I have been developing the new Monorail system suggested by Masao Hidaka on LEGO Cuusoo

Folder when moderated

My layout has straights, curves and slopes well proven. The sizes are 1.5x the original - 48M curve radius and 6-wide (or wider) trains. I also tried a figure-eight with the crossing.

So far I have a 5-car train with 2 motors, LiPo battery and IR Receiver. Top speed is a bit more than the original but it is also variable with the train remote.

I am working on a flat crossing, which TLG patented for the original monorail but never released. Shown here is the rail-flattening version but I also have a turning rail version.

I am also working on the motor switch function using a PF pole reverser on the train.

I have yet to do points but Hidaka has started on these, as well as a crossover.

All tracks are made from sustainable basic parts. TLG can't take away our monorail again - as long as there are basic parts there will be monorail!

There is also more variation possible. I have an 80M/10-brick slope and two 48M/5-brick slopes. Both use the same angle modules at the ends, calculated not to strain parts and each joint fixed with two clip/bar hinges for robustness. I got into 0.1M offsets to make the angles!

The black and yellow colour scheme fits with Blacktron quite well but you can vary the colours to suit your chosen theme.

TLG will never make the original monorail again, no matter how much we might wish for it, because it is not commercially viable.

I believe this system presents a sustainable future for LEGO Monorail. That's why I decided to help develop it.

Please try it yourself and support it on LEGO Cuusoo

Mark

Cool - some great ideas in here. It will be interesting to follow this in a bit more depth now that we have EB back. Whoooo hoo.

I have to second roamingstudio: Nice work, Mark!

I'll be following this topic and maybe I get to transfer this at home. Thx for sharing!

Definitely awesome.

Thanks guys

I put up some information in a text file to explain a bit more about the concept and how the functional parts of the original may be recreated and extended.

I am writing some word-based instructions with parts lists for the track pieces I've made so far.

A step forward with the switch-on-the-train concept, from the original start/stop rail and motor switch, is that a new way of mounting the switch shows similar force required to change it as the original needed. This bodes well for the train staying on the track and being able to change the direction switch at a similar speed to the original. Whether it will do it well at low speeds I will have to wait and see. I thought this was a good function to recreate because then I will have all the functions in the 6399 Airport Shuttle set.

I also understand why the train sometimes sticks on the crossing so I will apply some measures and evaluate the improvement.

Mark

Wow that's too cool!

I saw someone from MichLUG do this in the summer (based off your design I believe) it was really cool.

I would definitely love to try this at some point...

It is probably Joe Meno. Not sure but it might be one of these layouts you saw (top 6 of those shown on the link).

I have only done this system since the beginning of December 2012!

Masao Hidaka began it about a year ago - see the LEGO Cuusoo link above.

My idea is to get the engineering to work, at least for a standard set of parts that replicate the functions of the the original. That will allow it to become popular and then we will see people doing more imaginative things with it. Already more is possible - different hills, multiple heights not just 10 brick intervals, a flat crossing, a double crossover...

One of the best things is that long straights are not rare like the original!

Mark

Here's an update on the new monorail system. It's been a while since I last posted here on this topic!

Trains:

I now have monorail trains that can move at up to 0.95m/s (average speed over 10 laps of the track circuit below)

- A lot faster than the original and about 3x faster than the earlier trains with PF Medium motors.

The fast trains use PF train motors with belt drives to the adjacent bogies.

The Blacktron train features flashing lights, with flash speed varying with the speed of the train, up to almost-constant at high speed.

The Blacktron train has an opening cargo pod.

The Classic Space train has passenger modules based on Benny's SPACESHIP, with room for 2 minifigs in each one.

Each train's battery is in the pod with the logo - SNOT construction for the Blacktron one.

- Easy removal for charging is possible.

Train performance of speed and battery life varied in my experiments; it was better with more wheels powered.

The best result (fastest and furthest) was where I swapped the train modules around, to put both motor sets together with a battery in between.

- The train went for just over 3 kilometres on a single LiPo charge, changing direction every 10 laps (so no direction-based cheating!).

I have updated the trains a bit since these pics were taken.

- The trains are now more robust and just as fast.

- The trains are now faster with a longer train.

- I added small driver's cabs to the ends of the train, mounted on the bogies and based on the scooters from Benny's SPACESHIP.

Cabs allow the theme to go to the ends of the train whilst keeping the motors powering the wheels at the ends.

- The Classic Space train is now motor unit - passenger module - battery - passenger module - motor unit, 2 middle wheels unpowered and 2 powered at each end.

- With a partly-used LiPo battery the train achieved 14 seconds per lap, slowing to 18 seconds per lap over 40 laps, with no significant loosening of the new cabs.

This is better performance than other train arrangements, fast, reliable and consistent.

2 train recommendations:

- Each train that is expected to travel in both directions should have a motor module at each end of the train, with all unpowered wheels in the middle.

- The number of unpowered wheels should not exceed the number of powered wheels.

Track:

I have recreated all the functional track parts equivalent to the original 1990s monorail, with some limits pushed out:

- Straights, now up to 64M long, enough to enter and leave a helix.

- Curves, with multiple radii, 4 concentric radii tested.

- Hills, 15 and 30-plates high tested (30 plates = 1 stanchion from the original monorail), versatile to do any multiple of 15 plates or any height.

- Points, after Masao Hidaka suggested a Y-point, I expanded that to a 4-track junction of 8 points with a single servo motor. That would be the entire station throat in model railway terms. Any smaller junction can be made similarly.

- Crossing, a right-angle crossing with track that moves out of the way as the train crosses. May need the train to be at low speed but works well.

- Start/Stop Rail and on-train switch, tested and performance about the same as the original, though Power Functions IR control supersedes the function.

- Helical tracks, tested 2-track helix, works well for many circuits of the trains.

The layout has expanded quite a bit since the picture at the top of this thread.

Layout features:

- Two twin track helices of 1.25 turns. I have some more parts to take them higher.

- Tunnel made from Technic panels and #3 joints, can be done in the colour schemes of various Space factions. I have done Blacktron (pictured) as well as smaller Classic Space and M-Tron tunnel mouths. The idea is that a single ring of panels could be placed next to a crater-side cliff and the train could travel from one faction's base in one crater to another faction's base in the next crater, with different colours of tunnel mouths on each side.

- The 4-track junction is to the right of the tunnel, with the Blacktron train.

- The Classic Space train is at the far corner of the layout.

- 4-track curve on the right. The right-most siding has the old train with PF M-motors.

More pictures in the folder here

Unfortunately Masao Hidaka's monorail idea on LEGO Ideas timed out, but it gathered 1688 supporters.

If it is worth it then I would consider raising a new idea for a Classic Space Monorail.

Please have a go at building some of this stuff. It's great for Train and Technic enthusiasts and makes really good use of Power Functions.

Mark

Edited June 16, 20159 yr by Mark Bellis

I would love to own a Lego monorail considering they haven't made any for a long while!

This is how to get started making the curves.

They need mostly plate 1x2, plate 2x2 and tile 2x2 on top.

Each end has brick 1x2 with 1 or 2 holes, pegs to link to the next rail and 2 plates 1x1.

The straights are even easier, mostly plate 2x8.

All basic parts that will never go obsolete. This monorail is for keeps!

You can also change the colour of the track to suit the theme - either town or a Space faction.

--Ed 20180206:

I have developed the train into a proper Classic Space monorail train.  It has interchangeable cargo pods including tools, foldable scooter, power packs and medical stretcher.

The train is geared down 5:3 so that it climbs well as a realistic train with a bit more weight.  Still a lot faster than the original 1990s monorail.

The battery removal is facilitated with removable roof sections as well as the sides bearing the Space planet logo.

At the right end in this picture the lights flash as the train moves.

Mark

Edited February 6, 20187 yr by Mark Bellis