4D Coaster Model Original K'nex Set

[ntweisen]

As a mechanical engineer and a roller coaster enthusiast, I have always wanted to design or build roller coasters. While I may never get the chance to work on a real one, I have built several coasters out of K’nex back in the day. I recently found some pictures I took of my creations and would like to share them with you today. First, a few notes:

 

 

-I built everything with the original K’nex Roller Coaster set, way before the Screamin’ Serpent models came out.

-This is my parent’s basement before they remodeled. Why they would ever want to get rid of that carpet and furniture is beyond me.

-Sorry the quality of the pictures isn’t better. This was before I had a digital camera. I really wish I had been able to get video of these running too. Maybe I’ll have to rebuild them someday.

 

 

4D Coaster: My best creation was probably the S&S Arrow 4D coaster. This was built before X opened at Six Flags Magic Mountain. All I had to go by was a short video of a car being run through the test track at Arrow’s facility. The Lego people riders do a backflip over the camel back hill. I only had enough track to make the one hill. The car used a ton of wheels and was pretty heavy, similar to the real ride. Check out this pictures.

 

 

 

I posted the rest of the models here.

Hill

Car. Not all the wheels and the Lego man.

[4rturo]

WOW, that is simply amazing!!

congratulations, you have a lot of patience to do that

[ntweisen]

Thanks for the kind words. Construction took some time with trial and error but it was a good time for me. Only thing that could've made it better was if I got paid to build those

[themeparkman25]

Does the Intamin Free Fall ride work like the real life model? That one looks VERY cool and I (probably everyone else too) would love to see a video of it working!

 

Keep up the great work! You have done some very imaginative and creative things with K'nex.

[deathbydinn]

^

Sorry the quality of the pictures isn’t better. This was before I had a digital camera. I really wish I had been able to get video of these running too. Maybe I’ll have to rebuild them someday.

[themeparkman25]

^Well played. Doesn't change the fact that the older models look pretty cool though.

[Thelegendarymatthew]

Yeah, this does look pretty cool.

 

However, if anyone would ever make there own full length model of lets say X. Then there going to need a lot of money, and a lot of time for planning and building.

 

I do have a question though. How fast was the car moving when you pushed it down the hill.

[ntweisen]

Yes, they were all working models. The 4D started at a stand still, I gave it a slight push, nothing major, and it rolled down the hill.

 

i do have a question though: Can anyone tell me why S&S/Arrow decided to go the mechanical route with their 4D coasters as opposed to an electrical one? Currently, the rides use a second set of rails to control the spinning motion of the seats. Why not use actuators or something like that instead and program them to engage during certain portions of the ride?

[AJClarke0912]

^Because if electronics failed the cars could be stuck in, say, an upside-down position. That spells death from negative G's.

 

Also, coasters run quite different in climate conditions. For example, a hot and dry could make a coaster run up to a 10-second shorter ride than a cold and wet climate day. This could throw off the spin times in the program.

 

Easier the mechanical way...always guaranteed to work.

[4rturo]

Easier the mechanical way...always guaranteed to work.

Ahem

[nln00b]

^Because if electronics failed the cars could be stuck in, say, an upside-down position. That spells death from negative G's.

 

Also, coasters run quite different in climate conditions. For example, a hot and dry could make a coaster run up to a 10-second shorter ride than a cold and wet climate day. This could throw off the spin times in the program.

 

Easier the mechanical way...always guaranteed to work.

 

I never really noticed that. Thanks anyway! I learned something new!

[jerrinemitchell]

Nice roller coaster, i love to ride on it as i love ultimate adventurous. I have been to couple of theme parks and i enjoyed it with my friends. I liked this roller coaster that you have made.

[ntweisen]

It would be interesting to try and make a 4D model with the Screamin Serpent set. Anyone tried that before?

[themeparkologist]

^I did. But I used SS as the main track and VV as the flip-control track and it worked well until I put the car on. End o' story.