My Latest Lego Model- The Zipper!

[tiltawhirl]

Hi everybody! I wanted to share some new pics of my latest creation. I am doing a Chance Mfg 1987 Zipper amusement ride. My other project(The Superloop) is on hold for now, and will be brought out of storage when I get this one complete. This model presents a number of challenges related to the physical limitations of Lego bricks. Most of the boom structure is cross-braced with technic beams in order to bear the final weight of the boom when all the cars/bogeys are mounted. The only non-Lego elements in this ride will be the center shaft on the boom(aluminium), the center hub commutator(to allow for continuous electrical supply to the two motors in the boom that drive the cable/bogeys), and two precision bearings that will go on the end of the shaft to be mounted into the support boom(this will allow the 65+lbs of boom to rotate) This is just the boom assembly of the ride, and as you can see I have it up on mounting stands to work on it. Once I get the boom finished and working properly, I will begin work on the boom support/trailer assembly. Let me know what you think.


tilt

 

[tiltawhirl]

Lego Zipper Pics

Here you can see the whole boom assembly(with only 3 car bogey's mounted) It is about 4.5 feet long, not including the added length to account for when the bogey's swing around the ends of the boom. I think it will be about 7 feet in total hight when erected on the support hub structure/transport truck assembly(not even started yet) It weighs about 50lbs without all 12 cars mounted, so I think when all is said and done, the boom will weigh about 65lbs, and around 20,000 elements.
tilt

 

[tiltawhirl]

Lego Zipper Pics

Here is a closeup of my third prototype for the actual cars that hold the peeps. This will be further modified as I get more of the mechanicals together for the bogey drive around the boom. These cars are balanced so that when the bogey comes around the end of the boom, they spin head-over-heels, forcing the occupants to spill their lunch. I always used to look at the carnies with that skeptical look of disdain when boarding, knowing full well it would be MY CAR that he would choose to act out his passive aggressions on. Find the weakest looking, and spin the heck out of them BEFORE you even get the boom moving! Those sick, sick people! ;-) :dazzle:

tilt

 

[tiltawhirl]

Lego Zipper Pics

Here is a shot showing the bogey after it has rounded the boom. The cars spin as they roll around the ends.


tilt

 

[tiltawhirl]

Lego Zipper Pics

Here is a closeup of one of the wheels at the end of the boom. A cable engages here much like a caterpillar track, and is attached to the shafts that stick out from the car bogey, thus moving them around the boom as the boom turns. I have a little worm drive with gear leading to a motor mounted inside(you can see the cable in the right of this pic)

tilt

 

[SirNim]

That's TOO good!!! Wow!!

 

[JonnyK]

WOW! Thats Good!!

 

[CmdrTostada]

Thats really cool.

 

[The_CEO]

Very Impressive Tilt!

 

[The Mom]

That's great! But I don't think I'll let my son see it...I have a hard enough time storing all of his Leggos already! :lol: