects on It. A Hydra on-ride photo, a countless number of rulers and the masking tape.

If you can closely see on this pic I added every inch or so along the track a height number.

Here's a better view.

Well I made the layout a little more easier to read and fixed some areas to make it graph paper friendly.

[Ccron10]

You know what? I think I might post what will happen on the ride!

 

You exit the loading station and drop from 70ft to 20 ft and then do a jojo roll. You do a left U-turn and start heading up the lift. At the top you'll be 320ft above ground. Next you drop 10 ft and then turn upside down to do the 250 ft Immelman Dive. At the bottom you do a 90 degree banked turn and head up the 150 ft tall over-banked curve. Next would be the 155 ft tall vertical loop which is 20 ft wide at the base from the other side of the loop. You then go up a 160 ft hill over the lift an then do a 90 degree banked dive under the lift and sidewind up a 90 degree banked incline to 120 ft. Next is the zro-G rll and flying snake dive, you then cross over and under the immelnann dive and go under the transfer track station through a tunnel and exit it on a 90 degree banked rise to the right. Following that is a lie to fly right through the middle of the immelmann dive, the train then goes up to a set of block brakes at 140 ft above ground. After the brakes you do another 90 degree banked dive down to 40 ft and do a 60 ft tall corkscrew. Next is another over-banked curve at only 60 ft Coming after that is a 90 degree banked helix going from 50 ft to 20 ft. To end it all up is a fly to lie and 1 airtime filled hill and into the brakes and unloading station.

 

Last night I drew up the overview and started the site plan for the station. My deadline is to get the site plan done sometime in October.

 

-Chris-

[CP_RULES]

Are the dimensions we see on paper going to be the actual demensions we see in the model? If so, Im not so sure the train will be able to traverse some of those tight rolls. Thinking back to when I built K'nex coasters, you lose A LOT of speed in any type of "roll". The trains are going to have to be pretty articulated to make it through the circuit, and you going to have to have good friction control too.

 

-Justin "I hope it all works out" Seabaugh

[Hercules]

Obviously the dimensions that you see on paper are going to be the ones in the model. Why would there be different dimensions in the plans?

 

It looks very interesting. I hope it all works out.

[Ccron10]

Those dimensions are the height at those certain points (in feet). But I'd like to thank CP_RULES for reminding me that when you do 90 degree turns you loose speed. I'm going to take out all the 90 degree turns execpt two of them, the 90 degree helix and the 90 degree banked drop. The other turns where I have those turns will be 45, 50, or 55 degree turns.

 

I'm not sure that this would work, but to make the cars more flexable to go arount tight turns I'll have 2 sets of wheels on the front car and back car,the rest will have only 1 set of wheels per car.

 

To reduce friction I will sand the track and wheels with the highest grit sandpaper I can find.

 

I was talking with my dad about this project and he said it's better to plan for at least a year or two and then build. I agree with him. Doing this will have spend less time fixing my problems when I build and have more time to get things done.

 

I still need more opinions to help me get this done correctly and don't forget that soon I open up for names for the coaster!

 

-Chris-

[BiCoastal Kid]

Just a comment: anything that isn't a straight horizontal or vertical line is technically multi-dimensional....

[chaos]

It is physically impossible for a model that long to work. As awesome it would be, that layout is way too long for the coaster to make it through the course. Even my Screamin Serpent coasters couldn't make it through a course that long, and they don't even have the extra rotating element. If you really want to build something like this, you should first build about 2 feet of track, and test exactly how it will work. Then build a short layout that you're sure the train will make it through. I hope you'll be able to finish this.