Wicked Twister Recreation

This past weekend I used the K'NEX set Screamin' Serpent to build a small-scale model of Wicked Twister. Everything was built perfectly. However, I was wondering if anybody knows how I can make a makeshift LIM system using materials around the house. Thank you.
*** This post was edited by SeederPoint 11/11/2002 6:34:18 PM ***

If you are serious about making some LIM's, get some small iron bars and some copper wire. This should work, in theory, and I want to try it out myself, but haven't gotten around to it. Wrap the copper wire around the iron bars (size appropriate for the model size). The tighter you wrap copper around, the stronger the magnetic field generated. You have to have one bar on each side, mounted to the track, on either side of the metal fins that have to be fixed to the trains. Set the makeshift electro-magnets the length that you want them used. join the two sets of copper wires from either side of the magnets from one end of the magents, and take them back to a battery switch. Complete the circuit by connecting the other side's copper wires to the opposite side of the battery switch. If you throw the switch towards the back of the model, it should travel forwards, and then throw the switch forward to make it travel backwards. This follows the physics of current traveling the opposite direction of the magentic field generated.

I'm not sure how well this would work, or how big of a magnetic field would be generated by different battery sizes. I'm sure that you want to line your makeshift LIM's with plastic, just like real LIM's, to prevent people from getting shocked, and to prevent any metal on metal contact.

Can anybody pick any flaws out of my explanation?

If you need any more info, e-mail me.
*** This post was edited by CP_bound 11/11/2002 10:41:49 PM ***

all i ask is why....this is the part i dont get...oh well i gess you could be out doing something destructive...everyone has to have a hobby...at least you are not pogo the clown (j w gacy).....

CP_Bound You are a genious!! All I have to is buy it all and put it all together...

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172 days left of agony!
*** This post was edited by SeederPoint 11/13/2002 9:02:59 PM ***

Why? Because if you wan't to build your own recreation of a ride, why not use real life applications to do it? Use what the real thing uses on a smaller scale.

It takes some constructive thought into putting something like this together, like an understanding in physics, electricity, magnets, and models. It's a nice little project that roles several applications into one.

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Launch: Tophat: Twistage: Brakes...

...Denial is an ugly thing.

I've used magnets before... you're not going to get anywhere near the amount of power you need to do a launch with any battery... and plugging a copper wire into an electrical outlet is just plain old dangerous and stupid. I repeat, DO NOT put copper into your wall socket and wrap it around some metal. You'll burn your hand off, pop your fuse box in your house, and put your self in danger of electrictution.
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Jes
Jes's Roller Coasters DJ Jes
Six Flags Worlds Of Adventure 2002 Ride-Ops Crew! Have fun trying to find me!

What do you suggest using for the batteries?
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Launch: Tophat: Twistage: Brakes...

...Denial is an ugly thing.

batteries and be sure to check out some simple schematics of electrical motors!!! and perhaps modify them to work in a linear fashion...i have been messing with amature radio stuff for 26 yrs and have gotten to the point where my enjoyment comes not from building but simply working some morse code once or twice a month...and i have been burnt a couple of times as well rf=ouch!

CP Bound, could u possibly draw a simple picture and send it to dmkaz1@aol.com. I kinda get wgat u are saying but do you use actual magnets? And since there are 2 ends the the wire would you connect one end to neg. current and one end to pos I think. Or do you connect both ends to pos. on one side of the LIM and both ends to neg on the other? Sorry but I am a little confused. I get the phsical properties of it I just kinda dont want to get shoked lol.

Yeah me too. Rcjoshman@aol.com

I kinda want a final consensus here, so I don't go out and buy some useless crap and then come back here just to hear I need some more. And for the safety issue too ;)

CP Bound's idea doesn't require magnets per-say. They do require, however, building electromagnets out of iron bars and copper wire.

Considering the power source: I have no idea if anyone else has it, my dad has some kind of power inverter, where you plug it into the wall, and it converts the power (AC?) out of the wall, and turns it into battery type (DC?) power. Small alligator clips connect where the respective +/- terminals go.

Of course, the power inverter turns it down to the appropriate voltage and all that fun stuff, so I'm not sure if even then you have enough power.

I don't know how helpful that is, but if there's any way to power this puppy, that's all I can think of. These weird electrical components come up when your dad is an electrical engineer :)

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Tommy Penner - Variable X @ starrynightmare.net/~vxtc
Cedar Point FanBoy since 2001
"I will hold you close, if you're afraid of heights." -- Incubus, Stellar

Hey i don't have a clue how to do any of that but just thought i would say hi to SeederPoint!
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Teenie Weenie the Giggle Queenie!

Wicked Twister Crew 2002
*** This post was edited by Teenie Weenie 11/14/2002 2:29:44 AM ***

Never mind. I don't wanna do it anymore.

Hi Teenie Weenie!

Sounds like back in high school when some of us tried to build a rail gun in our physics class... It didn't work too well because we couldn't get enough power. In order for your miniLIMs to work well you'll need more than the 110 coming out of your wall. You'll also probably need a converter of some type to convert the current to DC.

Just give up now unless you have the cash and the knowhow.

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- John
*I resign from the game of life if I have to play with stupidity.
*We're getting screwed in the rear two coasters in a row.

Would the power unit from an H.O model train kit give enough power? You would be able to change the direction from forward to reverse. The power unit would also change the electrical current type. (a.c/d.c) Just a thought

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"Meow" I Wonder what that perty yella thing is?(Insert Hillbilly laugh here)

I'm probably going to try to build a WT model, but I won't worry too much about the LIM's at this point. I've talked to a kid at school about the electronic aspect, and we came to the conclusion that you can't just have one long electromagnet...it would have to be set up like the real one with several LIM's. Also, the power draw would be a big obstable. Anyway, I'll try to build it would of doll rods of several sizes. Hopefully, I'll be able to bend them into twists for the spikes using hot water and steam.

Another thing with the magnets...in order to get them to enough power, it would be hard to keep them from actually touching each other. I tried this with some stereo magnets, and it's very hard to keep them apart. The timing aspect of the LIM's would be difficult as well.

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Launch: Tophat: Twistage: Brakes...

...Denial is an ugly thing.
*** This post was edited by CP_bound 11/20/2002 7:57:07 PM ***

I wonder if Loctite would keep the magnets in place... just a thought.

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17 straight years of real thrills and counting...