Xpress
Strata Poster
PLEASE KEEP IN MIND THIS WILL TAKE TIME TO COMPLETE!!
Explaining how to construct wooden supports is a very time consuming and drawn out process, so in order for me to better help you create them, you will have to bear with me. I do not have the ability to devote all of my undivided attention to this topic, due to other commitments already in place (like work, and life, per say?). Fear not, for I will eventually complete this topic, but for right now, I can only add little bits at a time. It's not just a matter of "Do this and this and you're done." no, it's much more drawn out than that. With that being said...
Hello everyone, and welcome to Wooden Supports 101!
This topic is intended to help you garner a skill set to enable you to create realistic wooden structures, based upon what a manufacturer would do. Now, this will be quite a lengthy topic when completed, and because of that, it may take quite a while to complete in its entirety, but rest assured, by the end you will be fully equipped to support even the most challenging of rides.
This topic was created to teach you the ropes of supporting coasters, not building them. Building a wooden coaster would take an entirely different topic, and even then, there's just too many variables to explain how you would build one. How you build your wooden coaster is entirely up to you, however I do suggest that if you are going to take the time to do a proper support job, that you at least try to get the ride to flow as a wooden ride would (and no, that does not mean pumps in every turn), meaning, take your time when creating the track, so when you run it through the simulator, that it feels like you are actually riding a wooden coaster.
Now, lets start of with the basic support profiles. There are multiple manufacturers out there, and each of them opt to use their own style of supports. Some use steel structures, some use the more traditional wooden structures, and yet even more opt to use a steel/wood hybrid structure. For the first part of this topic, I would like us to focus mainly on just building a traditional wooden structure. No steel supports, just plain wood.
Now, the manufacturers I am going to focus on are:
Careful eyes would note that I have included all 5 types into the title image
These are the most common of wooden rides out there. Yes, I know that there are other manufacturers out there, but for this topic we will focus on just what the 5 companies I have listed build, or have built (considering CCI is no more, and GG have taken it over). Now, since I am going to start with a traditional wooden structure, we will select the manufacturer PTC. PTC specializes in wooden structures, and a lot of coasters out there utilize PTC's 4 or 6 bench train types (even though the ride was designed and built by a different company).
Here is a key you can use, if you are confused on what I am talking about:
Ledger- These are the supports that are connected DIRECTLY to the rails of the track, and also that connect the rails to the support structure. These generally are always wood.
Large Beam- This is the Large Wooden Beam inside of the simulator, and usually these are used on the most stressful sections of the track, such as connecting the rails to the support structure, or on the outside of a bracing structure.
Small Beam- This is the Small Wooden Beam inside of the simulator, and these are often used on less stressful sections of track, such as the supports that interconnect each vertical structure to each other, or the diagonal bracing between supports. Also used for handrail supports.
Handrail- Flat Wooden Beam inside of the simulator. Really, these are only used for handrails, but the more talented individuals who want the ultimate realism may add them inbetween the rails onto the track ties so as to provide a walkway between each side of the track.
Explaining how to construct wooden supports is a very time consuming and drawn out process, so in order for me to better help you create them, you will have to bear with me. I do not have the ability to devote all of my undivided attention to this topic, due to other commitments already in place (like work, and life, per say?). Fear not, for I will eventually complete this topic, but for right now, I can only add little bits at a time. It's not just a matter of "Do this and this and you're done." no, it's much more drawn out than that. With that being said...
Hello everyone, and welcome to Wooden Supports 101!
This topic is intended to help you garner a skill set to enable you to create realistic wooden structures, based upon what a manufacturer would do. Now, this will be quite a lengthy topic when completed, and because of that, it may take quite a while to complete in its entirety, but rest assured, by the end you will be fully equipped to support even the most challenging of rides.
This topic was created to teach you the ropes of supporting coasters, not building them. Building a wooden coaster would take an entirely different topic, and even then, there's just too many variables to explain how you would build one. How you build your wooden coaster is entirely up to you, however I do suggest that if you are going to take the time to do a proper support job, that you at least try to get the ride to flow as a wooden ride would (and no, that does not mean pumps in every turn), meaning, take your time when creating the track, so when you run it through the simulator, that it feels like you are actually riding a wooden coaster.
Now, lets start of with the basic support profiles. There are multiple manufacturers out there, and each of them opt to use their own style of supports. Some use steel structures, some use the more traditional wooden structures, and yet even more opt to use a steel/wood hybrid structure. For the first part of this topic, I would like us to focus mainly on just building a traditional wooden structure. No steel supports, just plain wood.
Now, the manufacturers I am going to focus on are:
- -Intamin
-Great Coasters International (GCI)
-Gravity Group (GG)
-Custom Coasters International (CCI)
-Philadelphia Toboggan Coasters (PTC)
Careful eyes would note that I have included all 5 types into the title image
These are the most common of wooden rides out there. Yes, I know that there are other manufacturers out there, but for this topic we will focus on just what the 5 companies I have listed build, or have built (considering CCI is no more, and GG have taken it over). Now, since I am going to start with a traditional wooden structure, we will select the manufacturer PTC. PTC specializes in wooden structures, and a lot of coasters out there utilize PTC's 4 or 6 bench train types (even though the ride was designed and built by a different company).
Here is a key you can use, if you are confused on what I am talking about:
Ledger- These are the supports that are connected DIRECTLY to the rails of the track, and also that connect the rails to the support structure. These generally are always wood.
Large Beam- This is the Large Wooden Beam inside of the simulator, and usually these are used on the most stressful sections of the track, such as connecting the rails to the support structure, or on the outside of a bracing structure.
Small Beam- This is the Small Wooden Beam inside of the simulator, and these are often used on less stressful sections of track, such as the supports that interconnect each vertical structure to each other, or the diagonal bracing between supports. Also used for handrail supports.
Handrail- Flat Wooden Beam inside of the simulator. Really, these are only used for handrails, but the more talented individuals who want the ultimate realism may add them inbetween the rails onto the track ties so as to provide a walkway between each side of the track.