Running in a Loop

[Athos]

OK, since I got help on the back and forth movement, I have another need for help. I want to make a MOC where it looks like one figure is chasing another around in a circle. The space is pretty small (ideally only 4 studs wide and maybe 10 long). Any suggestions on how to have two figures chasing each other?

Steve

[rasikaa]

Depending on the layout and the size of the figures, the easiest would be to have a tread link (usually used in excavators) setup sideways and have a Technic liftarm mounted to the stud holes and fix the figure to that. The advantage of this is that you can make the figures go in non-regular paths by cleverly guiding the tread link back and forth using rollers.

Rasika

[andrewganschow]

As rasikaa explained tracks are about the only feasable option here, you could somehow make a liftarm rotating underneath the "ground" and have another liftarm that slides on that one, but speed would be variable as the character comes closer or moves further away from the center of rotation. But the sliding liftarm would have to have a groove from underneath "ground" to above "ground" and my thinking is that it would get jammer often. A track sound like a really good option. Im curious to see your project on this be cause I must have missed your last project unless this is all one big project in which it sounds awesome.

[Athos]

OK, I am pretty dumb when it comes to technic. Can you show me some pictures of how to do it? Not necessarily the hiding it, but the actual track part.

This is the castle layout I'm working on. I want to add some moving elements. With help from that last post I did here, I've got a vampire fighting the vampire hunter on the front wall. I'd like to set up something where the mad scientist chases the monster around another wall segment. I'm also planning to add a windmill with turning tines, but I think I can figure that out myself...

If you have any other thoughts on what I could add, I'd welcome them.

Steve

[RohanBeckett]

I made a large GBC module with back and forth slider

you might be able to work with this idea.... could even do something where the minifigs rotate, so in one direction, the monster chases the scientist.. and then they spin around, and the scientist chases the monster

Having the figs on an axle, with a gear.. and then when the gear goes past a fixed gear-rack, it rotates them? (throwing ideas out here!)

[andrewganschow]

https://onedrive.live.com/?cid=2B236C064FF0032F&id=2B236C064FF0032F%211649&parId=2B236C064FF0032F%21105&o=OneUp

Apparently, I’m not allowed to post this image because it’s the wrong format somehow, it’s a JPG. but anyway if you drive this track system, you can change the length of the liftarms which are pinned to the tracks, and make an attachment system to pin to the top of the liftarms, and your characters will run around in circles. Now this track doesn’t bend backwards easily so it’ll be difficult to make a maze run or something of that sort, but chasing around the castle, this will work great. Best of luck!

[Athos]

Wow, those both look kind of complicated... and tall... I am not sure I can swing those in the existing layout. I will have to play with them a bit. Thanks for the help.

The GBC is pretty cool. Playing with GBC is really what got me into trying to add movement to my MOCs.

Steve

[RohanBeckett]

if I have time tonight, I'll see if I can knock up a smaller example... a sideways loop, like andrewganschow will definitely be simpler, and easier to implement

[Athos]

Thanks. If I can't make it work for the vampire castle, I might be able to use it in my desert...

Steve

[Alasdair Ryan]

What about a using train or monorail track,it may be too wide but is is another "easy" option?

[legolijntje]

I think the chain idea is the most simple. Something like this:

[ludov]

I was thinking also of legolijntje's suggestion. It's 4 studs high. You could make it 3 studs high using the principle used in the forklift of set 8872 (see page 10 of the instructions) with a Beam 1x2 with cross and hole instead of the cross block. But then your "rail"/"gap" needs to 2 studs wide instead of the 1.33 in legolijntje's solution. However, the beam will probably ensure more smooth motion in corners.

Edited July 13, 2016 by Ludo Visser

[Athos]

Oh, okay. I see how it would work now. Thanks for the help. I think I've got just the place for it... well have the idea of the place for it. I haven't built that part yet... Now I just need to buy some of that chain...

Steve

[Nazgarot]

You could solve this in a tighter volume using rope/string and several pullys. Attaching the figure would be harder, but doable.

Using original lego ropes with stud ends could solve the attatching issue, but making hardert to run over a pully. You will just have to experiment with what you have got.

-ED-

[legolijntje]

Oh, okay. I see how it would work now. Thanks for the help. I think I've got just the place for it... well have the idea of the place for it. I haven't built that part yet... Now I just need to buy some of that chain...

Steve

Don't forget that my image above is just an example. You can use bigger or smaller gears, add more of the large chain parts to attach more objects etc. etc.

It's Lego after all

[Athos]

How big are they when put sideways? That is to ask, how long are they? I'm trying to figure out how many I need, but don't have any to measure with.

Steve

[legolijntje]

4 links are a little shorter than a 1x4 plate, 9 links are about the length of a 1x8 plate and you need 8 links for 1 gear of the type I used in the example (or actually 8 for the halve of course).

Hopefully that gives a bit of an idea of how many you need...