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Frank's Guide to Force Vector Design :: Geo Sections Video Up Now!
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FrankLeeMadere posted on October 31st, 2021

Here's what I've come up with. Not exactly there, but a pretty good start. At least, I think this is the element you meant; I've always known this as a Fan Turn and couldn't find anything on a Funnel Bank as you mentioned.




The main difficulty I found was getting that "pop" as the train climbs into the turnaround. I was overthinking it quite a bit at first, but it seems to simply be a product of rotating the train at just the right moment as it changes directions from curving upward to curving downward along with the right heartline value and with the track still moving laterally to the outside. Okay, not that simple but still kinda simple.
I chose 0.5m for the heartline which produced a decent looking rotation. I can't say for sure what the exact heartline used is though, but I'm almost certain it isn't the NL default of ~0.9m; discuss? And I say ~0.9m here as the measurement seems to be in dirty imperial units.

I also played with using simple, unaltered Quartic functions for the roll versus Plateau functions and can't decide which one feels more right. My example uses Quartic, but I do think Plateau would work better as that function can make the initiation of the roll much snappier. Will work with it more and decide once I get the shaping down a bit more.

Yep, that's the one! Sorry about the confusion there, the "Funnel Bank" name comes from American Thunder's marketing:

And about the heartline, Amalia's GCI Bible recommends using 0.85m for GCIs.
It's very intriguing and helpful to see an experienced FVD/NL2 user's take on this element - makes quite a bit more sense to me now. The main part that's stumped me was dealing with the yaw, and ensuring that there wasn't any laterals and airtime happening at the same time within the rise or drop. Thank you so much, and really looking forward to that Geo sections video!

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Frank's Guide to Force Vector Design :: Geo Sections Video Up Now!
General

Here's what I've come up with. Not exactly there, but a pretty good start. At least, I think this is the element you meant; I've always known this as a Fan Turn and couldn't find anything on a Funnel Bank as you mentioned.




The main difficulty I found was getting that "pop" as the train climbs into the turnaround. I was overthinking it quite a bit at first, but it seems to simply be a product of rotating the train at just the right moment as it changes directions from curving upward to curving downward along with the right heartline value and with the track still moving laterally to the outside. Okay, not that simple but still kinda simple.
I chose 0.5m for the heartline which produced a decent looking rotation. I can't say for sure what the exact heartline used is though, but I'm almost certain it isn't the NL default of ~0.9m; discuss? And I say ~0.9m here as the measurement seems to be in dirty imperial units.

I also played with using simple, unaltered Quartic functions for the roll versus Plateau functions and can't decide which one feels more right. My example uses Quartic, but I do think Plateau would work better as that function can make the initiation of the roll much snappier. Will work with it more and decide once I get the shaping down a bit more.

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Frank's Guide to Force Vector Design :: Geo Sections Video Up Now!
General

Kw6sTheater posted on October 28th, 2021

I have a question though: how would you go about designing a GCI-style funnel bank (such as Thunderhead's first turnaround) in Geo sections? It's really stumped me..

GCI is certainly the most difficult wooden manufacturer to replicate no matter the technique, hand-building, force sections, geometric sections...
I don't make them much, and was planning to only make a footnote on them in the geometric sections video given the degree of difficulty. I'll give this a go though, as it is a really neat element. Maybe if I get it down well enough and it's not as complicated as I'm first thinking, I'll throw it in there too.

My first instinct is to use a Geometric section with respect to Time instead of Distance as the shaping on GCI's is far less circular than other types; CCI and PTC in particular. I will let you know what I come up with and post. If it's not 100% there, a few extra brain cells thrown at it might do the trick. hehe

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Frank's Guide to Force Vector Design :: Geo Sections Video Up Now!
General

FrankLeeMadere posted on October 26th, 2021

I'm happy to hear that this is helpful to some! I nearly have the Roll Rates video finished; most likely done by tomorrow. This should round out the basics of force sections and get people moving in the right direction. The videos for Geometric sections should be out quicker as I'm getting the process of script writing and video editing down as I go. The topic is also a bit easier to understand and explain, which will be helpful.

For the future though, any interest in a long-form video detailing the design process from start to finish of an entire coaster? I had the idea of time-lapsing through my trials through each element, then taking a moment to explain some of the decisions I made along the way. I'll probably skip supporting and detailing the scenery around the ride to stay topical though.

I also thought of making videos dedicated to specific elements and discussing some of the nuances between manufacturers, i.e. a video on vertical loops detailing differences between Arrow-Dynamics, B&M, and Premier as they all approach this same element very differently.

Let me know if there's any preferred direction that might help out more, or be more interesting to you all.

Been learning FVD++ over the past month, and I have to say, your videos have helped a ton so far! Really grateful that someone's doing updated tutorials for the program (the next newest ones are 2 years old already...), with fresh insight and knowledge to provide. I especially can't wait for that Geometric sections video - and another one on how to properly emulate differences in manufacturer shaping could be pretty useful as well.

I have a question though: how would you go about designing a GCI-style funnel bank (such as Thunderhead's first turnaround) in Geo sections? It's really stumped me..

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