Introduction: No Limits Coaster 2 Tutorial: a Introduction Guide and Basics

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About: Hi, I'm Nick. On most sites (like YouTube and SSCoasters) I'm known as koolcoasterkid. I mainly build K'nex ball machines(the kind that go around the room). I've been building k'nex since I got my first set …

Hello

No Limits 2 can be very confusing for someone who is new to the software, and did not have No Limits 1. My goal in this tutorial is to highlight the basics in the program, and get you started on your first coaster. 

No Limits 2 is a Roller Coaster designing software that is highly realistic. It's a follow up to No Limits 1. Check out their website here: http://www.nolimitscoaster.com/:


For this tutorial, I'm just making a simple coaster, but there are many possibilities with the program. 

Step 1: Setting Up the Park and Coaster

First, open the editor tab from the main menu. Select file, and click "New". This creates a new park, in which you can start the coaster. Name the park, and click "Yes" to agree with the file location. 

Now, you can start your coaster. Click "Coaster Properties" and go into the "Style" tab. Here you can select the type of coaster you want, as well as the state of the track (new or old). 

This is also where you modify the length of each train. Furthermore, you can change the colors in the "Colors" tab. 

Step 2: Getting Started

Its best to start in one of the side views. You can change the view in the drop down tab in the top right corner of the screen. 

First, select "Add Vertex" and click in the grid. Next, make one next to it on the same elevation, and 2 more further away, like in the pictures. 

Next, select "Add Type Separator"  and add one near each end of the segment. Doing this isolates the section of track in between the 2 type separators, so you can change what that part of the track is.  


Next, using the "Select/Modify" option, highlight the section of track in between the 2 type separators.  In the tab "Section Type" ,change it to "Station".

*Note*The highlighted section is now your station. If the train does not show up on it, you may need to make the station longer. 


Step 3: Making the Lift Hill

Now its time to make the lift hill. 

First, select the "Add Vertex" and create the pull-in to the lift.  Next add another vertex near the height you want the lift to be at. 
Add the crest by moving the vertexes with the "Select/Modify" tab. 


Now, select the "Add Type Separator" and add one at the end of the lift. Now the lift section is isolated, and you can select it using the "Select/Modify.

Once the section is highlighted, use the "Section Type" tab and change the type from Track to Lift. 
While the segment is still highlighted, use the "Type Settings" tab to modify the speed of the lift, as well as other effects.

In style settings, you can activate the catwalks , as well as custom colors if you would like too. 



Now you are done the lift, and are ready to start on the coaster layout. 

Step 4: Making the Layout

Now you are ready to make the layout.

Turns: Making turns is easiest from the top view. Using the "Add Vertex" option, create the general shape of the turn, and use the "Select/Modify" to grab the vertexes and change the shape of the turn to one that you desire. 

Drops: Making drops is easiest using a side view. Using the "Add Vertex" option, create the general shape of the drop, and use the "Select/Modify" to grab the vertexes and change the shape of the drop to one that you desire.

Checking the Forces: Checking the forces is easy using the "G-Force Comb". You can access the G-Force Comb in the drop-down tab next to the "Display" tab. If the lines on the comb are red, the forces are too great. Modify the profile of the track to eliminate the red sections.

When you are satisfied with the layout, bring the last and first section near each other (last picture), and continue to step 5.  

Step 5: Adding Banking

Adding the banking is necessary for managing the lateral forces on a turn. To add a roll, click the "Add Roll" tab, and place them along the track in even spacing. 

Along the turns, using the "Select/Modify" tab, select one roll node at a time, double click and use the option "No Lat. G-Force". This banks the track to the optimal banking to make the lateral forces to nothing. 

*Note* Sometimes, the roll node will bank upside down on the same angle as the no lateral force section. Check in the "Perspective" view mode to see if its banked properly. 

Also, add and set roll notes to 0° at the start and end of the brake, station and lift sections, to prevent the sections from being tilted. 

Step 6: Connecting the Layout

To connect each end of the track, hold down Ctrl, and left click both ends of the track. Next, click the "Connect" button, in the top left corner. The sections are now complete.

Step 7: Making the Brake Run

Now we need to slow the car down. 

Using the "Add Type Separator" place one at the start of the brake run. The other one is already there, from the back of the station. 

Next, select the segment, and change it to a brake segment. In type settings, you can change various properties of the brake segment. Since the segment is perfectly flat, a transport device is necessary to move the train out of the block. Tick the check box "Enable Transport Device" to create a transport on the brake run. You can modify the settings such as the speed and type of the transport devices.

In the "Style Settings" tab, you can add catwalks and lights on the segment as well.  

Step 8: Terrain

The terrain is easy to modify in the editor. Simply open the "Terrain" tab, and select the point influence in the second drop-down tab on the left side. 

Next, click modify markers and move your mouse into the field. Left clicking and moving the mouse up will make hills, moving it down will make water and ponds. 

Step 9: Tunnels

Notice in the first picture a section of track disappears. This is because the track goes underground. To add a tunnel, go in the "Track" tab and select "Add Style Separator" . Place one style separator  on each side of the track where it comes out of the ground. 

Next, using the "Select/Modify" select the section that is underground and go into "Style Settings". Pick the tunnel style you would like and click "OK" to save it. 

Step 10: Making Your Own Supports

Making your own supports is easy. A support beam needs to have something to attach to on either end. 

Footers: Footers are the concrete blocks embedded in the ground and the supports are attached to. To add footers, select the "Add Footer" tab and place them on the ground where you want the supports to touch the ground. 

Rail Connectors: This is where the supports join to the track. Select the "Add Rail Connector" tab to add the connectors to the track.

Free Node: Free Nodes can be added in the air to connect a beam in the air as well. To add one, select the "Add Free Node" tab and place it where you want to add a beam. 

To add a beam, select the "Add Beam" tab and left click on the start point of the beam, and drag it to the end point and let go. Adding a Beam Node is a simple way to attach another beam to a existing beam. To add one, select the "Add Beam Node" and click along the beam where you want it to be placed. 

Flanges are the parts where beams join together using bolts. To add one, select the "Add Flange" option and click along the beam where you want the flange. 

Step 11: Using Pre-made Supports

Using the pre-made supports is a quick way to add supports to your ride. Select the "Choose Prefab" and browse through the list of supports you can add. Once you have found one you like, highlight it and click "OK". 

Now, click the "Add Prefab" and click along the track to add supports. 

Making wooden supports is easy with the option "Wooden Generator". Using this option brings open a tab where you can preview and set different styles of supports. To clear the wooden supports, select "Clear Generated".


Step 12: Adding Scenery

There are many options for the scenery. In the "Scenery" tab,  you can browse for various scenery objects. Select the "Choose..." option and look around for the type of scenery you want. 

In the "Plant/Trees" file, you can find many trees and shrubs. 

Once you select one, choose the "Add Object" tab and left click where ever you want to place the trees. 

There are also other pre-made objects, such as the wind turbine pictured below. 

To move any scenery object, select the "Select/Modify" tab and click on the object. A set of arrows will come up and you can drag the object to where you want it. 

Step 13: Finishing Up

To finish the coaster, go into the "Coaster" tab and click the "Freeze" button. This locks the coaster from any modifications until you click the "Unfreeze" button. 

Next, go under file, save the ride and click "Leave Editor" 

Click the "Play" button to ride your roller coaster. 

Step 14: A Finished Product

Once you get good at the game, you can make very complex tracks. The one below is a example of a suspended coaster that I've made. 

Step 15: Your Coasters

If you found that this Instructable helped you, feel free to send me a picture of your coaster. 

The first coaster is made by Shadowman39. (Yes, he was  fooling around with the wind turbine)