K'nex Scorpion Express Coaster

Welcome to the World of K'nex, a colorful construction toy. Here we will make a roller coaster in the shape of a volcano. My main steps lead to building it with a launch motor. At the end is an additional step for building it with a chain lift only, in case you don't have a launch motor.

* Pieces are considered pieces themselves.
* Parts are considered several pieces connected to each other.

* While building, it helps to also click on the images to enlarge them and see their notes.

The pictures shows the variety of pieces, motors and tracks needed.

The colors shown in the first picture display the variety that I used, meanwhile it doesn't matter what colors you use.

Pieces required for building the Scorpion Express Coaster:

Rods (Sticks) - (Shortest to Longest)

Green/Black: 36, White/Silver: 48, Blue: 85, Yellow: 43, Red/Silver: 195, Gray/Orange: 105
Connectors - (ID Color)(Most to Least Sides)

White: 78, Blue: 44, Yellow: 78, Purple/Grey: 78, Green: 43, Red: 18, Orange/Brown: 35

Bright Grey/Orange: 2, Grey: 47, Sandy: 5, Shiny Blue: 7, Orange: 3, Black: 2

Other Types

Silver Spacers: 23, Blue Spacers: 5, Black Gear Wheels: 2, Black Chain Holders(Look on Pic.): 9, Coaster Car: 2, Coaster Tracks: 26, 1 Regular Motor

Micros

Rods: Short Red Transfers: 38, Long Transfers(Green/Purple/Bright Blue): 18, Blue: 4, Yellow: 1

Connectors: Gray: 11, Purple: 38, Yellow: 2

If with Launch Motor, then Micro-Chain: 93.

Following the Images:

Build these 32 (2 red rods & 1 white connector) and call them "Part #32".

Build the 12 (2 grey rods & 1 white connector) and call them "Part #12".

Build the 11 (1 blue rod & 1 yellow connector & 1 orange/grey rod) and call them "Part #11".

Following the images:

Build the plus-shaped base, and consider the side with the yellow connector as the front.

Add on 10 "Part #32"s.

Add on 17 red rods.

Add on 7 yellow connectors, 6 grey connectors and 2 purple connectors.

Add on 7 red rods and 4 grey rods.

Build the few micro parts.

Add to the base 6 red rods and 6 grey rods.

Slip onto the two center front red rods each 3 silver spacers and 1 blue spacer.

Afterwards connect the few micro parts, and can optionally put on the launch motor.

Following the images:

Build the 4 wide T-shaped parts and add them to the base.

Build these 2 odd shaped parts and add them to the left front of the base with 2 blue rods.

Add onto the base 7 "Part #11"s.

Build the 3 T-shaped parts and add them to the base while slipping the red rods through the grey connectors.

Build this one-more part and connect it to the left of the base.

Consider the left bottom side in each image as the front of the spine. Following the images:

Build the bottom part of the spine.

Build the second part and attach it on top.

Build the third part, noticing the grey connector and blue/sandy connector on the back left tall red rod. Afterwards, connect it on top of the lower part.

Build the fourth part with the black gear and add it on top.

Grab 4 of the "Part #32" and connect them with 4 red rods and 1 yellow rod as the fifth part.

Build the sixth part, slipping a silver spacer on all four tall red rods, and then put the 5th and 6th parts on top.

Build the seventh part and attach it on top.

Build the eighth part and add it on.

Build the top part and put it on top.

Attach the spine to the base.

Following the images and their notes:

Build and prepare the small parts and pieces, and then add them on as shown.

Following the images and their notes:
Build and prepare the small parts and pieces, and then add them on as shown.

Following the images and their notes:
Build and prepare the small parts and pieces, and then add them on as shown.

Following the images and their notes:
Prepare the 3-4 tracks as shown and then start with the top right track every time.

The chain has 93 pieces.

Afterwards you can draw and add any title, exploding and leaking lava that you'd like.

Make a little change in how the coaster tracks which were connected to the Launch Motor are held as shown in the first image.

Change the front bottom base as shown in the second image.

Move the lower black gear from the middle of the volcano to the bottom, and connect it as shown in the third image.

Add a red rod with two grey connectors, and extend the chain to length of 176 pieces as shown in the fourth image.