So, I was inspired by the recent door booster and another booster design (forgot the name of the creator), and decided to combine them into a fairly compact design (6x16 footprint, 6 units high including a roof layer or 5 without a roof; but a roof is definitely recommended). The result of my experiment is a perfectly-functioning superbooster that works consistently in SMP.
I present to you... The Double Door Booster!
This booster uses a typical door booster design to launch a cart up a ramp. The twist? The cart being launched actually powers a double cart (third track, in the background)--that is, two carts stacked on top of each other.
Stacking the carts is accomplished by placing a cart just below the gap (where the carts are now), putting cobblestone in the gap, putting a track on top of that, and putting a cart on the newly-placed track. Then, simply break the cobblestone and carefully collect the track and cobble blocks without touching the carts (items laying on the tracks will block cart movement).
Launching is performed using a button and some redstone wiring, as shown.
To use the booster, simply place head into the "entrance" tunnel, place a cart on the first track, and press the button above your head.
The result is a boost so powerful, it can propel you to the max height at maximum minecart speed. There is, for all practical intents and purposes, no limit to the range of the launched minecart, so long as it never leaves minecart track.
I'll make a video tutorial on how to construct one of these things as soon as I can get FRAPS to cooperate, but all of the relevant areas are present in these screenshots.
Specifications for what you see:
-6x16 footprint, 6 units tall
-Lots of cobblestone (or whatever construction material you have on hand)
-56 units of minecart track (including a 6-unit-long launch track)
-11 units of redstone dust
-2 redstone torches
-2 normal torches
-1 button
-1 door (iron or wood, I chose iron since you can't accidentally mess up its orientation by opening/shutting during construction it apart from the redstone)
Other details:
-Time between button press and high-speed launch: ~1.5 seconds (2 redstone torch delays and the time it takes a minecart to travel ~10 blocks at max speed)
-Works in SSP or SMP
-Self-resetting
-Can be enclosed easily, leaving only the entrance to the track
-Minecarts running into the launch track backwards will not affect the launcher
-Does not break when exiting a chunk in either SSP or SMP (no moving carts except during a launch)
Obviously, it uses a lot of materials, and it's not simple to build, but it's compact, doesn't break or glitch when left alone, and it gives you enough momentum to traverse most of the world. What do you think? Does anyone else have ideas for improvement?
This is a really great idea, and will gladly try and build this the next time I need a high-speed transit line. At the moment, my worlds are dotted by many seas - but the next time I need a rail-line, I'll try your idea.
I present to you... The Double Door Booster!
This booster uses a typical door booster design to launch a cart up a ramp. The twist? The cart being launched actually powers a double cart (third track, in the background)--that is, two carts stacked on top of each other.
Stacking the carts is accomplished by placing a cart just below the gap (where the carts are now), putting cobblestone in the gap, putting a track on top of that, and putting a cart on the newly-placed track. Then, simply break the cobblestone and carefully collect the track and cobble blocks without touching the carts (items laying on the tracks will block cart movement).
Launching is performed using a button and some redstone wiring, as shown.
To use the booster, simply place head into the "entrance" tunnel, place a cart on the first track, and press the button above your head.
The result is a boost so powerful, it can propel you to the max height at maximum minecart speed. There is, for all practical intents and purposes, no limit to the range of the launched minecart, so long as it never leaves minecart track.
I'll make a video tutorial on how to construct one of these things as soon as I can get FRAPS to cooperate, but all of the relevant areas are present in these screenshots.
Specifications for what you see:
-6x16 footprint, 6 units tall
-Lots of cobblestone (or whatever construction material you have on hand)
-56 units of minecart track (including a 6-unit-long launch track)
-11 units of redstone dust
-2 redstone torches
-2 normal torches
-1 button
-1 door (iron or wood, I chose iron since you can't accidentally mess up its orientation by opening/shutting during construction it apart from the redstone)
Other details:
-Time between button press and high-speed launch: ~1.5 seconds (2 redstone torch delays and the time it takes a minecart to travel ~10 blocks at max speed)
-Works in SSP or SMP
-Self-resetting
-Can be enclosed easily, leaving only the entrance to the track
-Minecarts running into the launch track backwards will not affect the launcher
-Does not break when exiting a chunk in either SSP or SMP (no moving carts except during a launch)
Obviously, it uses a lot of materials, and it's not simple to build, but it's compact, doesn't break or glitch when left alone, and it gives you enough momentum to traverse most of the world. What do you think? Does anyone else have ideas for improvement?
This thing is awesome, I have been looking all over for a reliable booster that really works well with SMP chunking.