Build instructions · Series 2

MagLev Rail Starter

Straight and curved MagLev rails on removable feet, a rail car, and a switch track with a reversible switch control.

Steps
23
Use for
MagLev Rail Starter - Abandoned, MagLev Rail Starter - Neutral

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MagLev Rail Starter

Before you start

  • White PVA craft glue. We use Aleene's Turbo Tacky: the bottle for big jobs, a glue pen for fine beads.
  • Small clamps to hold pieces while they dry.
  • Precision tweezers or a pointed tool for punching out small pieces and slots.

Tips & tricks

  • The front of a sheet is the side the die cut went into; it has the rolled edges. The back is flat.
  • Pieces punch out most easily when pushed from the back.
  • Fold every score fully so its edge is crisp and straight. It's cardboard, so it sometimes needs a little help.
  • Be a little generous with glue. It wipes up with a dry or slightly damp paper towel and dries clear.
  • Glue marks and their targets always match in shape and size.

  1. Feet

  2. Step 1 of 23 Foot base

    Step 1 diagram
    1. Glue and clamp a2 and a3 as shown to create a foot base.

  3. Step 2 of 23 Foot assembly

    Step 2 diagram
    1. Glue a4 and two of either b4 or c4 pieces to the foot base as shown to complete a foot assembly.

    Note Repeat steps 1 and 2 for all of the feet in the set. The parts b4 and c4 are interchangeable.

  4. Straight rails

  5. Step 3 of 23 Straight rail top assembly

    Step 3 diagram
    1. Glue and clamp b1 and b2 as shown to create a straight rail top assembly.

  6. Step 4 of 23 Support assemblies

    Step 4 diagram
    1. Glue pieces a1 and a5 as shown to create support assemblies.
    2. Glue both support assemblies onto the straight rail top assemblies as shown to complete a straight rail piece.

  7. Step 5 of 23 Feet onto straight rail

    Step 5 diagram
    1. Insert tabs on the foot assembly into the slots on the bottom side of the straight rail as shown.

    Note Do not use glue, as these pieces are meant to be removable for storage. Repeat steps 3–5 for all of the straight rails in the set.

  8. Curved rails

  9. Step 6 of 23 Curved rail top assembly

    Step 6 diagram
    1. Glue and clamp c1 and c2 as shown to create a curved rail top assembly.

  10. Step 7 of 23 Support assemblies

    Step 7 diagram
    1. Glue and assemble pieces a1 and a5 as shown to create support assemblies.
    2. Glue both support assemblies onto the curved rail top assemblies as shown.
    3. Glue and assemble pieces c3 as shown to complete a curved rail piece.

  11. Step 8 of 23 Feet onto curved rail

    Step 8 diagram
    1. Insert tabs on the foot assembly into the slots on the bottom side of the curved rail as shown.

    Note Do not use glue, as these pieces are meant to be removable for storage. Repeat steps 6–8 for all of the curved rails in the set.

  12. Rail car

  13. Step 9 of 23 Bed

    Step 9 diagram
    1. Glue and clamp both d1 and both d3 pieces as shown.

  14. Step 10 of 23 Rail car bed assembly

    Step 10 diagram
    1. Glue both d2 pieces to the bed assembly as shown.
    2. Then glue both d4 and both d5 pieces to the bed assembly as shown to create the rail car bed assembly.

  15. Step 11 of 23 Maglev assembly

    Step 11 diagram
    1. Glue and clamp d6 as shown to create a maglev assembly.
    2. Repeat 3 more times.

  16. Step 12 of 23 Maglevs onto bed

    Step 12 diagram
    1. Glue the four maglev assemblies to the rail car bed assembly as shown.

  17. Step 13 of 23 MagLev Rail Car

    Step 13 diagram
    1. Glue both pieces d7 to both pieces d8 and glue onto the rail car bed assembly as shown to complete the MagLev Rail Car.

  18. Switch track

  19. Step 14 of 23 Switch track

    Step 14 diagram
    1. Glue and clamp both e7 and both e8 pieces as shown to create the switch track.

  20. Step 15 of 23 Maglev assemblies

    Step 15 diagram
    1. Glue and assemble pieces e1, e2, and e3 as shown to create one of the maglev assemblies.
    2. Glue and assemble pieces e9, e10, and e11 as shown to create the other maglev assembly.

    Note Make sure that pieces e1/e9 and e3/e11 match curve directions. The rolled edge of pieces e1/e9 should be facing down when assembled. See the image inset for a rolled edge example.

  21. Step 16 of 23 Support sub-assembly

    Step 16 diagram
    1. Glue and assemble both e4 and both e5 pieces as shown to make a support sub-assembly.
    2. Repeat one more time.

  22. Step 17 of 23 Support assemblies

    Step 17 diagram
    1. Glue both e5 pieces to the support sub-assemblies as shown.
    2. Repeat one more time to create the support assemblies.

    Note When finished, the slots on the bottom of pieces e5 should face in different directions, as shown in the image inset.

  23. Step 18 of 23 Maglevs onto supports

    Step 18 diagram
    1. Glue both maglev assemblies to the support assemblies as shown.

    Note When finished, the curve of the maglev assemblies should be oriented as shown in the image inset to fit the curve of the switch track.

  24. Step 19 of 23 Switch rail

    Step 19 diagram
    1. Glue and clamp f2 and f3 as shown to create the switch rail.

  25. Step 20 of 23 Assemble switch

    Step 20 diagram
    1. Assemble pieces as shown.

    Note Do not glue these pieces.

  26. Step 21 of 23

    Step 21 diagram
    1. Glue and clamp piece f1 as shown.

  27. Step 22 of 23

    Step 22 diagram
    1. Fold and glue piece f4 to piece f7.
    2. Glue and assemble with pieces f1 and f6 as shown.

  28. Step 23 of 23 Switch control

    Step 23 diagram
    1. Piece f5 sits into place to create the switch control.

    Note Do not glue. This part is reversible and can be used as an in-game mechanic.