Zero-G Coaster Builder

Install Directions:

To install the addon, click the install button and from the File Browser select the .zip file.

Then enable the addon by checking the box. The UI is located in the object properties panel.

Start File:

The Zero-G_Coaster_Start.blend file contains the necessary objects and collections that the addon references allowing you to start building the coaster right away. In the Outliner, the track collections are colored yellow, supports red, and train green. The text object named “Roller Coaster” is already setup as the control object for the coaster with a station.

Supports:

There are four types of support structures, from left to right Support_V, Support_Invert, Support_Two, and Support_One.

These collections can be quickly duplicate and placed along the track by assigning the desired spline as the target and setting the offset.

UI Panel Documentation:

Control Object:

Determines whether the active object is a control object for a coaster. A coaster control object enables the UI to build a coaster and holds the data associated with it.

Calculate Physics:

The Calculate Physics button calculates the physical movement of the train on the track and saves the data in keyframes. This is the main feature of Zero G Coaster Builder.

Physics Steps per Frame:

This specifies the number of calculated physics steps per frame. A higher number will increase accuracy of simulations containing rapid changes in the train’s direction at the cost of lengthened calculation time.

Wind Drag:

This specifies the drag experienced by the train as it traverses the track. The drag is proportional to the square of its velocity.

Track Parameters:

This contains the ordered list of track pieces and their related properties.

New Track:

Creates a new standard track section connected to the previous if not the first track section created.

Remove Track:

The last track section in the list can be removed by clicking the ‘x’ in the top right corner of the given piece.

Track Type:

Set the track type from the drop-down menu, Brakes, Station, Chain Lift, or Standard Track, for a given section to reflect the desired functionality of the track piece. All track types possess the option of adding a catwalk on the left or right (currently the catwalk only works on track without roll).

Standard Track, a section of track that the train can freely move under the influence of gravity.

Designating a track section as a Chain Lift enables two more parameters, Add/Remove Chain and Speed. The Add/Remove Chain button toggles the visual representation of the chain lift. The Speed parameter sets the speed of the chain lift. A train traveling on this section of track will be able to move faster than the chain speed but not slower.

Selecting brakes as the track type, enables three other parameters, Add/Remove Brakes, Speed, and Force. The Add/Remove Brakes button toggles the visual representation of the brakes. The Speed parameter sets the target speed at which the train will leave the brakes. The Force parameter sets the amount of force applied to each train car if traveling over the target speed through the brake section.

The Station track type enables five other parameters, Leave Station, Add/Remove Brakes, Speed, Force, and Stopping Location. The Add/Remove Brakes button toggles the visual representation of the brakes. Unlike the track type brakes, the Speed parameter sets the speed at which the train will be entering or leaving the station. The Force parameter sets the amount of force applied to each train car if traveling under the target speed while leaving the station. The Stopping Location parameter specifies where a returning train will stop as a percentage of the track sections length, 0 – 100. The checkbox Leave Station toggles the station’s mode. By default, it is set for a train to leave the station using the given Speed and Force. If not checked the station is in the mode to receive a train and stop it at the Stopping Location.

Connect Track End:

The Connect Track End button at the bottom of the track parameter sub-panel connects the last track piece in the list to the first enabling a full circuit coaster.

Track Tools:

The Track Tools sub-panel contains two buttons for fixing the alignment of track sections. The first one, Fix Track Connections, aligns the two track sections by moving the second control point of the succeeding track section to match the tangent of the preceding. The second button, Fix Track Roll, adjust the succeeding track section roll to match the preceding section.

Track Connections:

For the Track Tools to work, each track piece possesses two empties at each end, one aligned to the spline and the other controls the target roll. When track sections are connected the two spline’s endpoints reference the same target roll empty ensuring the roll at the connection will be identical after the Fix Track Roll is executed.