Flying Scooters REVISITED - Designing my own

Lately, I've been daydreaming a lot about building a set of flyers out of wood. I'd probably opt to just buy the tubs (used idealy), as wood tubs would be HEAVEY, but make the structure out of wood. I picture a motorized playground ride. I'd think it would look really cool too.

I'm not saying I'm going to build this anytime soon, but I think it would be a fun project to at least design in AutoCAD and then estimate how much it would cost to build from there. So I'm asking for any help on tracking down design specifications. If I don't create my own tubs, that takes care of much of the design concerns right there. The supporting structure shouldn't be too hard to come up with. Just need the proper dimensions and motor requirements for good snapping conditions. A gas powered motor might be good for this application. :)

Ok, have at it... :)

One word for ya: balsa!

Ha!

Ok, so Larson's dimensions are very helpful:
http://www.larsonintl.com/rides/fsvid.htm

Lots of great engineering data there. But please let me know if anyone else has some info that may be helpful to designing this. *** Edited 11/22/2006 3:58:48 AM UTC by Acoustic Viscosity***

I have always wanted to make a model of one out of metal. I have some small flyer cars I made out of copper and some out of sterling silver. The flaps are hinged and swing back and forth. The great thing about metal models is they can function so smoothly. I would like to go a little bigger in scale for the fun of it, then make it functional. But then again with me, projects always end up being too big! We can't park the van in the garage right now because there's a rollercoaster car in the way :D

Here are some with various patinas on them...
http://mysite.verizon.net/samars/flyercar.jpg
http://mysite.verizon.net/samars/flyerrcars.jpg

One thing to think about it how to design the support structures out of wood since there will be some heavy loads and forces on it. Metal strength is not the same as wood, so you may have to reinforce areas or totally redesign them to be strong enough. *** Edited 11/22/2006 2:38:40 PM UTC by BeccaRaptor***

Id just build a old Bisch/Rocco 8 tubber in a bigger version (Taller) Lot less materials and torsion bars between the arms to absorbe the shock.

Getting into that whole lattice structure thing raises a issue unto itself for home use such as raising it to the highth and supporting it till you can put it all together.

Making the shaft would be the hard part but doable. Id use Railroad ties, Set the shaft in a metal sleeve of bearing grease and theres no other way but a big expensive sleved bearing at the top.

Chuck

It's an amazingly short trip from "convert" to "novice" to "addict", eh AV? :)

I've never been able to purchase one as other things like a car were always more necessary

But I have seen a couple eight tubbers and one ten tub go for under 15 grand in the last few years.

It's proven that you can use about anything to make it go, A Tire driven shaft among other things. The structure is the key

I know Fun spot has at least ten tubs sitting in the weeds. Two are fiberglass and the rest the old steel tubs. I doubt the fiberglass ones are for sale.

Lesourdsville Lakes SKOOTERS ARE GONE, I stopped by yesterday and am no kicking myself for not stopping in and asking who they sold em too.

Chuck

I'd love to build a set of Scooters.
If i only had the room...

I drew a sketch for a 4 tubber and it freaked my girlfriend out. (she thought i'd really make it. where will we park our cars??????)

What kind of motor are you going with? electric or small gas engine?
(i love stuff like this)

Seeing that Matt drives a Ram I'm guessing it will have a hemi. ;)

How about springs on the tub cables so they bounce more?

With gearing, A couple sprockets and a chain, You could go as low as 5 horsepower. The trick is getting the right speed.

As for bouncing, PKI's had the most efficent cable hookups to the tubs I've seen, Most go horizontal to the tub but PKI had a system where it was inline and actually rocked the tub from back to front. Top and Bottom snaps were very easy to achieve.

Chuck

However you decide to build them, just make sure they're Tina-proof. :)

If I ever were to build them, I'm sure Tina would want to be one of the first to test them. :)

Tina's a proud graduate of Chucks Flyer school (As are many others), We even go her snapping eight tubbers now.

Chuck, who has that footage of Knoebels somewhere and it will be up sometime next year. You can catch some of our antics on the Stricker and Conneaut segments of my vids.

I would be more than happy to be consultant and senior flyer tester!

Chuck and Rob are great teachers! Hopefully next year I will be skilled enough to take out a couple of tree branches at Stricker's like they have, unless we get kicked out. ;)

-Tina

Yup, We got removed by the cops at Strickers :(

Chuck