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K'nex pieces for structural details ??? Scenery and structures
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Super User 1,071 posts Kirk W kirkifer Super User 1,071 posts
Kirk W kirkifer

One day, while slumming at the thrift shop, I came across bulk bags that had a mixture of Lego and K'nex. They were large bags and I could not see what all was in the bags, but the price was right. It occurred to me that I could find $2.99 worth of structural shapes and what not, so I purchased them. 

As I am steadily building my benchwork, I am finding a need to really clean my mess. This includes separating the K'nex and Legos and putting them in the appropriate storage bins. (North American Prototype Modelers has a wonderful Grand Central Station made from Lego blocks, BTW...) 

There are other threads on here that either mention the use of Legos or K'nex, but I did not see any pictures. Before I throw out the K'nex, does anyone have pictures of creative things they have used the K'nex for to enhance a structure? 

I thought about cutting down the rod pieces and making them some kind of structural load that I can use in operations, but I was hoping there was something a little more unique. 

Now, it is your turn. Please post your ideas. 

 

knex.jpg 
Kirk Wakefield
Avon, Indiana
 

 
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UglyK5 Super User 1,132 posts
UglyK5

Now that’s some great

Now that’s some great recycling!  Prime and paint those, glue them to some wood blocking, add some straps or chains and they’ll look nice on their own or under a tarp. The KNEX might even be useful for reinforcing scratch built buildings - I find styrene can warp badly if not well reinforced. 

After my kids destroy their toys I harvest them for load parts like that.  pull-back metal cars and trucks, RC cars, etc have useful gears, wires, rods, tires, and other parts for scrap loads  

Jeff
—————————————
“Think before you post, try to be positive, and you do not always have to give your opinion.....”
-Bessemer Bob
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Kirk W kirkifer Super User 1,071 posts
Kirk W kirkifer

Reinforcement, huh?

Yep. I bet it would work good for reinforcement. Of course, I didn't test any pieces to see what PlasticWeld or MEK does to it. 

Under a tarp might look good. I hadn't even thought about that. 

Still waiting on some pics. A Google image search has yielded nothing so far. 
Kirk Wakefield
Avon, Indiana
 

 
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Loren Clarke lclarke1959 Regular poster 225 posts
Loren Clarke lclarke1959

Who would have thunk it!!!

I have a habit of stealing building back walls to use elsewhere. K'nex would work perfect for the bracing for a piece of styrene as the replacement back wall.

Thanks so much for sharing this great idea.

Loren

Loren Clarke - Fort Worth, Texas

Modeling the Pittsburg & Shawmut railroad.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/pittsburgh_shawmut_railroad/

"Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above". James 1:17
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Lancaster Central RR Frequent poster 574 posts
Lancaster Central RR

I seem to remember someone using k’nex for to manually

work a layout automation. K’nex don’t really look like any prototypical structural parts. I would notice that if they were visible. Of course I have spent 20 years in the construction industry.  Using the corners, half round, and even the wheel as a tarped load is a great idea. I have seen loads under a tarp that make you say “what is that?”

I was thinking the wheel under a tarp would make a good representation of the outline of the turbine blade section for a hydroelectric plant. 

Lancaster Central Railroad &

Philadelphia & Baltimore Central RR &

Lancaster, Oxford & Southern Transportation Co. 

Shawn H. , modeling 1980 in Lancaster county, PA - alternative history of local  railroads. 
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Kirk W kirkifer Super User 1,071 posts
Kirk W kirkifer

Tarped loads

I'll give it a shot. What is the worst that could happen? I could just throw it away. No biggie. 

There are some amazing artists who combine crap like toiler paper rollers, BIC pens, old printer cartridges, etc. and make some AMAZING looking machinery. I really wish I was so creative !

 
Kirk Wakefield
Avon, Indiana
 

 
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Ken Hutnik huthut Regular poster 191 posts
Ken Hutnik huthut

Load for flats and gons

You mentioned cutting down the rods, but some of the shorter ones look like some type of machine axle as well.  Either paint a metal colour, or rust them as scrapped.  All the smaller pieces could be painted and weathered as scrap in a gondola.  The "snowflake" type pieces stump me a the moment. They could be severely cut up as scrap for a gon as well.  The tire and rim, if you don't have huge mining equipment or a space shuttle to launch are tough too.  Good luck, have fun!

Ken
My projects: Ken's Model Trains
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