Gravity

[Tanks4me05]

Well, I wasn't sure where to put this topic, but this sub forum seems most suitable. Anyways, I am currently making a K'nex Coaster called Gravity, and so far it has only one element - which I call the Stalling Dive. It goes from the floor to less than one inch from touching the ceiling of my basement: about 7 feet high. Seeing as I never made a K'nex coaster over 2 feet 8 inches tall that worked before, I am quite proud of this achievement. It took me five days to make the Stalling Dive, and since I had just enough of the right pieces, supporting this was hard, and it collapsed three times before I found out how to fix it. However, I'm quite happy that it finally works.

 

 

This is Gravity so far. I'm pretty sure I never built anything this big before.

 

 

As you see, there is lateral track, where the train currently is, and vertical track, where the boosters are to send it through the rest of the Stalling Dive. How does the train make it up there? Read on, and you will find out.

 

 

The answer to the last caption's question: There is a piece of track that is lifted 90 degrees upward via K'nex Motor, kind of like a Vekoma Tilt Coaster, but in a different direction. However, to keep the track from going beyond 90 degrees, there is a "chain" that reaches its max length when the track reaches 90 degrees, stopping it very close to the desired position. Then I straighten it so it is aligned with the rest of the track more. Here it is in its "loading" position.

 

 

 

Here is the "lifting track" in mid lift.

 

 

Here is the lifting track in position.

 

 

This would be a close up view of the lifting system.

 

 

Another close up view of the lifting system.

 

 

Here I am, looking in awe, up the 7 foot Stalling Dive.

 

 

This is the interior of the support tower for the "Launch Tower".

 

 

Here is another overview of Gravity. I don't know how that blue light got in there, but I think it is cool.

 

 

Now we are looking inside the interior of the support tower for the "Drop Tower".

 

 

The main purpose of this photo is mainly to show how big 7 feet can be.

 

 

This is the upside down section of Gravity's Stalling Dive.

 

 

I do not know how these flimsy pieces can hold up the Stalling Dive without it crashing down. Maybe it's just the base that it holds on to, but after having this fall down three times, I'm keeping it there, just in case.

 

I do not have enough pieces to finish the rest of the course, so I'm going to buy some extra K'nex coaster sets within a week or so. I'll make a video of Gravity and upload it when I am finished with the building process.

[Imhotep]

Thats awesome man!! Ive seen so many cool Knex coasters as of late.

 

I wish I had a basement

[Ccron10]

Wow! How tall is it from the base to the top of the track? I wish I could do that.

[Tanks4me05]

^ The entire structure is about 7 feet tall, give or take a few inches. (The Stalling Dive will be the tallest point on the ride).

[Jogumpie]

I'd rather see a realistic coaster, but it's your choice of course.

 

I suggest you to smooth everything out. It's actually quite bumpy, causing lots of energy loss.

Try to get the straight parts as straight as in here:

[Tanks4me05]

^Specifically where should I straighten it and how? Oh, to reply to that unrealistic statement, I like to make unusual elements, for that is my primary building style.

[Jogumpie]

^In every straight spot. By adding more crossties and more connections to the supports.

 

The roll you have should be a bit heartlined, instead of what you now have. It's quite hard to make it heartlined, but it is possible.

[Tanks4me05]

When I am done with the coaster itself, I will see how many cross ties I have left and use them up, the same goes for the support connections. For heart lining the Roll, I would normally do it, but as I said before, the tower collapsed three times, and I'm not going to dare play with the launch tower again unless it is absolutely necessary. (I would not have a problem if the boosters were lighter). However, I heard spraying WD40 on the wheels will help the speed, is that true?

[thomas2]

^^^^What coaster is that? It looks alot like SD2K

[Satoshi]

lotsa US people are lucky to have got so big ceilings! that's sorta

enough for huge 10 feet tall knex coaster models..... my home's

ceilin' has only got 'neath 7 feet tall 'n looks it's so small!

[CP_RULES]

Wow! That looks pretty cool man, Id like to see it in action.

[Jogumpie]

^^^^Yes. WD40 sure reduces friction. Especially when you're applying it for the first time. You can also use silicon spray.

^^^That's Horse of Troy, my "wooden" coaster model (http://www.knexprojects.nl/photogallery.php?photo=657).

^^You can always build outside or in a large hall where the ceiling's just 33 feet from the floor.

[Calvin]

Holy mother of friggin' a...

[trustkill22]

One of the best things for no friction is using Pledge Anti-Dust Spray or Furniture Polish on the rails.

 

Ive used it on a couple of my models and also have you ever sprayed that stuff by accident on the floor. WOW. Ive almost cracked my head open from falling a couple times.

[Golfie]

Seeing all of these photos makes me want to break out the sad-looking Screamin' Serpant that's collecting dust and spider webs in the basement...

[RRollergod]

Jogumpie I love the Horse of Troy its my all time favorite k'nex coaster! Great job on it.

[Tanks4me05]

Well, I finally got those extra K'nex sets a few days ago, and I added a Speed Hill and a Cutback. The train doesn't make it over the Cutback, but luckily, I have two extra boosters, and I'll probably use WD40 on the wheel assembly. Anyway, I have some more pictures:

 

 

Here is the Cutback. I know it is kind of under supported, but it holds up fine, and I will add more pieces when I see how much I have left over once Gravity is finished. (Two extra K'nex sets seems a lot smaller, in terms of pieces, than I expected).

 

 

Here is the Speed Hill. Luckily, I accidentally made a straight section right before the Speed Hill, which gave me a much easier place to put the next Booster.

 

 

Well, I once again removed too many vital supports while I was making the Cutback, so the entire coaster collapsed a fourth time. However, it fell apart in chunks, so I was able to repair it in only about two hours, which led myself to build the much sturdier "Rear Tower Support" you see here.

 

 

Here is a better look at the Cutback, where I am using some very unusual support building strategies. But it works, so I'm keeping it.

 

 

I love these pictures. This is the interior of one of the Main Support Towers of the Cutback.

[onewheeled999]

Great coaster, dude!

 

I wish I had a K'nex set. Then I'll be able to make that kiddie coaster of doom I've been thinking about.

[Jogumpie]

I wish you could smooth it out, it's really bumpy right now.

 

You could use this as reference, I built it ehm....in December 2004.

[Tanks4me05]

Progress on Gravity's construction will be on hold for about a week because I ran out of the right pieces, and I need to order more. However, I am almost done! All I have left is the second half of this inversion that I'm making, a 540 degree helix, and possibly even some brakes at the end. Anyway, here are some pictures:

 

 

As you see, I progressed rather quickly. With the WD40 it just barely makes it over one of the elements, so I will use the Pledge Anti Dust Spray on the rails when I finish the construction phase.

 

 

Here is another view of Gravity.

 

 

Since the first half of the Cutback seemed fine to me, I tried smoothing out the second half of the Cutback.

 

 

I call this portion of the ride the "Spaghetti Knot" for obvious reasons.

 

 

Here is the Airplane Dive. I named it that because it reminds me of Rye Playland's Airplane Coaster for some reason.

 

 

Here is the BRV Roll (short for Bent Reverse Vector Roll). The only other time I made this inversion was in one of my No Limits Coasters.

[weeow]

That's awesome man! Any chance of a video of it running?

[coasterlover420]

It looks rather unstable. You should support the tower more.

 

 

1000th post!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Tanks4me05]

^ Actually, it is stable. I know this topic is old, and I finished it four months ago, but I'm bored out of my mind, waiting for my flight to Florida in two days, so I'll post some pictures.

 

 

Here is an overview of the layout.

 

 

This is the main element - the Stalling Dive.

 

 

Here is another overview of the layout.

 

 

This is the final element, the Helix.

 

 

Here the train is ready to launch.

 

 

This is the Spaghetti Knot section, now completed.

 

 

Here is another view of the Helix.

 

 

This is a lot of head choppers.

[thrillrideseeker]

WOW! Great job! I wish I was able to build something that good! Congrats! Oh and have fun going to florida!

~Matthew

[Jogumpie]

Sorry to say so, but there are a lot of bumps and the track is poorly supported.