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This monorail
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/mbellis/Technic/Power-Functions/Roller-Coaster/pf_roller_coaster_2.jpg
is built with tracks from Snowmobile 8272 and the forthcoming Bullozer 8275.
The Power Functions system
http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=226241 allows IR remote control
of the train.
I found it runs smoother with these yellow wheels than with the smaller black
ones from the Snowmobile, but smaller size might be an advantage for town and
space enthusiasts. Variation of vehicles is possible and designs can depend on
the application. I'll try using a PP3 battery box to reduce weight, though this
will require some work on the electrical interface unless I wait for the
official parts that will make the Power Functions system compatible with the 9V
system.
The curves I've built
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/mbellis/Technic/Power-Functions/Roller-Coaster/pf_roller_coaster_3.jpg
are as sharp as those of the old monorail, but they can be widened if space
permits. To widen them I suggest adding multiples of 6L to each beam in the
corners, since the tracks have a pitch between centres of 1.5L. The support
centres for raised track on a baseplate will then widen by 12L in each
orthogonal direction.
Points are possible with this system, using sliding track sections. The train
is OK with a track link missing, to permit the sections to slide, as long as a
bar or equivalent piece is used on the end of the last track, so that the wheels
have something to grip. I'll add pictures of this once it's running.
I've tested a hill as a concept, but this is waiting for a proper build. Again,
pictures to follow. The vehicle is easily capable of climbing vertically, so I
intend to extend the hill concept to work for a full loop for roller-coaster
applications - pushing the limits a bit beyond the old monorail!
I shall add pictures of a 360 degree barrel-rolling track soon. This concept
works but needs to improve on reliability of the gravity-defying part of the
roll. The IR system is particularly useful for this function as it removes the
need for wires that would wrap around the track!
The best thing about this monorail concept is that its availability is up and
coming, not in the obsolescence market! A snowmobile has 28 track links and a
bulldozer will have 84, so better save up for those bulldozers!
Gallery when moderated: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=237939
PLMKWYT
Mark
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In lugnet.technic, Mark Bellis wrote:
> This monorail
> http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/mbellis/Technic/Power-Functions/Roller-Coaster/pf_roller_coaster_2.jpg
> is built with tracks from Snowmobile 8272 and the forthcoming Bullozer 8275.
> The Power Functions system
> http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=226241 allows IR remote control
> of the train.
>
> I found it runs smoother with these yellow wheels than with the smaller black
> ones from the Snowmobile, but smaller size might be an advantage for town and
> space enthusiasts. Variation of vehicles is possible and designs can depend on
> the application. I'll try using a PP3 battery box to reduce weight, though this
> will require some work on the electrical interface unless I wait for the
> official parts that will make the Power Functions system compatible with the 9V
> system.
>
> The curves I've built
> http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/mbellis/Technic/Power-Functions/Roller-Coaster/pf_roller_coaster_3.jpg
> are as sharp as those of the old monorail, but they can be widened if space
> permits. To widen them I suggest adding multiples of 6L to each beam in the
> corners, since the tracks have a pitch between centres of 1.5L. The support
> centres for raised track on a baseplate will then widen by 12L in each
> orthogonal direction.
>
> Points are possible with this system, using sliding track sections. The train
> is OK with a track link missing, to permit the sections to slide, as long as a
> bar or equivalent piece is used on the end of the last track, so that the wheels
> have something to grip. I'll add pictures of this once it's running.
>
> I've tested a hill as a concept, but this is waiting for a proper build. Again,
> pictures to follow. The vehicle is easily capable of climbing vertically, so I
> intend to extend the hill concept to work for a full loop for roller-coaster
> applications - pushing the limits a bit beyond the old monorail!
>
> I shall add pictures of a 360 degree barrel-rolling track soon. This concept
> works but needs to improve on reliability of the gravity-defying part of the
> roll. The IR system is particularly useful for this function as it removes the
> need for wires that would wrap around the track!
>
> The best thing about this monorail concept is that its availability is up and
> coming, not in the obsolescence market! A snowmobile has 28 track links and a
> bulldozer will have 84, so better save up for those bulldozers!
>
> Gallery when moderated: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=237939
>
> PLMKWYT
> Mark
it's a cool concept but not very cost effective. i imagine those tank treads are
going to go for .20 cents or more on bricklink. i could see this being feasable
for something large and possibly space, but i'd concider trying something
cheaper. 1x2's or 1x3's stacked in a 3-4 brick tall wall as the track with
rubber tires for the drive mecanisum would be alot cheaper and more flexable.
ondrew
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In lugnet.technic, Ondrew Hartigan wrote:
> In lugnet.technic, Mark Bellis wrote:
> > This monorail
> > http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/mbellis/Technic/Power-Functions/Roller-Coaster/pf_roller_coaster_2.jpg
> > is built with tracks from Snowmobile 8272 and the forthcoming Bullozer 8275.
> > The Power Functions system
> > http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=226241 allows IR remote control
> > of the train.
[snip]
> > The best thing about this monorail concept is that its availability is up and
> > coming, not in the obsolescence market! A snowmobile has 28 track links and a
> > bulldozer will have 84, so better save up for those bulldozers!
> >
> > Gallery when moderated: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=237939
> >
> > PLMKWYT
> > Mark
>
> it's a cool concept but not very cost effective. i imagine those tank treads are
> going to go for .20 cents or more on bricklink. i could see this being feasable
> for something large and possibly space, but i'd concider trying something
> cheaper. 1x2's or 1x3's stacked in a 3-4 brick tall wall as the track with
> rubber tires for the drive mecanisum would be alot cheaper and more flexable.
>
> ondrew
The track link price range is currently $0.50 to $0.90, so you're quite right
about it being unfeasible for now, but I was surprised to find that the
break-even point, below which the track link price would make a tracked monorail
track as cheap as the old monorail (assuming structure parts such as Technic
beams are already in one's collection), is above $0.20 for some monorail track
pieces (due to their rarity and popularity):
Taking the Bricklink price guide average prices, and assuming that it takes 44
track links to make a 33L straight equivalent to a 32L old monorail straight,
the track monorail is cheaper if the links are under $0.266 each.
For short straights it's $0.239 and for a short curve it's $0.304. For the more
common 90 degree curves it drops to $0.041 (I wish the tracks were that cheap
but it will never happen as they weigh 1.38g), and for ramps it's $0.075. It's
more difficult to calculate for points.
I'd like to think the scheme could become more feasible if the track link price
drops when the bulldozer is released. I hope it will! My hope is fed by the
recent drop from $1.00 to $0.90.
The additional possibilities for roller-coasters also increase the appeal...
Mark
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Nice
I wish I knew how to build it. hard for me to see by the pictures.
pvd
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That's ingenious! I'm glad there are smart people like you out there that figure
this sort of innovation out! The possibilities for this are endless, you've
certainly discovered a cool monorail system, but think of the roller coasters
you could build with this method!!! Great job and thanks for sharing.
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In lugnet.technic, Mark Larson wrote:
> That's ingenious! I'm glad there are smart people like you out there that figure
> this sort of innovation out! The possibilities for this are endless, you've
> certainly discovered a cool monorail system, but think of the roller coasters
> you could build with this method!!! Great job and thanks for sharing.
Thanks Mark,
Here's a pic of the 360 degree roll, the first roller-coaster function that goes
beyond the capabilities of the old monorail:
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/mbellis/Technic/Power-Functions/Roller-Coaster/360-roll/0_roller_coaster_360_seq6_qtr.jpg
This is the whole rolling track:
http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/mbellis/Technic/Power-Functions/Roller-Coaster/360-roll/roller_coaster_360_top_whole.jpg
Gallery when moderated: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=237940
BTW if the whole gallery isn't available for a while, try replacing
"seq6_qtr.jpg" with "seqX_top.jpg" where X is a number from 1 to 8 to see a few
more shots of the roll sequence.
I might make the roll a little less severe (it's currently as tight as the
tracks will allow) and also modify the vehicle, to improve gravity-defying
performance. It might also be good to combine a roll with a curve - some of the
endless possibilities!
I'll make a note to take some "how it's built" pictures, especially once all the
ones I've posted already are visible.
Mark
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In lugnet.technic, Mark Bellis wrote:
> Here's a pic of the 360 degree roll, the first roller-coaster function that goes
> beyond the capabilities of the old monorail:
> http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/mbellis/Technic/Power-Functions/Roller-Coaster/360-roll/0_roller_coaster_360_seq6_qtr.jpg
>
> This is the whole rolling track:
> http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/mbellis/Technic/Power-Functions/Roller-Coaster/360-roll/roller_coaster_360_top_whole.jpg
>
> Gallery when moderated: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=237940
>
> BTW if the whole gallery isn't available for a while, try replacing
> "seq6_qtr.jpg" with "seqX_top.jpg" where X is a number from 1 to 8 to see a few
> more shots of the roll sequence.
>
> I might make the roll a little less severe (it's currently as tight as the
> tracks will allow) and also modify the vehicle, to improve gravity-defying
> performance. It might also be good to combine a roll with a curve - some of the
> endless possibilities!
>
> I'll make a note to take some "how it's built" pictures, especially once all the
> ones I've posted already are visible.
This is very cool stuff, Mark! As a bit of a Lego roller coaster guru
(http://www.auctionbrick.com/mchiles/rollercoaster/), I am impressed and am
looking forward to someone developing this to its full potential - it looks like
some very cool new things can now be modeled!
-Matt :)
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In lugnet.technic, Matthew J. Chiles wrote:
> In lugnet.technic, Mark Bellis wrote:
>
> > Here's a pic of the 360 degree roll, the first roller-coaster function that goes
> > beyond the capabilities of the old monorail:
> > http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/mbellis/Technic/Power-Functions/Roller-Coaster/360-roll/0_roller_coaster_360_seq6_qtr.jpg
> >
> > This is the whole rolling track:
> > http://www.brickshelf.com/gallery/mbellis/Technic/Power-Functions/Roller-Coaster/360-roll/roller_coaster_360_top_whole.jpg
> >
> > Gallery when moderated: http://www.brickshelf.com/cgi-bin/gallery.cgi?f=237940
> >
> > BTW if the whole gallery isn't available for a while, try replacing
> > "seq6_qtr.jpg" with "seqX_top.jpg" where X is a number from 1 to 8 to see a few
> > more shots of the roll sequence.
> >
> > I might make the roll a little less severe (it's currently as tight as the
> > tracks will allow) and also modify the vehicle, to improve gravity-defying
> > performance. It might also be good to combine a roll with a curve - some of the
> > endless possibilities!
> >
> > I'll make a note to take some "how it's built" pictures, especially once all the
> > ones I've posted already are visible.
>
> This is very cool stuff, Mark! As a bit of a Lego roller coaster guru
> (http://www.auctionbrick.com/mchiles/rollercoaster/), I am impressed and am
> looking forward to someone developing this to its full potential - it looks like
> some very cool new things can now be modeled!
>
> -Matt :)
Thanks Matt :-)
Here are a couple of videos of the roller coaster, my first ones:
Flat circuit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dGEURKbE_gc
360 degree roll: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=__7wu3KUM7c
Not too bad I hope, considering it's not a movie camera. I had to use a
floodlight as my earlier attempt came out too dark.
More MOC videos on my YouTube channel:
http://www.youtube.com/profile?user=mbellisbrickmocs
Mark
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