K'nex SS Brakes - thoughts??

Anyone have any good ideas for a possible braking system for the K'nex SS?  I'm connecting a few sets together and I'm interested in engineering a type of braking system for the station area, but haven't come up with anything.

I haven't seen the set up close, but would it be possible to rig up a simple brake fin on the bottom, and have a little clamping system under the station to make contact with the fin?

Also could you put use 2 magnets...one under the train, and one below the station, but close enough to for them to attract each other just enough for it to stop?

These are just suggestions...since i haven't seen the model, I can't be sure if they would work.

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Just don't look for anything that requires precision. The track gauge is sloppy at best and the wheels have a lot of play in them.

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"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

Well I made a working boomerang and in the station I have a braking system like Intamin hypers with the brake fins on the side of the trains. I actually used metal scraps from my moms old job for the brake fins and glued metal pieces on k'nex for the brake pads. It works really good! I'll try and get some pics of my boomerang up here soon. But u could try my idea if you want.

*** This post was edited by PGASFMW on 1/4/2002. ***

Thanks CPgenius...

I think the fin might interfere with the operation a little.  I've wondered about the possibility of using rotating wheels under the track and attaching a flat piece under the coaster car that the wheel could connect with- for less interference in the ride.  I've considered the fin, but I don't think it would work - I might be wrong - I'll definitely keep it in mind. 

appreciate ya' 

PGASFMW,

How do you control the system?  What is it that compresses the metal fins?    Do you have switches set up or anything?  Sounds pretty interesting. 

I just take extra peices of the track, put them on the middle of the green things so they stick up and that stops it for me

Right now i control it by hand, but im working on a system that uses the motor that came with the SS set to open and close the brakes. I'm putting together a website and I'll have pictures and videos of my boomerang and my 2nd gen intamin freefall (if anyone wants to know about my freefall just ask) on the site.

Magnets.....if you can get them close to the screws. Just a thought.
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Don't.....look.....back! The Headless Horseman awaits you in 2002!
Model coasters and rides

The only brakes I used was to slow down the train on the old version after it came out of the loop.  On mine, it still had some pretty good speed and constantly derailed.  So, I put some pieces that stuck up out of the track and that slowed it down enough to keep it from derailing.  But, you sound like you want the real thing and I would have no idea on how to do that! :)
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"If two coaster trains almost hit each other, why is it called a near miss and not a near hit?"

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PGASFMW said:
Well I made a working boomerang and in the station I have a braking system like Intamin hypers with the brake fins on the side of the trains. I actually used metal scraps from my moms old job for the brake fins and glued metal pieces on k'nex for the brake pads. It works really good! I'll try and get some pics of my boomerang up here soon. But u could try my idea if you want.
*** This post was edited by PGASFMW on 1/4/2002. ***

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What do you use to pull it backwards up the lift ?

ptboy11,
I had that same exact problem on my first k'nex roller coaster set. The SS set has come a long way IMO. On the old set I did the same, I configured some extra pieces of track that rubbed up against the bottom of the car to keep it from derailing. It worked some of the time.

Yeah...I'm looking for something a little more sophisticated. The magnet idea is looking more and more appealing.

Just Stop it with your hand
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i play when i wanna play

TITAN_FAN_13: I used two magnets, one was on the back of the train and another was on this car that i made to roll on the track. I used a motor to pull the train backwards up the lift. I should have a web page up with pics and a video sometime soon.

LOL Randy! I think he is trying to avoid that!
PGASFMW, I am anxiously awaiting pics of that! I tried a boomerang but couldn't get it working. Initially had the inversions too tight which killed the momentum.
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Don't.....look.....back! The Headless Horseman awaits you in 2002!
Model coasters and rides

Arrow Guy, I should have the web page up by the end of this month. I took all the pics of the ride on my moms digital camera and now i cant find the disk that thier on. So when i find the disk i can put the pics on my page and get it to all of you.
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