Marble Track 3 Construction on Marble Track 3

Setting the Stage

Sun, 11 Nov 2018 15:22:32 +0900

Squarehead leads Rabby onto the set as Rabby drags a round circular plate behind him.

Squarehead unties the ropes from Rabby. Rabby squishes Squarehead as he heads toward the camera, knocking it off its stand.

By the time the camera is reset, Squarehead has recovered and is pulling the ropes out from under the wooden circle.

Lil brother comes onto the set, and wonders if he’s allowed to step on the stage. He sees his mom, and thinks better of it. Other characters pay the stage no mind and walk all across it.

Dr Sugar

Tue, 01 Aug 2017 09:12:39 -0500

Dr Sugar is the manager. He was the first person to come on to the set in the first attempt to create Marble Track 3 back in 2011 or so.

Though Dr Sugar has really short arms, he is also quite gymnastic and can flip around and move relatively easily around different parts of the track.

Dr Sugar’s TODO list:

Dec 2018: Working with Mr Greene on Lower Zig Zag Net
Nov 2018: ~~working on making the Lower Zig Zag~~
~~trying to get the triple ball splitter to be sized correctly.~~

Reversible Guy

Tue, 01 Aug 2017 09:12:39 -0500

After moving this guy around, I noticed that he looks just about the same whether facing forwards or backwards so there was a gag during which he goes just off the set and was magically going back onto the set without having had time to turn around. But via the magic of the fact that this is not real he was already turned around.

2019 Jun 22: Reversible Guy held the Lower Zig Zag 3F while autosticks came to become the Lower Zig Zag 3F Lower Support.

Candy Mama

Thu, 01 Jun 2017 09:12:39 -0500

Candy Mama is one of the first characters on the set, and somewhat of a manager character.

She is pretty much no nonsense, but does have some compassion for her kids and other workers.

She was temporarily off the set after having a dizzy spell from being spun around too quickly, but got back to work in early 2019.

Her two sons work on the set.

2022 Mar 15: Candy Mama reached the top of the first ramp.

G Choppy, professional cutter

Sat, 10 Jun 2017 09:12:39 -0500

G Choppy is one of the characters who has a very specific job. His job is to cut wood and that’s what he does.

I usually try to make the cuts happen by him raising his sword for three frames which equals one quarter of one second in movie Playback times before he makes the cut.

Sometimes he just curves pieces, and I don’t have a clear timing on how long that takes, because it depends on the curve each time.

Mr McGlue

Thu, 01 Jun 2017 09:12:39 -0500

Mr McGlue has a very specific job. He glues pieces of wood together. He has one long arm which he uses to deliver glue. He stands upright on two feet, but the one on his arm side is really small.

Mr McGlue is a ghostable character, meaning (for my convenience) he can pass through wooden sticks. As the track construction moves along, Mr McGlue’s big feet were making it more and more difficult to let him pass through most areas of the track. I had considered removing his big shoes, but they are glued to his feet in a way that would damage his feet too much. So on 29th of September 2018 I made a copy of Mr McGlue with short feet.

Testing the Bearing

Sun, 11 Nov 2018 15:22:32 +0900

Everyone who ran away before now runs across the stage, with a spooky flying bearing behind them. They collapse in a pile as Garinoppi expertly lands the bearing near the center of the stage.

Everyone watches as the bearing winds down to a complete stop on the stage. Everyone remembers there was a scary skeleton there, and look up from the Bearing at Garinoppi.

After the bearing comes to a complete stop, Garinoppi moves to give the radio transmitter to Candy Mama. Everyone panics and runs away, trampling Dr Sugar in the process.

Pinky

Sun, 01 Oct 2017 09:12:39 -0500

Pinky is a character who was present in the first attempt at making Marble Track 3 in 2011. At that time was a little bit silly, but this time she’s more grown up.

Some things she’s done:

March 2022: lifting Zog Rails, Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Guider, and one of the Lower Zig Zag 3F Rails

April/May 2019: push medium blue marble from under the Caret Splitter up to the top of the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection.
February 2019: Carry the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Bar Lower Support up the ramp

Squarehead

Tue, 01 Aug 2017 09:12:39 -0500

The movie starts with Squarehead walking backwards, leading Rabby forward with the stage. Squarehead is usually clumsy, but he does not give up.

Installing the Bearing

Sun, 11 Nov 2018 15:22:32 +0900

Candy Mama goes offstage to get a longer lever with which she can put the switch into a higher speed than before.

Once she put the switch into high-speed, the Bearing spins so quickly that it floats. Ninety Degree Antenna Man slides quickly around the stage like the video game Tempest, ensuring the bearing does not float off the stage.

While the bearing spins at high speed, floating above the stage, Candy Mama, Reversible Guy, Squarehead, and Doctor Sugar all try to move the bearing into place by wrangling it with large white hooks.

Starting to Build the Track

Sun, 11 Nov 2018 15:22:32 +0900

Dr Sugar instructs Candy Mama to turn the Bearing on faster than ever before. Faster. Faster still. It’s still not fast enough, so Dr Sugar climbs up onto the lever and brings it into a ultra fast mode. The bearing is spinning so quickly that it actually floats the entire stage. They easily push the stage into place while it’s floating on this cushion of air.

Candy Mama removes the long lever, as Dr Sugar leads François onto the set, bringing the second level stage in behind him.

Big Brother

Tue, 01 Aug 2017 09:12:39 -0500

They don’t have names but I called them the big brother and little brother. Their actions are modeled after me and my brother but the modeling is not clear. They both have characteristics of both of us.

Big brother is more like the grouchy version of me.

Lil Brother

Tue, 01 Aug 2017 09:12:39 -0500

Lil Brother is a bit like the happy version of me.

Super Spoony

Tue, 01 Aug 2017 09:12:39 -0500

Super Spoony head is a relatively new character whose job is to bring marbles to the stage. His head is made from a spoon so it holds marbles well.

I created him because the large marbles are so heavy compared to the characters themselves, so it’s quite difficult to actually let them carry the marbles up the ramp.

He’s designed to be sturdy, and just the right height to allow the marbles to roll off the spoon and onto the stage.

Garinoppi

Sun, 01 Oct 2017 09:12:39 -0500

Garinoppi is a helpful spooky skeleton who works as a radio operator for the track. His radio can be seen in the scenes, but he is currently working elsewhere.

Missing 8th and 10th Placed Outer Spiral Supports!

Thu, 19 Jun 2025 14:18:34 +0900

Today I created a quick livestream to give this episode a video overview.

Here is an overview of the old numbering system:

The first through seventh placed outer spiral supports were all named correctly:

Livestream: Overlay G Choppy flying to misplaced piece

Mon, 16 Jun 2025 11:51:21 +0900

This time I focused on GIMP to overlay GC on background images. It took several minutes to recall how to do it with any sort of efficiency; thanks to GIMP and ChatGPT for helping!

Using variants of this helped me label images so I could more easily know which ones to use for what.

thunderrabbit@pop-os:~/db.mt3.com$ mogrify -gravity NorthWest -pointsize 172 -fill red -annotate +0+0 '1389' '/home/thunderrabbit/mt3/00010_002.dgn/00010_002_Take_11/00010_002_11_X1/00010_002_11_X1_1583.jpg'
thunderrabbit@pop-os:~/db.mt3.com$ mogrify -gravity NorthWest -pointsize 172 -fill red -annotate +0+0 'DELETED' '/home/thunderrabbit/mt3/00010_002.dgn/00010_002_Take_11/00010_002_11_X1/00010_002_11_X1_1586.jpg'

Here are a few of the images that were used in this process.

Livestream eight threads for ten workers

Sat, 14 Jun 2025 21:23:30 +0900

After buying thread at Pandora House near 新百合ヶ丘駅, I retired some lengths of the previous thread which is thicker (and slightly darker (than the background)), but hanging G Choppy from it proved to be so fiddly that I decided to try using an armature for it, and ended up having to stop the livestream (while glue dries) after gluing two pairs of alligator clip sticks together to make the armature actually workable.

gluing Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Guider

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 17:23:01 +0900

Zero frames per hour, a new low! Wooo!

I couldn’t get the small bamboo rods to support Pinky where she had been previously standing, so I rotated the stage toward me, and still couldn’t do it, so thought “hmm” and decided to glue the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Guider in its place while I had the stage rotated and the perfect chance to do so.

The glue is drying now as I write this. Here are three photos I took today of the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Guider:

Installing Small Marble Saver

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 15:00:43 +0900

Today is the day I forgot to take a photo of the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Stanchion before ripping it out so I could re-place it about 1mm from where it had been blocking medium marbles from flowing down the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter

The removal and replacement went quite smoothly, and saved Marble Track 3 from an existential crisis: If I had determined the characters would have to remove and reglue the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Stanchion, or if the removal had destroyed part of the track, … I dunno, but I was tempted to just say bah and toss it all.

Nearly Installed Small Marble Saver

Sun, 08 Jun 2025 06:49:49 +0900

Mr Greene has nearly put Small Marble Saver into place; just a few more steps to go!

After trimming Small Marble Saver, G Choppy is flying to his next task on the other side of the track.

Candy Mama is now stable on her right foot (after an unstable arrival onto the stage) after placing the Twentieth Placed Outer Spiral Support close to its place. Soon she’ll move to her left and place the Nineteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support, which I’ve just realized means they are each misnamed as each other’s names!

G Choppy perfectly trimmed the Small Marble Saver

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 15:51:33 +0900

G Choppy has certainly perfected his talents as a swordsman! He cut the very finest edge in the Small Marble Saver so it may be installed after the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter to ensure small marbles reach the Decorative Walls after the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter.

In other news Super Spoony has gotten the green marble and will soon be taking it up the ramp to test the Triple Splitter. Exciting times ahead!

Here are the photos taken today (across both live streams)

G Choppy flying

Fri, 06 Jun 2025 12:00:32 +0900

This livestream stopped before too long because I needed to let glue dry on G Choppy’s support so he can fly smoothly to Mr Greene to trim the Small Marble Saver.

More to come soon!

Twentieth Placed Outer Spiral Support

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 13:18:05 +0900

History:

2025 Jun 05: CM brought 19poss and Twentieth Placed Outer Spiral support up the first ramp

Installing Small Marble Saver

Thu, 05 Jun 2025 13:08:30 +0900

In addition to Mr Greene bringing Small Marble Saver to G Choppy for adjustments, Candy Mama is bringing Nineteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support and Twentieth Placed Outer Spiral Support to the stage, which is rotating just a bit too far for her to get Nineteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support to the correct spot. Mr McGlue is going to be busy for a bit anyway, so someone else will probably help hold the pieces in place. This will likely be Doctor Sugar who is going to help Squarehead now, who Reversible Guy cannot lift, but has been trying!

Triple Splitter Small Feeder Outer Guider

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 20:58:10 +0900

History:

2025 Jun 04 : G Choppy curved the top portion

Small Marble Saver

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 20:43:56 +0900

History:

2025 Jun 04 : Realized it would be needed right here:

2025 Jun 04 : Mr Greene scooped up the piece with his foot, walked off the track, and instantly had the piece in his hand as he arrived on the second bridge.

Livestream: Candy Mama removes debris

Wed, 04 Jun 2025 20:00:35 +0900

Today in 2.5 hours:

Candy Mama removed debris from Sixteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support Seventeenth Placed Outer Spiral Support
Mr McGlue glued Zog Rails Support while Doctor Sugar held it in place
Reversible Guy tried to help Squarehead get off Paul
Super Spoony went to get the large green marble
G Choppy curved the lower end of the upper portion of the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Outer Guider
Pinky climbed onto the track to hold the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Guider in place
Mr Greene brought Small Marble Saver onto the second bridge where G Choppy will soon cut it into size.

Here are the photos from today, most of which will be used in the final!

Gluing Zog Rails Support

Tue, 03 Jun 2025 18:33:25 +0900

The episode image is a top view of Marble Track 3 Studio. It shows the newly placed extension for the Sky Support to rotate even further.

The Sky Support rods were taken from Dad’s old Shoot The Moon game. They’re basically being used in the same way; they are pinned at one end, and now instead of getting a large steel marble to the moon, they let G Choppy fly with ease..

What's My Motivation? (and took a few frames!)

Mon, 02 Jun 2025 21:47:31 +0900

Today, I spent most of my time trying to get the characters in place and then making sure I knew what their motivations were in the movie so that I could begin moving them properly.

The trickiest part was getting G Choppy in place as he is curving the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Guider

It was quite a thrill once I took the first frame that would be used in the video.. though I kept hiding and retaking it six times before I was happy with it. Altogether I took 11 frames and kept five of them.

Getting things lined up

Thu, 29 May 2025 03:26:58 +0900

In Real Life, I moved, changed jobs, started a book, and more, all while Marble Track 3 waited patiently! Most importantly, the camera and set stayed intact while I moved. It took a while to get the camera pointing in the right direction, but that was the ahem, focus of this livestream.

After just over three years of chilling, Marble Track 3 construction is back!

Next steps are to get the characters back in their places so we can start filming.

Creating new demo Outer Spiral

Wed, 04 May 2022 19:03:08 +0900

Because there are many Outer Spiral Supports, the demonstration Outer Spiral isn’t able to sit on the stage, so I’m making a new demo Outer Spiral which will not have legs holding it up in place, but an upper structure that holds it intact as it rests on the existing supports while the remaining supports are put into place.

This will allow me to more easily measure upcoming Nineteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support and 20poss, plus all the subsequent Outer Spiral supports.

Nineteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support

Tue, 03 May 2022 09:29:49 +0900

History:

2025 Jun 05: CM brought 19poss and Twentieth Placed Outer Spiral support up the first ramp

2025 Jun 02: Still DNE
2022 May 03: Mistakenly identified as Zog Rails Support

Finished gluing Eighteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support

Wed, 27 Apr 2022 19:06:17 +0900

written 09:09 Tuesday 03 May 2022 JST

Pinky started jumping up.

Mr McGlue finished gluing Eighteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support (closest to top of triple splitter)

Mr Greene started heading down the middle ramp (after having held the Eighteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support)

Doctor Sugar began to sit on Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection to hold Zog Rails Support and the Nineteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support and 20th poss

Here are the pics taken this day:

G Choppy curving the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Guider

Tue, 05 Apr 2022 16:26:23 +0900

Today G Choppy began curving Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Guider while Pinky prepares to pull herself up to help install the pieces.

In the foreground Candy Mama has delivered Zog Rails Support to Doctor Sugar who is holding it now until Mr McGlue can get over there to glue it.

She is now about to leave the track, and take two pieces which were cut from the Sixteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support and Seventeenth Placed Outer Spiral Support I think.

Placed Zog Rails Support

Fri, 01 Apr 2022 17:55:29 +0900

Candy Mama got Zog Rails Support into place after the stage rotated sufficiently far for her to step onto it.

On the left, Pinky has just tossed some thin sticks (including Zog Rails) onto the Triple Splitter Small Feeder, where G Choppy will curve the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Guider.

In the back, Reversible Guy is wondering how to help Squarehead, who is still impaled on DC 48.

Here are the frames I took today, about five of which had to be cut from the final:

Still Bringing Zog Rails and Zog Rails Support

Tue, 15 Mar 2022 15:40:16 +0900

Today was basically a continuation of last week. I took ~~about 12~~ 17 frames, enough for more than a single second of video. ;-)

Again, this week, I did not create a summary video nor even a livestream; just the snippet shown above.

By the end of the snippet, on the right, Candy Mama has gotten Zog Rails Support rotated in a vertical orientation and will soon hand it to Doctor Sugar.

On the left, Pinky is lifting Zog Rails, Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Guider, and one of the Lower Zig Zag 3F Rails.

Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Guider

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 17:09:28 +0900

This small bamboo bar will extend from the Lower Zig Zag 3F Net Affector toward the lower end of the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Bar

History:

2025 Jun 02: forceps hold the piece together while glue dries

2022 Apr 05: G Choppy begins to curve the piece

2022 Apr 01: G Choppy ready to curve the piece

Zog Rails

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 16:32:50 +0900

Zog Rails are two thin bamboo bars which will extend from Lower Zig Zag 3F Rails to guide small marbles from beyond Zog, over Zog and onto the Lower Zig Zag 3F.

Zog Rails will be supported by Zog Rails Support

History:

2022 Mar 15: Pinky lifted herself up onto Triple Splitter Small Feeder Outer Bar while holding the Zog Rails, Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Guider, and Lower Zig Zag 3F Rails

Zog Rails Support

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 16:25:03 +0900

This vertical piece will support Zog Rails.

It shall be installed very close to Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Lower Right Protection, with its foot between Left Side Small Landing Zone and the Lower Curver off the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter.

History:

2022 Apr 27: Mr McGlue heads over to glue it once Doctor Sugar holds it

2022 Apr 05: Doctor Sugar holding Zog Rails Support before it was misidentified ad Eighteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support

Eighteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 16:03:52 +0900

The Eighteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support will be the second shortest support, installed quite close to the edge of the stage, near the top of the Triple Splitter.

History:

2025 Jun 02 After Mr Greene walks down the 3rd ramp

2022 Apr 05: nearly glued by Mr McGlue

2022 Mar 08: brought into place by Mr Greene

Lower Zig Zag 3F Rails

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 16:00:53 +0900

Lower Zig Zag 3F Rails will connect to Zog Rails to help small marbles transition from Zog to Lower Zig Zag 3F.

History:

2022 Mar 15: Pinky lifted herself up onto Triple Splitter Small Feeder Outer Bar while holding one of the Lower Zig Zag 3F Rails, Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Guider, and Zog Rails.

2022 Mar 08: Pinky brought the rails up the middle ramp.

Bringing Zog Rails and Zog Rails Support

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 09:04:29 +0900

I didn’t create a summary video for today, and I haven’t finished the summary video for two weeks ago, so for now I’ll post the latest snippet (ID -jDKzYRmhkE) and maybe finish the summary from last time and add it here or maybe create a whole separate entry for last time.

Today Zog finally landed and I glued Zog into place.

I’ve decided to send marbles to Zog with two thin rails that will extend toward the top of Caret Splitter Feeder Extension, alongside the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection.

Zog Touchdown

Mon, 07 Feb 2022 18:54:53 +0900

Zog touched down today (but will keep clattering for a bit next time) as Candy Mama walks down the ramp, not even watching the success of her perfect throw.

Oh just for the record, I didn’t write an entry for last week when I got Zog to the apex, and had Candy Mama walk away (after bumping her).

I took frames from the apex of Zog’s flight until it hit its landing points: Lower Zig Zag 3F and el Lifty Lever Guider.

Candy Mama walks away while Zog flies

Tue, 01 Feb 2022 11:02:09 +0900

(written 11:04 Tuesday 08 February 2022 JST)

I bumped Candy Mama while having Zog fly so I decided to have her walk away without watching her toss land perfectly.

Here are the frames I took, about half of which were merged into the rest to make Zog fly.

Zog started flying

Tue, 25 Jan 2022 12:45:51 +0900

It’s been three weeks or maybe 4?? I finally got a method for holding Zog steadily in the air as it flies up and over onto Lower Zig Zag 3F and el Lifty Lever Guider.

Today after about three weeks of false starts, I finally got everything sorted out so I could get Zog flying. In previous weeks, there were issues with holding Zog firmly in place, with a minimum of armature, which could be easily removed from the frame.

Planning Zog's flight path

Tue, 21 Dec 2021 15:09:44 +0900

I got the book of movements up to date and took a single frame, which got deleted once I more carefully looked at how Zog needs to move.

Here is the frame I took (and deleted) today:

Ready to toss Zog

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 18:10:51 +0900

On this day, I prepared Candy Mama to toss Zog.

Here are the frames taken today:

Candy Mama's cookies bounced!

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 14:24:13 +0900

Today, Candy Mama’s cookies bounced!
I had been targeting the top of the Lower Zig Zag 3F and as they were nearly there I realized they are supposed to go onto el Lifty Lever Guider, so I bounced them over! Perfect!

Candy Mama almost tosses cookies

Tue, 23 Nov 2021 09:18:32 +0900

As Reversible Guy walked down the first ramp, Candy Mama waited a bit for the stage to rotate.

As Reversible Guy walked up the third ramp, Candy Mama lowered Zog for a moment and at the last frame, flexed her right arm to toss the cookie shaped feet that will rest on el Lifty Lever Guider and act as the upper support for Zog.

Frames taken today:

Zog

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 21:00:11 +0900

On the high end, Zog will rest on el Lifty Lever Guider

On its low end, Zog will feed small marbles into Lower Zig Zag 3F.

History:

2022 Mar 08: Zog finished bouncing into place. The upper end (on el Lifty Lever Guider) was glued in place by Mr McGlue

2022 Feb 01: Zog reached the apex of its flight

2022 Jan 26: Tossed into the area by Candy Mama

Bringing Zog up the ramp

Tue, 16 Nov 2021 11:14:51 +0900

My livestream didn’t work today, but I worked for 100 minutes basically getting Zog moved most of the way up the ramp.

The most difficult part was getting Mr McGlue to walk through the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection

Here are the frames taken today, just about 2 or 3 of which had to be reshot

Mr McGlue glues Paul

Tue, 09 Nov 2021 14:05:30 +0900

In today’s session, I basically just rotated the stage as Candy Mama put her hands on her hips and Reversible Guy walked down the second ramp. This was after spending some time to recreate the lines marking how far to rotate the stage each time which is what I did at the beginning of the video there.

Now it’s just a systematic process of moving the character. I had to get Reversible Guy walking through the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension and just to make it easier for him to move.

Installed Paul

Tue, 02 Nov 2021 14:41:05 +0900

I’m getting closer to having an (interim) replacement for livestreaming.. I would prefer to livestream, but they keep getting interrupted.. and have very few viewers, so I am going with summary videos like the one above.

Today I got Paul installed. Candy Mama is about to cross her arms as Squarehead is stuck on Paul. Mr McGlue is about to glue Paul (though I already did it) so Reversible Guy needs to get out of the way.

Candy Mama helps install Paul

Tue, 26 Oct 2021 14:39:17 +0900

I was super happy with the visual gag having Doctor Sugar, Reversible Guy, Squarehead and Candy Mama go off the stage on the left and then immediately come up the first ramp on the right, this time with Paul. Candy Mama is going to lift Paul with Squarehead still impaled on it. I wonder how Squarehead will get unstuck!

Bringing in Paul

Tue, 12 Oct 2021 11:42:42 +0900

Today I didn’t do a livestream, but I think I will go back to Youtube for that simply because they keep track of the duration of videos. The video above is from 1 January 2019.

I’m reallly happy with the animation I created today. Things were simple, so I was able to create like 4+ seconds of video in 2 hours.

Reversible Guy and Squarehead went off to the left and are immediately coming back in on the right, this time with Paul.

Planning Paul

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 23:12:20 +0900

Today I nearly got The Third Arch installed. Lin named Paul, a vertical piece that Reversible Guy is going to get soon.

Frames from today:

Paul

Sun, 26 Sep 2021 19:58:47 +0900

Paul is a 10x10mm square length of hardwood, 192mm in length. It was probably a scrap of wood from somewhere. Curiously, it has a hole through one end of it, and a notch at the other end. I plan to place it with the bored hole at the top, in case it can be used to support something.

I plan to mount it between Caret Splitter Feeder and the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter

G Choppy cut 16th Placed Outer Spiral Support

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 18:45:01 +0900

Today G Choppy cut the Sixteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support while the stage continued rotating. Candy Mama has started to move up the ramp to place the The Third Arch.

Here are the frames taken today

Sixteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 18:29:30 +0900

One of the shortest Outer Spiral supports, glued to the Lowest Largest U-turn Berm

History:

2021 Sep 24: Cut by G Choppy

2021 Jul 27: Glued by Mr McGlue

2021 Jul 6: Placed by Reversible Guy

Installed DC 48

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 17:10:34 +0900

Today I had Reversible Guy bring the chopstick in place and then decided to call in DC 48 because today is DC’s 48th birthday. Not that I knew that, but looked up famous birthdays, and he’s the only one I heard of!

Here are the frames I took today:

DC 48

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 15:08:07 +0900

DC 48 stands proudly in its field, carrying the weight of future track on its proverbial shoulders.

History:

2021 Sep 26: Glued by Mr McGlue

2021 Aug 24: Installed by Reversible Guy

G Choppy turned around

Tue, 17 Aug 2021 09:55:20 +0900

I am writing this the day after doing a short livestream, but got a lot of photos taken as just a few characters were moving.

Basically, as Doctor Sugar flipped the switch to rotate the stage so Candy Mama can install the The Third Arch, Mr McGlue finished gluing the Caret Splitter Right Hand Side Inner Guider while G Choppy turned around to go cut the supports placed by Reversible Guy near the top of the Triple Splitter.

G Choppy finished curving 3rd Arch

Tue, 10 Aug 2021 18:58:25 +0900

Writing this a week after the fact. I think it was basically Mr McGlue going to the Caret Splitter Right Hand Side Inner Guider as G Choppy finished curving the The Third Arch while Reversible Guy came up with a chopstick that will be a new piece standing upright near bottom of the Triple Splitter.

Here are the frames I took:

G Choppy floats down to curve 3rd Arch

Tue, 03 Aug 2021 15:30:29 +0900

Today G Choppy started to float downward as he curved a few more joints on the The Third Arch and Doctor Sugar has backed away from the switch to watch.

Pinky has nearly made her way off the stage, and Mr McGlue has just finished gluing the latest two outer spiral supports, which were held by Reversible Guy.

They are then bamboo skewers, just outside the Lowest Largest U-Turn, with one of them on the inside track of the Outer Spiral.

Seventeenth Placed Outer Spiral Support

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 18:47:44 +0900

One of the shortest of the Outer Spiral supports, standing next to the Triple Splitter.

History:

2021 Sep 26: Cut by G Choppy

2021 Jul 27: Glued by Mr McGlue

2021 Jul 6: Placed by Reversible Guy

G Choppy half finished curving 3rd arch

Tue, 27 Jul 2021 18:15:57 +0900

It took a bit of doing, but I created a summary of the work I did today. I set up Stopmotion to take photos every second, and then added a voiceover to quickly explain what was going on. The summary is encoded to play at 10 frames per second, so every 6 seconds of summary represents 1 minute of real time. The video above is 5 minutes long, so it represents 50 minutes of elapsed recording time.

Four vertices on 3rd Arch

Tue, 13 Jul 2021 08:05:33 +0900

Relatively easy day of filming today, with just a couple characters moving.

G Choppy is continuing to curve the Lower Right Side Arch (which I should probably rename the 3rd arch).

G Choppy left foot is now actually lightly glued to the bar on which he is standing. The bar is not going to be part of the final track; I have known that since it was placed there, but I think it should be named because it has been there for quite some time. As I write this, I don’t recall who put the bar there.

The Third Arch

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 10:23:44 +0900

History:

2021 Jul 27: G Choppy halfway finished curving the bamboo to make the arch.

2021 Jul 06: G Choppy began curving the bamboo to make the arch.

Start Curving 3rd Arch

Tue, 06 Jul 2021 08:56:56 +0900

Recently, I have not been livestreaming my work on Marble Track 3. The video in this episode is the latest snippet. Yesterday I took 30+ frames of video, so nearly 3 seconds, most of which had G Choppy being aligned to curve what will be the Lower Right Side Arch, which will span the Right Side Small Landing Zone to support the Outer Spiral.

To help G Choppy curve the Lower Right Side Arch, Doctor Sugar has reversed the stage rotation now that G Choppy has reached one end of the bamboo that he will curve into the arch.

Caret Splitter Right Hand Side Inner Guider

Mon, 07 Jun 2021 12:03:53 +0900

The Caret Splitter Right Hand Side Inner Guider rests on the Caret Splitter Right Hand Inner Side and ensures small marbles stay on the Caret Splitter Right Track from the Caret Splitter down to the Left Side Small Landing Zone.

It is paired with the Caret Splitter Right Hand Side Outer Guider

History:

2021 Jun 07: G Choppy cuts toothpicks into the right shape

Caret Splitter Right Hand Side Outer Guider

Sat, 15 May 2021 12:18:24 +0900

The Caret Splitter Right Hand Side Outer Guider ensures small marbles stay on the track from the Caret Splitter down to the Left Side Small Landing Zone.

It is paired with the Caret Splitter Right Hand Side Inner Guider.

History:

2021 May ish: G Choppy shaped the toothpicks to make the guider.

G Choppy cut 15th Placed Outer Spiral Support

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 04:16:54 +0900

Today, in the first livestream, (on YouTube) I got G Choppy finished cutting the Fifteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support and Mr McGlue and Candy Mama moving to the other end of the Lower Left Side Arch to glue it into place.

Here are the frames taken today (most of which were taken while streaming on Reddit):

Paul has entered the game

Mon, 08 Feb 2021 04:16:54 +0900

Today saw very few characters moving, so progress was pretty good. The most challenging thing was suspening Paul as Reversible Guy and Squarehead carried Paul up the first ramp.

I tried hanging it from a thread, but that just swung them around. I ended up tying Paul to Reversible Guy and taping Paul to Squarehead.

Here is the latest snippet, ending with three seconds’ worth of frames taken today: https://youtu.be/dETXzvS18n4

Here are the frames taken today:

Measure once cut twice 15th Placed Outer Spiral Support

Tue, 02 Feb 2021 05:57:47 +0900

As predicted, having the Fifteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support suspended by a thread let filming proceed quickly today. G Choppy arrived at the Fifteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support and extended his arm for 3 frames and then I cut the Fifteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support and glued it in place.

For some reason, I mis-measured the cut and had to do it twice.

The glue is dry by now as I write this, and while drying was held in placed by the demonstration Outer Spiral.

Ready to cut 15th Placed Outer Spiral Support

Mon, 01 Feb 2021 00:03:37 +0900

Today I only streamed one hour, but set it up for the next several frames to go pretty well I hope.

Reversible Guy is up to the Fifteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support to hold it in place, and because it was wiggling around so much as I removed it from Mr Greene’s head, I hung it from above, which required some adjustments to one of the horizontal steels trusses and and carving a groove into a tongue depressor.

Fifteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 18:37:59 +0900

History:

2021 Jun 08: Mr McGlue gluing the piece in place.

2021 Mar 30: Reversible Guy holding the piece in place until Mr McGlue could come glue it.

2021 Jan 19: Backpack Jack lifts the bamboo stick up while Doctor Sugar holds its base in place.

Raising the 15th Placed Outer Spiral Support

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 13:15:57 +0900

Today most of the time was spent balancing the Fifteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support on its way toward its vertical location near the bottom of the Lower Zig Zag.

Here are the frames taken today:

Gluing Lower Left Side Arch

Tue, 19 Jan 2021 02:07:02 +0900

Pretty great progress today as Mr McGlue made it all the way to the Lower Left Side Arch which Candy Mama has been holding in place for a while. Mr McGlue is in a relatively stable stance so he can glue it for the requisite 12 frames, about half of which have been taken so far.

In the background, Reversible Guy has just about arrived to where Doctor Sugar and Backpack Jack have finished raising the Fifteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support.

Bringing the 15th Placed Outer Spiral Support

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 16:39:31 +0900

Today’s livestreams were done in two phases, and each time the livestream was ended soon after I started. I don’t know what caused the issue, but once the livestream started again, it seemed fine.

Anyway, here are links to the four livestreams from today:

Morning:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8bhVlc0L6ok 1 minute
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6m5M8JI1nVA 72 minutes

Afternoon:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ftv-ukgrQYM 7 minutes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tvnYGO6RHh8 62 minutes

Two things were glued to the track today: the smallest of the Lower Zig Zag 1F Inner Rails and Lower Left Side Arch, which Candy Mama is holding while the glue dries.

Lower Zig Zag 1F Inner Rails

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 08:43:00 +0900

History:

2021 Jan 07: Autosticks wormed their way into place, ensuring marbles stay on the Lower Zig Zag 1F.

Lower Left Side Arch

Tue, 12 Jan 2021 08:40:53 +0900

This arch will support the Outer Spiral above the Left Side Small Landing Zone. It spans from Decorative Walls after the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter to the Caret Splitter Right Track.

History:

2021 Jan 25: Mr McGlue has started gluing it in place.

2021 Jan 12: Candy Mama brought the arch up the ramp and will hold it until Mr McGlue can glue it into place.

Mr McGlue Glued El Banderín

Sat, 02 Jan 2021 16:56:27 +0900

Today got off to a rough start, but smoothed out to a great cadence. Mr McGlue glued El Banderín onto its poles while Little Brother spun around to stay true to his character. G Choppy finished cutting the Fourteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support and has nearly moved to the top of the Triple Splitter.

Meanwhile, Pinky is leaning down to figure out the deal with the small marble getting stuck on Lower Zig Zag 1F and the Autosticks are coming up past Doctor Sugar to fix that part of the track.

Placed el Banderín and 14th Placed Outer Spiral Support

Sat, 26 Dec 2020 14:27:41 +0900

Two livestreams done in one day (26 Dec 2020). I believe the first is when I glued El Banderín https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_TrtXoKiIAc and the second is when I glued the Fourteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support.

Just under 2 hours total for the 2 live streams.

Autosticks moving toward Lower Zig Zag

Fri, 25 Dec 2020 11:45:01 +0900

Today the Autosticks in stage front were consistently the easiest characters to work with. They did not quite make a tight enough turn to go up the switch, so I had them begin to loop around like a figure 8.

The the same time, the second Autostick which had already gotten up onto the Lower Zig Zag was tricky to work with, and actually ended up stopping filming today because I had to wait for its glue to dry.

Fourteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 17:45:57 +0900

The Fourteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support is made of bamboo and was placed by Reversible Guy near the Little Wiggly Track.

History:

2020 Dec 22: caught by Reversible Guy after G Choppy cut it from the Thirteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support

Ready to glue el Banderín

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 15:38:42 +0900

In the second live stream today, Reversible Guy grabbed what will become the Fourteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support.

Here are the frames taken during this (second) live stream today. (At least 2 had to be deleted.)

Lower Zig Zag 2F Guardrails

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 13:47:31 +0900

The Lower Zig Zag is made of multiple thin sticks which need rails on the side to keep the marbles on the track. The Lower Zig Zag 2F Guardrails start at the Lower Zig Zag 2F top with two sticks emanating from below the Lower Zig Zag 2F Bouncer.

Those two sticks were not enough to keep the balls on the tracks, so an Autosticks has joined the guardrail team.

History:

2020 Dec 22: Pinky helped an Autostick know where to go

G Choppy has cut the 13th Placed Outer Spiral Support

Tue, 22 Dec 2020 13:39:23 +0900

Today was the first time I livestreamed from my new laptop. Super glad it apparently worked!

During actual construction of the marble track, I got two sticks glued:

Lower Zig Zag 2F Guardrails

Thirteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support, which I glued at the same time G Choppy cut it.

Here are the images I took today:

G Choppy ready to cut 13th Placed Outer Spiral Support

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 15:33:08 +0900

During this livestream I got G Choppy flying and ready to cut the Thirteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support

Very happy with the Autosticks in the foreground with 2 of them on the wrong stage level and two nearly in place.

El Banderín is nearly in place as well. Excellent work today.

Here are random shots of a marble rounding the curve below Lower Zig Zag

Preparing for G Choppy's flight

Tue, 15 Dec 2020 13:56:38 +0900

Today in over 2 hours of live stream I took ~~about maybe four or five frames I’m guessing~~. (only three!!)

Most of the time was spent working to make sure I get the Thirteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support aligned in the correct spot and marked to be cut in the correct place by G Choppy who still needs to fly over to it.

I rebuilt the support beams of the demonstration outer spiral where it arrives up above the lower portion of the triple splitter small feeder.

Reversible Guy carried 13th Placed Outer Spiral Support to corner

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 14:07:31 +0900

In the second of today’s two live streams, Reversible Guy walked through the lower corner of the Triple Splitter Small Feeder as he carries the chopstick which will become the Thirteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support.

Standing on el Lifty Lever Guider, G Choppy is watching Reversible Guy for a bit until the stick is ready to be cut.

Meanwhile, standing on the Snake Plate, Candy Mama is watching Mr Greene and Little Brother as they carry El Banderín to be affixed onto el Lifty Lever

Reversible Guy carrying 13th Placed Outer Spiral Support

Tue, 08 Dec 2020 10:51:57 +0900

Today’s livestream is again split into two bits. In the first one here, the tricky parts were getting Reversible Guy’s chopstick to act right and for the Autosticks to begin climbing up onto the stage.

Double-sided tape has done an excellent job of getting an autostick to stay in place on the switch.

Mr Greene and Little Brother continue to bring in the pieces of El Banderín, and Pinky is trying to reach down to pick up the small marble that fell.

El Banderín

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 15:08:25 +0900

El Banderín is a flag attached via poles to el Lifty Lever so that it is moved when marbles lift el Lifty Lever and thereby allow other marbles to continue on their journeys past El Banderín.

History:

2021 Jan 02: Mr McGlue glued El Banderín to its poles

2020 Dec 01: Brought onto the set by Mr Greene and Little Brother

El Banderín has entered the game

Tue, 01 Dec 2020 14:56:29 +0900

El Banderín is the name I came up with by translating flag to Spanish and discovering a meaning that is for flags used in sports. I should probably check that out with a native Spanish speaker.

I am soo so pleased with myself for how Mr Greene brings the sticks for El Banderín onto the set. Basically as he goes off stage, the sticks come on stage, and then he’s the only one carrying the sticks! Subtle visual gag in the background. Just about 1/4 second total time during the video.

Thirteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 14:48:55 +0900

With its base near the base of the Y support of the Triple Splitter Small Feeder, the Thirteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support will hold the outer rail of the Outer Spiral.

History:

2020 Dec 22: Placed by Reversible Guy near the Y shaped support holding the lower end of the Triple Splitter Small Feeder
2020 Nov 24: Emerged from the corner to where Reversible Guy stood to collect it.

glued Lower Zig Zag 2F Bouncer

Tue, 24 Nov 2020 14:34:32 +0900

Today I glued the Lower Zig Zag 2F Bouncer after Candy Mama brought it past Pinky, who is busy lifting small marbles up the Lower Zig Zag to test them.

Reversible Guy is grabbing a long chopstick that’s appeared magically right out of the corner. The chopstick will be used as the Thirteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support, and maybe the 14th, though I have not yet decided where either of them will be.

As I write this, I think it would be good to post them near the LWT because there are no full-height supports there for the Outer Spiral yet.

Glued Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Lower Left Protection

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 14:02:53 +0900

During the second of two livestreams today, I finished cutting the upper support for the Lower Zig Zag 2F and then got Reversible Guy to carry the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Lower Left Protection into place where I was able to glue it into place and continue taking photos of the movie.

After Mr McGlue glues the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Lower Left Protection into place, I plan to have Reversible Guy reverse himself and place the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Lower Right Protection into place on the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection.

cut small marble gap by Lower Zig Zag

Tue, 10 Nov 2020 11:53:16 +0900

This was the first of two 1-hour livestreams today. After getting G Choppy fully onto the track, it became apparent that I would have to figure out how to adjust the Lower Zig Zag 2F support next to Lower Zig Zag 1F so small marbles would not hit it.

Meanwhile, Mr Greene continued moving under el Lifty Lever Guider to lift el Lifty Lever so Candy Mama could help push the large marble under el Lifty Lever. Next, I need to figure out what to attach to the top of el Lifty Lever so it can actually do something useful.

nearly glued The Lowest Longest Separator

Tue, 27 Oct 2020 14:58:05 +0900

Today I glued The Lowest Longest Separator in place after the Mr Greene and Backpack Jack brought it onto the set. Candy Mama will help them on the other side. I forgot to have Mr McGlue come in to glue the thing but he’s on his way.

Meanwhile Pinky is back to testing the small orange marble on Lower Zig Zag. She has lifted the marble up to the stage level.

Here are the images taken today:

First Use of Second Bridge

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 14:01:21 +0900

Today started a couple of things: I started the 8th snippet:

This was the first time the characters used the Second Bridge Level 1.

Funnily enough, because I was too quick to glue the bridge, the characters has to add some bits to the end to make the bridge actually extend out of the view of the camera so they can walk in on it.

copied the notes from snippet 7

Tue, 20 Oct 2020 07:23:44 +0900

These are Snippet 7 X-Sheet notes, which might help me document what happened in the 7th snippet. These are copied from Dragonframe 4 X-Sheet notes from all the frames.

Linebreaks are preserved in the source of this file in git, but I killed the pre tags so it would not take ages to scroll through on the site.

<pre>

left snake

right snake

left snake

right snake

left snake

right snake

finished installing level one of second bridge

Tue, 13 Oct 2020 18:35:02 +0900

Youtube seems to have changed their livestream API so last week the short livestream was not recorded, and this week my second live stream seems not to have been recorded.

Anyway, the two missing streams were probably under an hour each so I will ignore their absence.

Today, I finished the seventh snippet! Lunch break after finishing first level of second bridge

Everything went pretty smoothly today; very few characters were moving; I basically just had to unpack the traffic jam around the second bridge, then have Squarehead try to pick up sticks similar to the two that Reversible Guy had carried away easily.

Glued first support on 2nd bridge

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 18:20:36 +0900

After letting the actual glue actually dry on the Second Bridge Level 1, I was able to get the first half nestled into place so that Mr McGlue could glue it. Once the piece was settled into place, only a few characters were moving:

G Choppy came around to the back of Backpack Jack to cut the chopsticks Backpack Jack has in his backpack. Mr Greene came onto the set with the 2nd bridge bridge level 1. Little Brother walked up to Big Brother to see what’s up and ascertain why Big Brother is stuck upside down.

2nd bridge bridge level 1

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 18:17:35 +0900

This piece was brought onto the set by Mr Greene to hold together the two halves of the Second Bridge Level 1.

History:

2020 Sep 22: Mr Greene carried it onto the set

Nearly got first half of 2nd bridge in place

Tue, 22 Sep 2020 13:11:22 +0900

Great progress toward finishing the seventh snippet today. Candy Mama and Squarehead have just about brought the Second Bridge Level 1 into place, and Reversible Guy and Pinky have placed the Second Bridge Supports under it for Mr McGlue to glue.

There was very nearly a disaster as I swapped Mr McGlue with shoes for Mr McGlue without shoes: a block of magnets fell from the lighting area and landed right on The First Track, fortunately not breaking either the Lowest Largest Backtracking Chopstick or First Snake-Installed Rail which holds the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Second Stanchion.

here comes second bridge

Tue, 08 Sep 2020 12:16:03 +0900

Today I got quite a few frames taken in 2 hours, with over 1 second of video created, mostly with characters on stage left helping with the Second Bridge Supports (Reversible Guy, G Choppy, Backpack Jack, Mr Greene, and Pinky) and Second Bridge Level 1 (Candy Mama and Squarehead).

On the right, Little Brother is still sneaking backwards, and Big Brother ended up in a tumble off the track, possibly because he was watching Little Brother instead of his footing, but actually because I couldn’t get him to move smoothly otherwise.

Throw your sticks in the air

Tue, 25 Aug 2020 12:12:03 +0900

Today just 4 frames taken as I only had an hour, but I got a good start on Reversible Guy throwing a stick into the air to knock down the piece G Choppy had cut.

Pinky has nearly flipped forward and off the track to help Candy Mama, and Little Brother has frozen in his tracks for at least half a second before trying to sneak away.

Here are the frames from today. Hey I thought I took four frames! Hmmm

reversible guy about to toss sticks

Tue, 18 Aug 2020 15:02:00 +0900

Today while having Candy Mama call everyone to her, there was not much else going on, so I decided to have Reversible Guy toss his two sticks into the air to knock down the ones that are still ~~hanging~~ floating there from when G Choppy cut them.

Little Brother is now frozen, about to slink away from Candy Mama hollering, while Pinky is flipping off the stage to come help.

I have drawn an arc and height markers for Reversible Guy’s sticks. I wonder how it will look once it’s done.

Candy Mama about to holler

Tue, 11 Aug 2020 16:14:53 +0900

After getting off to a slow start I made pretty good progress on filming for marble track 3 today.

G Choppy has made it all the way down to the stage and has just cut the stick that Reversible Guy has been holding. The two pieces already cut are still up in the air; I’m not sure how I’m going to get them down.

I had the idea to have Candy Mama call for everyone to come help build the Second Bridge Level 1. after she calls, the two brothers are going to run away to try to get out of work. Pinky and Mr Greene will come help, along with Doctor Sugar probably.

G Choppy cut the stick again

Fri, 07 Aug 2020 18:10:20 +0900

Today I took 6 frames in 59 minutes 45 seconds of livestream. With the film running at 12 frames per second, this amounts to just slightly over 1/2 of a second of film per hour of livestream.

G Choppy has cut Reversible Guys vertical stick a second time to create Second Bridge Supports as Reversible Guy and Candy Mama prepare to make Second Bridge Level 1.

Meanwhile, Little Brother has finished his backbend and is about to stand up on the Right Side Small Landing Zone.

Lil Brother back bend

Tue, 04 Aug 2020 18:01:34 +0900

(written 07 August 2020 JST)

I don’t recall details from this except that Little Brother did a backbend to get himself safely away from G Choppy’s sword. G Choppy is floating down and cut the top of the stick Reversible Guy is holding. These will be the Second Bridge Supports.

Second Bridge Level 1

Sun, 26 Jul 2020 21:34:02 +0900

The Second Bridge will allow characters to come onto the set from the left side. All of its levels will be flat. Its entrance(s) will be off the set, out of the camera’s view. Its first level will be the same height as the stage.

I plan for the second level to be approximately twice as high, perhaps as high as the top of the Triple Splitter, or as high as the top of the Triple Splitter Small Feeder

Second Bridge Supports

Sun, 26 Jul 2020 21:31:16 +0900

The Second Bridge needs supports, right? These are them.

History:

2020 Jul 26: Backpack Jack arriving with more supports as Reversible Guy holds the first up to be cut by G Choppy

Backpack Jack staying

Sun, 26 Jul 2020 20:44:56 +0900

Today I livestreamed for about 90 minutes, the last portion of which Jimmy joined via the chat. Most interesting today was deciding to (probably) do a new weird thing with Backpack Jack, who has arrived with a pair of chopsticks in his backpack. I locked the chopsticks in place with a big clamp, and might have him slide off sideways to unload himself from the chopsticks.

Pros:

I will be able to use the chopsticks sooner
It’s kinda funny / strange
I get to expand the universe a bit

Cons:

There is no precedent for it.
It’s kinda funny / strange
I have to think of a reason it was possible

In either case, for now, I can rest assured that he will neither fall over, nor easily move, so he should stay rock solid in place until it’s time to move him again.

Slower Smoother Animation

Sat, 25 Jul 2020 17:46:34 +0900

Today I basically caught up with where I had sloppily filmed last week. This time I smoothed the motion of the chopstick Reversible Guy is lifting, and slowed G Choppy’s pace as he flies across the spinning stage.

I need to more consistently plan paths so I get them right the first time.

Here are the frames from today, about half of which were retaken.

First draft redoing 7 frames from last week

Sat, 18 Jul 2020 22:51:08 +0900

I started today by deleting 7 frames that I determined should be reshot as Reversible Guy should be standing the stick upright instead of putting it onto the track.

I shot all the new frames in about 2 hours. Yay! Then I realized I should reshoot some of them again because I hadn’t moved the stick up along a straight line.

I realized some of the frames were okay, and I could “poke holes” in the sequence of frames to retake the shots where the stick was out of alignment and I was able to shoot the first of those five holes before I gave up for the night.

Glued 11th placed outer spiral support

Tue, 07 Jul 2020 22:29:27 +0900

The weather is getting hotter. Normally no problem, but my computer was heating up. Turning on the AC caused a piece floating on a string to blow around, so I put a curtain in front of the AC to baffle its buffeting.

Big Brother is carrying the Triple Splitter Medium Catcher Ridge up onto the set as Pinky tests the Lower Zig Zag with a small orange marble.

Finished gluing el Lifty Lever Guider

Tue, 23 Jun 2020 13:56:31 +0900

Pretty great progress today as:

Doctor Sugar picked up the stick that had tripped him.
Mr McGlue finished gluing el Lifty Lever Guider and walked through Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection
Reversible Guy reversed himself and headed through Lower Zig Zag
Pinky began to pick up the small marble to test Lower Zig Zag.
Big Brother got up onto the stage to place the Triple Splitter Medium Catcher Ridge
Backpack Jack nearly got up from under el Lifty Lever Guider
Little Brother kept spinning around

Here are the frames taken today. A few near the end were deleted so that Mr McGlue could come through Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection perfectly.

Big Brother brings Triple Splitter Medium Catcher Ridge

Tue, 16 Jun 2020 16:04:50 +0900

Today I took some time to create an archway that will go over the Left Side Small Landing Zone, and another OSS which will go in front of Pinky’s Decorative Walls after the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter.

Doctor Sugar is about to pick up a board that has been giving him and me problems for a while. Big Brother came onto the set carrying the Triple Splitter Medium Catcher Ridge. Pinky is still working to get the small orange marble up the the Lower Zig Zag, and Reversible Guy is holding el Lifty Lever Guider steady while Mr McGlue glues it in place.

Lower Small Medium Splitter Inner Thinner Keeper

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 17:30:20 +0900

Hopefully will help keep marbles on the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter by keeping them from bouncing off the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Stanchion and ricocheting onto The First Track.

History:

2020 Jun 09: Cut and archived for future placement

Second Circle Below Caret Splitter

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 16:49:34 +0900

This circle will hopefully hold The Lowest Longest Separator in place properly.

History:

2020 Jun 09: Glued to The Lowest Longest Separator and taped in place while the glue dries

Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Lower Left Protection

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 16:41:02 +0900

Someone did not carefully measure the width of the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Protection so two new pieces need to be installed.

History:

2020 Nov 10: Reversible Guy placed the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Lower Left Protection into place so Mr McGlue can glue it.

2020 Jun 09: Cut to length and archived for future installation.

Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Lower Right Protection

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 16:38:49 +0900

Someone did not carefully measure the width of the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Protection so two new pieces need to be installed.

History:

2020 Jun 09: Cut to length and archived for future installation.

The Lowest Longest Separator

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 16:27:11 +0900

(not to be confused with the shorter (and lower) Bar Below Circle by Caret Splitter.)

Glued to Second Circle Below Caret Splitter, this long bamboo piece extends to Third Placed Outer Spiral Support and has a slight(!) angle as it passes the Lower Curver off the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter which brings it closer to the small marbles.

This piece keeps small marbles on the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter from falling to The First Track along The First Track’s entire length (which Bar Below Circle by Caret Splitter was too short to do).

Triple Splitter Medium Catcher Ridge

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 16:08:53 +0900

This short bamboo wedge prevents the flatness of the Medium Catcher Below Triple Splitter from stalling medium sized marbles. In testing, it appeared this piece will give 100% success rate in reversing the direction of the medium marble after it falls from the Triple Splitter.

History:

2020 Aug 07: Mr McGlue started gluing this piece in place on the Medium Catcher Below Triple Splitter.
2020 Jun 16: Big Brother started bringing the piece onto the set.

Preparing pieces, planning placements

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 15:51:26 +0900

Today in two hours of livestream, I was overall super productive for the construction of Marble Track 3 and took zero frames of video!

The main best thing was preparing the placement of The Lowest Longest Separator which will hopefully keep small marbles on the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter after they go left down the Caret Splitter. This piece should hopefully keep them from falling onto The First Track.

Okay, so in addition to The Lowest Longest Separator, I cut two thin bamboo pieces to be the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Lower Right Protection and the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Lower Left Protection respectively, though I didn’t take a photo of the latter.

Lower Zig Zag 2F Bouncer

Tue, 09 Jun 2020 15:32:26 +0900

Keeps small marbles from getting stuck when falling from Lower Zig Zag 3F to Lower Zig Zag 2F. I realize now I didn’t actually test it by seeing where marbles get stuck, but hopefully someone will test it before gluing.

History:

2020 Nov 24: Candy Mama brought the circle and put it into place.

2020 Jun 09: I discovered a circular piece should do the job perfectly. I put the piece aside along with date and label into a bag for the Construction Crew to deliver later.

Twelfth placed Outer Spiral Support

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 18:22:00 +0900

This piece is 50mm tall and will go just inside the Outer Spiral from where Eleventh placed Outer Spiral Support is located just outside Pinky’s Decorative Walls after the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter.

History:

2020 Jun 02: Glued in place while Candy Mama held it

Glued El Lifty Lever Guider into place

Tue, 02 Jun 2020 17:54:18 +0900

Today I did a happy dance after putting el Lifty Lever Guider into place.. because it worked!

I was a bit sloppy when I glued it so I had to spend some time scraping semi-dried glue off the bamboo. That required moving the entire track off the set, which is quite a rare thing! I didn’t think to take a picture then, but here are some other recent pics.

Chopped Eleventh Placed Outer Spiral Support

Tue, 19 May 2020 17:14:16 +0900

Today’s livestreaming was done in two parts. In the first, I averaged 1 second of video per 4 hours of livestream. By the end of the day I had 3/4s of a second in 2 hours of livestream, so slightly faster progress was made in the second livestream.

The main thing today, G Choppy chopped the Eleventh placed Outer Spiral Support. Nearby, Reversible Guy is installing el Lifty Lever Guider while Pinky climbs up by the Little Wiggly Track to test the Lower Zig Zag again.

el Lifty Lever Guider

Tue, 19 May 2020 14:36:13 +0900

This is a composite piece made out of a rectangular bamboo skewer. It hangs from the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Protection and guides el Lifty Lever while it is lifted by large marbles as the roll down the Lowest Largest Backtrack.

History:

2020 Jun 02: Reversible Guy finished installing el Lifty Lever Guider around el Lifty Lever

2020 May 19: Reversible Guy installing el Lifty Lever Guider around el Lifty Lever

Eleventh placed Outer Spiral Support

Tue, 19 May 2020 14:26:46 +0900

This piece is 55mm tall, and will go just outside Pinky’s Decorative Walls. It will be on the outside of the Outer Spiral about 12cm from the lowest point of the Outer Spiral.

The Twelfth placed Outer Spiral Support is installed just inside the Outer Spiral from the Eleventh placed Outer Spiral Support.

History:

2020 May 19: G Choppy chopped the bamboo piece Candy Mama brought onto the stage.

Lower Zig Zag 3F 2F Net

Sun, 19 Apr 2020 14:46:25 +0900

These vertical toothpicks catch small marbles as the transition from Lower Zig Zag 3F to Lower Zig Zag 2F. Should not be confused with Lower Zig Zag Triple Splitter Small Feeder Separator.

History:

2020 March 24: Autosticks finished installation as Candy Mama monitors their progress.

Squarehead lifts himself over switch

Tue, 17 Mar 2020 13:17:21 +0900

Today, Squarehead continued to not hit the switch as the stage pulls him around. I am wondering about having him go all the way around the set, maybe while all the other guys go to lunch?

I forgot to have Pinky watch the medium green marble as it went down the Medium Catcher Below Triple Splitter under the Triple Splitter. I am not going to retake the frames though because..

Dealing with G Choppy and Reversible Guy flying was made easier with the maglevs, but still pretty tricky as they tended to spin any which direction. I spent a great deal of time making a smaller maglev system for Reversible Guy because I need to move him laterally across the track and his old maglev cannot do it.

Backpack Jack brings el Lifty Lever Guider

Tue, 10 Mar 2020 14:01:08 +0900

Great progress today, adding 10 frames to the video. The second half of the livestream was spent setting up two (2) maglevs, which have the ability to angle like turntable tone arms while lifting characters as if they levitate over the track.

Backpack Jack is carrying a skewer which we become el Lifty Lever Guider to the center of the stage where it will guide el Lifty Lever alongside the Triple Splitter.

Meanwhile, Little Brother has just released a medium sized marble down the Triple Splitter to test the Medium Catcher Below Triple Splitter put in place by Big Brother.

Lower Zig Zag Triple Splitter Small Feeder Separator

Tue, 18 Feb 2020 14:59:09 +0900

This piece separates the Lower Zig Zag from the Triple Splitter Small Feeder because the point at which they are closest, the tracks are headed opposite directions. This only became apparent once the Lower Zig Zag 3F was installed, and was much higher than I had expected.

Once it was determined the space was too small to make a switch from Lower Zig Zag 3F to either Lower Zig Zag 2F or Triple Splitter Small Feeder, adding this piece was a load off our minds. The space was super tight, but the small marbles can fit just well enough.

Lower Zig Zag 3F Net Affector

Tue, 18 Feb 2020 12:38:26 +0900

This small piece of bamboo keeps marbles on Lower Zig Zag 3F headed into the Lower Zig Zag 3F 2F Net.

The Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Guider will extend from this piece down along the Triple Splitter Small Feeder.

History:

2020 Feb 18: Installed by Candy Mama and glued by Mr McGlue, officially canceling the plan to allow marbles to go from Triple Splitter Small Feeder to Lower Zig Zag 3F

Caret Splitter Rudder Flutter now complete

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 23:31:45 +0900

For a few weeks I have been fluttering the Caret Splitter Rudder down to Reversible Guy. Last week he caught it and today he attached it to the Caret Splitter Rudder Lever Spinner.

Behind the scenes view of gluing the Caret Splitter Rudder into place

I was super happy with the way Reversible Guy looked in the frames before and after the thing was attached. Despite Jennie jumping up onto the set, it looks super smooth!

Caret Splitter Lever

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 23:04:59 +0900

Will be at the top of the Caret Splitter Rudder Lever Spinner. It will be moved by medium sized marbles to rotate the Caret Splitter Rudder.

History:

2020 Jan 28: Decided the name of the piece, though it does not yet exist.

The Grand Arch top

Tue, 24 Dec 2019 16:15:52 +0900

Today I spent some time stabilizing the camera; it had gotten bumped in the week of not filming.

I made shoes by cutting corners from a balsa box and glued them to the camera shelf as shoes for its tripod feet to keep from moving. Then I glued the shelf to the desk.

After that I took about 13 frames, 8 of which were useful.

caret splitter rudder flutters

Tue, 17 Dec 2019 12:15:24 +0900

Today the Caret Splitter Rudder began fluttering in earnest on its way down to be caught by Reversible Guy in about 30 frames from now. Doing all the prep work has made it easier to take these frames.

There are currently four things suspended now. The Caret Splitter Rudder is fluttering down while Little Brother is doing a front flip onto the set while he brings up a stick to keep the small orange marble on the Below Lower Zig Zag U-turn. How did he know to bring it if the small orange marble is only right now suspended in the air after going off the track?

Ready to flutter

Tue, 10 Dec 2019 17:07:02 +0900

Today most of the time was spent adding little numbered strips of paper to the track so I can ensure it rotates at the right speed for the Caret Splitter Rudder to flutter down to Reversible Guy so he can catch it without really moving as the stage rotates with him on it.

I suspect it will take me some weeks or maybe months to realize this plan. I think it will look awesome.

The Grand Archway

Tue, 03 Dec 2019 18:43:03 +0900

The First Track and the Front Left Medium Landing Zone arrive close to each other under the Outer Spiral. There is precious little room for outer spiral supports between the two that are there.

Welcome The Grand Archway, which will support the Outer Spiral while spanning the landing areas for The First Track and the Front Left Medium Landing Zone.

The Grand Archway has to fit the space so it’s tall enough to support the Outer Spiral, and wide enough to allow me to grab marbles from The First Track and the Front Left Medium Landing Zone

Planning arch over the first track exit

Tue, 03 Dec 2019 18:37:48 +0900

Not many frames taken today, but I made great headway in planning what will be a cool effect of the Caret Splitter Rudder fluttering down into the hands of Reversible Guy, fully 3 seconds from now in the video.

I suspect it will not be finished until 2020, unless I can get a lot of hours done this holiday season. (The Caret Splitter Rudder Flutter finished in late January 2020.)

In other news, I designed the shape of The Grand Archway.

Caret Splitter Rudder Lever Spinner

Tue, 26 Nov 2019 17:05:22 +0900

History:

2020 Jan 28: Reversible Guy attached the Caret Splitter Rudder to this piece.
2019 Nov 26: Reversible Guy caught this piece out of the sky

Caught Caret Splitter Rudder Holder

Tue, 26 Nov 2019 16:57:17 +0900

Today Reversible Guy caught the Caret Splitter Rudder Holder which will soon be part of the Caret Splitter Rudder, which should fall from the sky soon.

Little Brother has run onto the set and is climbing onto Squarehead as Squarehead runs along the edge of the stage, this time away from the switch after Doctor Sugar toggled the rotation direction.

Mr Greene has brought el Lifty Lever onto the set, and will soon drill a hole into it (how??).

el Lifty Lever

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 17:04:27 +0900

History:

2020 Jun 02: Reversible Guy installed el Lifty Lever Guider around el Lifty Lever

2019 Nov 19: Mr Greene started carrying it onto the set. Jimmy helped name the piece. I had tentatively called it Large Marble Liftee.

lil reversal

Tue, 19 Nov 2019 17:03:17 +0900

Today I spent some time planning and making el Lifty Lever. Mr Greene was going to bring it in, but Squarehead is running and about to get into the way so I had to abort the entrance of el Lifty Lever.

Here are the frames from today. Several had to be erased.

Tenth Placed Outer Spiral Support

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 12:13:54 +0900

History:

2019 Oct 01: Held by Mr Greene off camera, ready to bring it in after the current marble testing is complete

Squarehead wonders what to do

Tue, 01 Oct 2019 12:09:48 +0900

Today I took a pic showing how close The First Track is with Bar Below Circle by Caret Splitter

Today I took only 10 frames in 2 hours, which is slower than I would have guessed given how quickly the first frame was taken. I had a bit of a delay while dealing with measuring and cutting the chopstick that will be the Tenth Placed Outer Spiral Support.

Large Green Marble went around Snake Plate U-turn

Fri, 27 Sep 2019 17:41:07 +0900

Today’s livestream ended up in two parts because my computer stopped working (ran out of space on /dev and others), but it was readily cleared up by rebooting the machine.

The first livestream from today is setup and then me noticing the camera was not working.

I took five frames today, during which the green marble went around the Snake Plate U Turn

Squarehead got unstuck

Tue, 24 Sep 2019 12:07:09 +0900

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today I streamed nearly 3 hours, and got four full seconds of frames taken because there was not a lot going on, but that which was going on is fantastic!

Happily for Squarehead, he got his hands unstuck from the Ninth Placed Outer Spiral Support In completely unexpected news, Squarehead has stood up sideways on the track!

Almost ready to roll

Mon, 23 Sep 2019 11:33:45 +0900

Today was a recent record in terms of frames taken; there were times with only a single character moving. In most of the frames, Squarehead was trying to get himself unstuck from the Ninth Placed Outer Spiral Support.

Mostly characters were idling, waiting for Mr McGlue to catch up with the gluing required on the Caret Splitter Feeder Guiders.

During the filming, I needed to have Reversible Guy suspended by a string, but in the process, I ended up dropping something on Lower Zig Zag 3F and breaking the Lower Zig Zag 3F Lower Support. I reglued it and ended the livestream at that point.

Nearly Placed Caret Splitter Feeder Righter Guider

Tue, 17 Sep 2019 13:58:50 +0900

Today I spent nearly an hour preparing for the first frame, which included measuring the Caret Splitter Feeder Righter Guider.

Things went pretty smoothly after that; I got 13 frames taken in just over an hour, so that is back up to baseline 1 hour per second of video.

In the background, Big Brother is working his way up the Triple Splitter with the large marble.

Here is the latest snippet:

Here are the frames taken today

Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Protection Lower Holder

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 16:22:27 +0900

History:

2019 Sep 09:

Nearly Placed Caret Splitter Feeder Lefter Guider

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 16:12:57 +0900

During each hour of today’s livestream, I took enough frames for about 1 second of video.

The construction during the animation was slower than I guessed, but I think the animation itself looks pretty good. Today G Choppy floated down the right side of the Caret Splitter and then arranged himself so he could cut the Caret Splitter Feeder Lefter Guider.

Reversible Guy helped with that, and as of this writing the Caret Splitter Feeder Lefter Guider is glued in place, although I have not taken any photos for the video with the Left Guider in place.

Caret Splitter Feeder Guider Upper Supporter

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 16:03:37 +0900

History:

2019 Sep 09:

Caret Splitter Feeder Righter Guider

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 15:50:58 +0900

History:

2019 Sep 09: resting on CSF

Caret Splitter Feeder Lefter Guider

Mon, 09 Sep 2019 15:49:09 +0900

This is a thin piece of bamboo held in place by the Caret Splitter Feeder Guider Lower Supporter and the Caret Splitter Feeder Guider Upper Supporter which will hold medium and small marbles on the Caret Splitter Feeder and Caret Splitter Feeder Extension as they head toward the Caret Splitter from the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension.

History:

2019 Sep 09: Cut by G Choppy and put in place by Reversible Guy

Caret Splitter Feeder Guider Lower Supporter

Tue, 30 Jul 2019 15:22:37 +0900

History:

2019 Jul 30: Almost installed by Doctor Sugar.

Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Protection Upper Holder

Tue, 30 Jul 2019 15:20:16 +0900

History:

2019 Jul 30: Glued into place by Mr McGlue.

Reversible Guy reversed

Tue, 30 Jul 2019 15:02:21 +0900

Today’s livestream was done in 2 parts, for a total of over 3 hours I think.

In the first part, Reversible Guy walks over to Squarehead to pick up the bars that will be the Caret Splitter Feeder Guiders, although at the time he got them, I was thinking they were the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Protection. Turns out it was great to have him get the Guiders because G Choppy was slow to finish curving the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Protection Upper Holder, which I glued in place during the break between livestreams.

add holders for protection

Tue, 23 Jul 2019 13:18:53 +0900

Today I got several frames added to the video despite having to delete a few. Little Brother in the back basically just watched. Candy Mama watched as some Autosticks moved themselves into place to be the Lower Zig Zag 3F edges. In the midground, Pinky rotated herself out of the way so the medium blue marble can roll down the tracks that are having rails installed now.

In the foreground, Reversible Guy and Backpack Jack are placing Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Protection Holders which G Choppy curved so they can hold the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Protection that Squarehead is holding.

Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Protection Holders

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 13:49:10 +0900

History:

2019 Jul 16: Placed by Reversible Guy from Backpack Jack’s backpack.

G Choppy cut sticks

Tue, 16 Jul 2019 13:41:29 +0900

Today after cutting the sticks Squarehead was holding, I was surprised to see how much longer they looked on camera, even though they were the exact same sticks. Now they look a bit too short as Big Brother is going to pick them up, but the cut looks fine.

In the background, Candy Mama is helping Autosticks support the Lower Zig Zag 3F by becoming its Lower Support as the 3 orange marbles are rolling down the Triple Splitter Small Feeder.

Lowest Largest U-turn Berm

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 14:22:35 +0900

The Lowest Largest U-Turn is too tight for large marbles to stay on the track, so it needs a berm. The berm will be made of pieces cut from Caret Splitter Feeder Guider and Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Protection.

History:

2019 Jul 02:

Big Brother standing where the Lowest Largest U-turn Berm will be built.

Squarehead jumps up

Tue, 02 Jul 2019 13:16:47 +0900

Today began a shift into a new phase of construction. The cycle of small orange marble tests is complete. Squarehead has jumped up onto the stage after I debated having Big Brother jump onto the sticks, causing them to flip up and land somehow on the track.

That would have been messy and I realized pointless because Big Brother can use the ends of these tracks to be the Lowest Largest U-turn Berm, which is what he wants to work on now.

Lower Zig Zag 3F Lower Support

Fri, 21 Jun 2019 12:15:47 +0900

History:

2019 Jun 21: Autosticks headed up to support the Lower Zig Zag 3F

Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Protection

Fri, 21 Jun 2019 11:39:44 +0900

These will be rails along the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection. Similarly, marbles on the Caret Splitter Feeder and Caret Splitter Feeder Extension will be guided by Caret Splitter Feeder Guider.

History:

2019 Sep 03: Reversible Guy installed both bars on the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Protection Upper Holder and Lower Holder.

2019 Jul 19: G Choppy cut the bars to be the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Protection and Caret Splitter Feeder Guider respectively.

Caret Splitter Feeder Guider

Fri, 21 Jun 2019 11:29:30 +0900

These will be rails along the Caret Splitter Feeder and Caret Splitter Feeder Extension. The Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection will be protected by the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Protection

History:

2019 Jul 19: G Choppy cut the bars to be the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Protection and Caret Splitter Feeder Guider respectively.

2019 Jun 21: Squarehead brought bamboo sushi mat sticks up to the stage behind Backpack Jack who carried supports for them in his backpack.

started third orange marble

Sat, 11 May 2019 11:10:17 +0900

Today went pretty smoothly as I got the third marble started down the Triple Splitter Small Feeder after using color-coded markers to ensure it would go down at the same rate/locations as the first two marbles had.

I stopped streaming after I glued the Lower Zig Zag 2F top to the Lower Zig Zag 2F after determining it did not look too weird if it just appeared there. I may have Reversible Guy futz around in the area for a bit to ensure he has had enough time to make it.

Triple Splitter Small Feeder Feeder

Sat, 11 May 2019 08:29:31 +0900

This track is ostensibly going to deliver small marbles into the Triple Splitter Small Feeder. It was a candidate for delivering small marbles to the Lower Zig Zag via its Lower Zig Zag 3F, but at the point where the tracks are closest, they are headed opposite directions. The Lower Zig Zag Triple Splitter Small Feeder Separator keeps them separated.

As of this writing, this piece does not exist.

The photo from May 11, 2019 shows its approximate position, but that space is reserved for the Outer Spiral.

Started second orange marble

Fri, 10 May 2019 22:56:17 +0900

Today I streamed for a bit over an hour and got the second orange marble started rolling down the Triple Splitter Small Feeder. Reversible Guy is watching the first orange marble rolling down, and about to turn back to maybe watch the second one. Squarehead is jumping back in fear after seeing the large red marble tumble off the track. Pinky has just let the blue marble go down the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection and it has now made it to the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension.

Lowest Largest Backtrack

Tue, 07 May 2019 12:04:00 +0900

The Lowest Largest Backtrack is made up of Lowest Largest Backtracking Chopstick and Lowest Largest Backtracking Popsicle Stick which take large marbles from Snake Plate U Turn down to the Lowest Largest U-Turn

History:

2019 May 07: built months ago, but this page was created today.

Startled Squarehead

Tue, 07 May 2019 11:57:01 +0900

Today I took several frames but some of them had to be deleted. Main things:

a small orange marble is rolling down the Triple Splitter Small Feeder
the large red marble has rolled off the Lowest Largest Backtrack and startled Squarehead
Pinky has finished pushing the medium blue marble up the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection and is about to let it go to discover it rolls right off the end, instead of reflecting onto the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension.

No snippet today, but here are the frames I took (though at least 4 had to be deleted).

Lower Zig Zag 2F

Sun, 05 May 2019 21:49:23 +0900

History:

2020 Dec 19: Autosticks came up to keep small marbles from falling sideways off Lower Zig Zag 2F. They became the Lower Zig Zag 2F Guardrails.
2020 Dec 01: Pinky brought marbles up to test the Lower Zig Zag but one of them fell. Autosticks are on the way in to extend the rails.

2020 Jun 10: G Choppy cut a notch into the upper support of the Lower Zig Zag 2F allowing small marbles on the Lower Zig Zag 1F to pass by smoothly.

Lower Zig Zag 1F

Sun, 05 May 2019 21:48:13 +0900

History:

2021 Jan 12: The end of an Autostick has arrived to fill in one more spot.

2021 Jan 02: Autosticks came up to fix a spot where small marbles can get stuck, becoming Lower Zig Zag 1F Inner Rails

2019 May 05: recently named lowest track of the Lower Zig Zag

Lower Zig Zag 3F Upper Base

Sun, 05 May 2019 20:53:05 +0900

History:

2019 May 05: planned to be created by adding toothpicks to Lower Zig Zag 3F Upper Base Base

Lower Zig Zag 2F top

Sat, 04 May 2019 23:05:08 +0900

This piece was needed to keep small marbles on the Lower Zig Zag 2F up and out of the way of the large marbles on the Triple Splitter. It also solves the issue I had with the Lower Zig Zag 2F being too level for the marbles to roll on it without a push.

I made a demonstration version of it with the intention of having the characters make the real one on the track, but it was so crowded with three marbles rolling down Triple Splitter Small Feeder (et. al.) that I just glued the demo track into place. I’ll have Reversible Guy fidget around the piece for a bit so it hopefully looks like he made it.

Lower Zig Zag 3F

Sat, 04 May 2019 12:30:15 +0900

This track will be the third track in the Lower Zig Zag. It runs just slightly above the Triple Splitter Small Feeder, precluding the Lower Zig Zag 3F from receiving marbles from the Triple Splitter Small Feeder.

History:

2022 Mar 8: Pinky brought rails which will serve as

2020 Feb 18: Candy Mama installed the Lower Zig Zag 3F Net Affector, which guides marbles down to Lower Zig Zag 2F, away from Triple Splitter Small Feeder.

Lower Zig Zag 3F Upper Base Base

Fri, 03 May 2019 16:16:46 +0900

These are two toothpicks that make up the Lower Zig Zag Net, which was put in place to catch small marbles as they fall from the (newly named) Lower Zig Zag 2F to Lower Zig Zag 1F

History:

2019 May 03: Determined to be a good support for Lower Zig Zag 3F Upper Base

planning next parts

Fri, 03 May 2019 15:42:13 +0900

Today’s livestream was over two hours, during which I got 9 frames taken. I spent most of the time planning the next few pieces.

The position of Caret Splitter Rudder seems like it will work, though I do not yet know how I will toggle its direction.

Lower Zig Zag 3F will possibly be the name of the third (from bottom) 9.4cm bar of the Lower Zig Zag. Its upper support, Lower Zig Zag 3F Upper Base will be supported by 2 of the toothpicks making up the Lower Zig Zag Net. These two toothpicks will be the Lower Zig Zag 3F Upper Base Base

super spoony brought small marbles

Tue, 30 Apr 2019 09:37:28 +0900

Today’s livestream was in two parts. In the first, above, Super Spoony carried two orange marbles up the ramp.

In the second, Dr Sugar rotated the stage to let Super Spoony come onto the stage

Several images take today, as just a couple characters were moving.

Entertainingly (to me), Little Brother can be seen in the background as he begins to do a back roll, allowing the Medium Blue Marble to roll up the ramp over him. It is a bit tricky to hold him up and the heavy marble in place over him, but should be worth it.

Snakes rolled away

Mon, 29 Apr 2019 19:58:01 +0900

After a couple of misfires with my computer acting like it could not keep up with all its tasks, I rebooted and tested the small orange marbles rolling down the Triple Splitter Small Feeder to the (top of the) Triple Splitter, where they immediately fall onto the Triple Splitter Small Marble Catcher, down onto the Little Wiggly Track and finally to the Right Side Small Landing Zone.

They worked perfectly! (So long as someone (Mr McGlue stood where the lower end of The Outer Spiral will be, allowing the marbles to bounce off him and remain between the rails of the Triple Splitter.)

Glued Triple Splitter Small Feeder Outer Bar

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 15:24:51 +0900

This was a relatively quick livestream in which I was just able to glue the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Outer Bar before I had to go.

11:56 Monday 29 April 2019 JST

The next day, I noticed the outer bar was glued a little bit higher than the inner bar on the Triple Splitter Small Feeder. Small marbles still rolled down it, but I figured it would be better if flatter so I took a few minutes to explain the problem and fix it.

curved triple splitter small feeder outer bar

Sun, 28 Apr 2019 08:39:41 +0900

Today I finished curving the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Outer Bar.

Mr Greene has cleared off the stage below the Lower Zig Zag, and is now carrying a stick which will be placed at the top of the Triple Splitter Small Feeder.

Pinky is pushing the Medium Blue Marble up the track toward the Caret Splitter.

I added about a second worth of frames to the end of the video snippets.

The first of the frames below replaced the last of the frames from last time. 2 or 3 of the other frames below had to be deleted from the final video, but I do not know which ones.

Triple Splitter Small Feeder Outer Bar Lower Support

Fri, 26 Apr 2019 09:02:52 +0900

This piece is a small bit of the upper end of a chopstick, cut at a slant so it matches the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Bar Lower Support.

History:

2019 Apr 29: Used to support Triple Splitter Small Feeder Outer Bar
2019 Apr 28: Glued in place
2019 Apr 26: Carried up the ramp by Backpack Jack

Glued Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Bar

Mon, 22 Apr 2019 21:54:46 +0900

In just a bit over an hour, I got the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Bar moved and glued in place. During this time, Big Brother pushed the large red marble into the snakes, which has set them into motion. Backpack Jack is bringing the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Outer Bar Lower Support up the ramp, and Mr Greene is clearing the landing zone below the Lower Zig Zag.

I turned off the livestream once I glued the tssfib in place, and then realized I could get a jump start on next livestream by bending and gluing the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Outer Bar. So I glued Triple Splitter Small Feeder Outer Bar in 11 minutes

Finished Curving Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Bar

Fri, 19 Apr 2019 09:55:51 +0900

Great progress in terms of frames today. Got the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Bar curved and have a plan for Pinky to go push the Medium Blue Marble up the track on the Caret Splitter side of things.

Here is the latest snippet

All but one(?) of these were used at the end of the snippet above.

G Choppy floats down

Tue, 16 Apr 2019 16:57:04 +0900

Another 1.5 hours of livestream (but my hour counter is currently broken, blarg) and got G Choppy to float down to the stage so he has easier access to curve the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Bar. It has two breaks in it now, and will have three soon!

Here is the latest vid, the last 14 frames of which were taken in the livestream above.

Wow; I finished twice as many frames as I thought!

G Choppy bending triple splitter small feeder inner bar

Tue, 16 Apr 2019 10:44:40 +0900

Today’s first livestream went pretty quickly. I took 8 useable frames in 75 minutes.

The latest snippet is here.

At the moment, G Choppy is curving the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Bar. Mr Greene is clearing the Lower Zig Zag Landing Zone. Big Brother is pushing the Large Orange Marble up the First Track. Little Brother is still spinning on top of the Triple Splitter.

Other characters are not doing much for now.

ready to glue triple splitter small feeder inner bar

Tue, 09 Apr 2019 08:25:24 +0900

Today after getting the stage set up again after holiday, I bent and glued different sticks to speed up filming next time.

Live stream was done in two parts, above is the second part. Here is the first part, which was mostly spent getting the scene back in order.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vVu1rdcGLm8

Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Bar Lower Support

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 18:13:39 +0900

History:

2019 Mar 05: Carried up the ramp by Pinky.

Almost glued inner bar support

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 15:55:19 +0900

Today I took 11 frames. I wanted to get a frame after gluing the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Bar Lower Support, but I could not get it to stay in place without moving the stage and characters out of the way.

G Choppy is suspended above the track about to fly over to that area to help curve the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Bar, and maybe the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Outer Bar.

Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Second Stanchion

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 14:47:20 +0900

Backpack Jack carried this and patiently held it until it could be glued by Mr McGlue. It stands on the First Snake-Installed Rail and supports the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection

History:

2019 Feb 26: Glued in place

Glued Caret Splitter Right Hand Inner Side

Tue, 26 Feb 2019 14:24:54 +0900

Today was a three hour livestream, which should have put me over 300 hours; I think I was pretty close already.

I uploaded a snippet which will be published on March 16th, while I am in the US. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN5QtFGp4RU

Jimmy chatted online for a bit and then called me for nearly an hour of the livestream. I think that helped it both take longer and go faster. We talked about possible ideas for character arcs and visual gags because the video is super dense with activity now.

Testing Marbles Again

Tue, 19 Feb 2019 12:38:13 +0900

Today, due to a traffic jam of sorts back by the Decorative Walls, it took 34 minutes to get the first frame taken. After that, the frames came faster, although if I recall correctly, the second was taken around 55 minutes into the livestream today.

This is the latest snippet, which will go live on March 9th.

I think 9 frames ended up being usable; here are the ones I took today.

Introduced lower levels of MT3

Sun, 10 Feb 2019 22:38:27 +0900

Not a livestream in the construction sense, but this was a livestream to introduce the track at its current state.

highest tracks:

Caret Splitter Rudder

Sun, 10 Feb 2019 21:40:38 +0900

The Caret Splitter Rudder is as yet an imaginary piece which will be toggled by medium marbles to ensure make small marbles go to the left or right down the Caret Splitter.

But, because medium marbles can only go down the left hand side of the Caret Splitter, the toggling of Caret Splitter Rudder must ensure that the medium marbles do not go toward the Caret Splitter Rudder unless it is pushed toward the right, which will push them toward the left.

Caret Splitter Right Hand Inner Side

Sun, 10 Feb 2019 21:34:06 +0900

The Caret Splitter Right Hand Inner Side helps keep small marbles on Caret Splitter Right Track once they eventually can use the right hand side of the Caret Splitter.

It supports the Caret Splitter Right Hand Side Inner Guider.

History:

2019 Feb 26: Reversible Guy put the bar in place.

2019 Feb 22: Reversible Guy brought Caret Splitter Right Hand Inner Side to Caret Splitter Right Track

Glued Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection

Sun, 10 Feb 2019 20:04:44 +0900

Today I glued the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection onto the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Stanchion and have a plan for a mini stanchion that is not yet named.

Backpack Jack will carry the new piece, which was cut from the top of the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Stanchion and floated in midair for perhaps too long until he could grab it.

G Choppy has cut the Ninth Placed Outer Spiral Support with his first backswing chop, not easily seen in the movie because it is on the opposite side of the stage from the camera, and it takes less than a second to complete. Reversibly Guy is holding the piece cut from the top of the Ninth Placed Outer Spiral Support, which he will soon take over to be the Caret Splitter’s Right Hand Inner Side, although he needs to move quickly as the stage is turning the Caret Splitter away from the camera.

Headache not much progress

Sat, 09 Feb 2019 22:25:01 +0900

I think I got one picture done today. 28 minutes until the first snapshot, and then the next two were no good or something.

Anyway, I had a headache from too much computering so will come back to MT3 on Monday.

Here are the pics from today. I think the middle two had to be erased, or maybe the first 3?

Ninth Placed Outer Spiral Support

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 13:41:41 +0900

This is a support for the outer spiral, placed on the track by Pinky’s Decorative Wall

The piece cut from the top of the Ninth Placed Outer Spiral Support will be used as the Caret Splitter Right Hand Inner Side.

History:

2019 Feb 05: Cut with a backswing by G Choppy
2019 Feb: Held in place by Reversible Guy

Cut Ninth Placed Outer Spiral Support

Tue, 05 Feb 2019 13:33:18 +0900

Today, with a glorious backswing, G Choppy cut the Ninth Placed Outer Spiral Support, which Reversible Guy has been holding for a while. I cut the piece and glued it into place, which is good because Mr McGlue has already glued it, even though he was supposed to glue the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Stanchion first.

At the same time, Pinky has been continuing construction of the Decorative Wall, while Big Brother is busy fixing the Snake Plate U-turn Berm Bar.

Snake Plate U-turn Berm Bar

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 21:36:52 +0900

This is the non-U-turn part of the Snake Plate U-turn Berm which has been on the track for months, but not yet glued in place. Big Brother has just discovered this problem, and is inspecting now.

History:

2019 Feb 26: Mr McGlue glued it into place.

2019 Jan 30: Big Brother realizes it needs to be glued

Triple Splitter Small Feeder Outer Bar

Wed, 30 Jan 2019 21:30:59 +0900

This is the second half of the Triple Splitter Small Feeder, which will feed small marbles into the top of the Triple Splitter.

History:

2019 Jan 29: brought up the ramp by Candy Mama

Cut Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Stanchion

Tue, 29 Jan 2019 11:41:33 +0900

Today G Choppy cut the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Stanchion as activity took place all around him.

Pinky is still working on her Decorative Walls after the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter.

Big Brother is pushing the large orange marble up away from the Snake Plate U-turn Berm Bar.

Doctor Sugar is headed off the set via the ramp while Candy Mama has just come up the ramp with the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Outer Bar. The Triple Splitter Small Feeder will be put in place vaguely soon, probably before the Outer Spiral is even really started.

Wire work for G Choppy

Tue, 22 Jan 2019 13:24:45 +0900

Today G-Choppy began his walk across the not-yet-placed Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection on his way to cut the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Stanchion, being held by Backpack Jack.

The livestream got interrupted by work, but I got six frames taken, but the second to last below had to be reshot because Backpack Jack had fallen.

As of this writing, I have written all the actions that the characters have performed in the 10th take, which is the 7th video in the playlist of silent snippets.

Autosticks

Mon, 21 Jan 2019 12:31:00 +0900

Autosticks help construction by both moving themselves into place and becoming part of the track or supports.

Placed one more decorative wall piece

Sat, 19 Jan 2019 17:37:46 +0900

Today I livestreamed for a bit over two hours, including a decent amount of time waiting for glue to dry on the decorative wall.

During the glue-drying time, I found a good way to plan ahead on construction AND finish the Step by Step part of the website.

To make the Step by Steps, I will have to sort some words by timestamp, but at least I won’t have to re-search for the things to write.

Placing Decorative Wall

Mon, 14 Jan 2019 12:16:33 +0900

Not quite as visible as Pinky placing the decorative wall, I placed the 8th Outer Spiral Support.

Before and after placing the Eighth Placed Outer Spiral Support:

The last 3 seconds of this snippet are new.

Eighth Placed Outer Spiral Support

Sun, 13 Jan 2019 02:12:32 +0900

This piece will support the Triple Splitter Small Feeder.

History:

2019 Jan 14: cut by G Choppy
2019 Jan 13: almost placed by Reversible Guy

Almost placed 8th Placed Outer Spiral Support

Sat, 12 Jan 2019 12:57:35 +0900

I took some time to measure the length and positions of Eighth Placed Outer Spiral Support and Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Stanchion by putting the os on the track to make sure it would all work.

At the same time, I bumped the ramp, so I decided to tape it to the desk so it won’t move much.

Tested Medium Marble

Sat, 12 Jan 2019 12:54:33 +0900

Made good progress during this video up until I needed to measure the Eighth Placed Outer Spiral Support and the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Stanchion.

Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Stanchion

Sat, 12 Jan 2019 01:59:30 +0900

The Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Stanchion will support the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection

History:

2025 Jun 9: Moved by Rob to allow medium marbles’ passage on the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter

2019 Jan ?: Cut by G Choppy
2019 Jan 13: nearly put in place by Backpack Jack, but he will have to hold it for a while until G Choppy can cut it to size.

Almost tested medium marble

Fri, 11 Jan 2019 01:50:55 +0900

I was a bit rushed for time at the end of this, and ended up stopping just after I taped a thread around the green marble to it could be suspended after just coming off the Medium Catcher Below the Triple Splitter.

To be honest, I forgot to take a picture, but this is from the next day of filming.

Cut and Glued 7th Placed Outer Spiral Support

Thu, 03 Jan 2019 18:22:06 +0900

Pretty good progress today, with over 1 second worth of video frames taken. I got stuck near the end because several characters were all converged around the 7th Placed Outer Spiral Support which has now been cut, and the traffic jam is soon to be untangled.

Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection

Wed, 02 Jan 2019 22:34:20 +0900

This piece will essentially roll small and medium marbles from the middle of the track to bounce off the outer spiral and then into the Caret Splitter via its Extension and Feeder.

Will be supported by the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Stanchion.

History:

2019 Feb 05: Nearly put in place by Squarehead.

2019 Jan 02: Using the demonstration Outer Spiral to decide where exacle Squarehead should place the piece.

Glued Seventh Placed Outer Spiral Support

Wed, 02 Jan 2019 22:26:10 +0900

After some false starts, I got a decent amount of work done today. Primarily, I cut and glued the Seventh Placed Outer Spiral Support. Secondarily, I planned what Backpack Jack will do next: get the support for the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection, which will be installed by Squarehead soon.

slow progress day

Wed, 02 Jan 2019 13:53:58 +0900

At the start of today’s first livestream I discovered that the piece I glued yesterday had been glued too low, so I had to reglue it. I reglued it then ate lunch while waiting for the glue to dry.

At the start of today’s second livestream (same as inline above), I realized I could have ignored the incorrect positioning and continued taking frames.

The second livestream did not last long before I stopped it to let different glue dry.

Backpack Jack

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 09:12:39 -0500

Backpack Jack was one of the original characters from 2011 or so.

I found him in my room during end of year cleaning as we entered 2019.

Tasks so far:

Bring Triple Splitter Small Feeder Outer Bar Lower Support

Bring Triple Splitter Small Feeder onto set and give it to Candy Mama

Bring Decorative Wall pieces for Pinky
Hold Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection Stanchion

Guides into Back Right Medium Landing Zone

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 12:59:58 +0900

History:

01 Jan 2019: Placed the Guides into Back Right Medium Landing Zone.

2018 Dec 31: These were Two Ends Chopped Off Triple Splitter

Guardrail into Back Right Medium Landing Zone

Tue, 01 Jan 2019 12:13:47 +0900

Today’s livestream was split into 3 segments, the second livestream (an hour long) is featured above. The first segment and third segment were about 30 minutes each.

The great news: I think I got the Medium Catcher Below Triple Splitter connected to the Back Right Medium Landing Zone. They are connected by Guides into Back Right Medium Landing Zone. I have not tested them yet though.

Introduced Backpack Jack

Sat, 29 Dec 2018 12:45:59 +0900

I found an old character from five or six years ago when I first attempted a video of the construction of Marble Track 3.

I have named him Backpack Jack in English, and probably ルックくん in Japanese.

He’s helpfully carrying a bamboo skewer to be used as the Triple Splitter Small Feeder.

Candy Mama is on her way to pick it up from him, but first she has to go around the end of the Triple Splitter, not because she is not ghostable as needed, but because the Seventh Placed Outer Spiral Support does not yet exist. It is going to hold the top end of the Triple Splitter Small Feeder as well as the 20th-or-so segment of the outer spiral (once it exists).

Two Ends Chopped Off Triple Splitter

Thu, 27 Dec 2018 20:03:54 +0900

These pieces were removed from the Triple Splitter because they stuck too far past the edge the stage. At the time of their removal, there was no specific plan to use them.

Over a year later in realtime, and about 10 minutes later in movie-time, they were picked up by Squarehead to act as supports / guides on the Medium Catcher Below Triple Splitter.

History:

2019 Jan 01: These became Guides into Back Right Medium Landing Zone

Triple Splitter Small Feeder

Thu, 27 Dec 2018 19:14:58 +0900

To be composed of the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Bar and the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Outer Bar, this track will guide small marbles from an as-yet-unnamed splitter which will deliver small marbles to both the Lower Zig Zag and this track.

This track will feed marbles into the Triple Splitter from the counter-clockwise direction, opposite the way large and medium marbles will be fed into the Triple Splitter via the Outer Spiral.

History:

2019 Jan 01: Backpack Jack carried skewer to be the Triple Splitter Small Feeder

Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Bar

Thu, 27 Dec 2018 19:14:58 +0900

This piece is the first of two bars to make up the Triple Splitter Small Feeder, which will feed small marbles into the top of the Triple Splitter.

History:

2019 Feb 26: Candy Mama began to put the bar in place while Pinky brought its Lower Support

2019 Jan 01: Backpack Jack carried skewer to be the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Inner Bar

Seventh Placed Outer Spiral Support

Thu, 27 Dec 2018 18:42:08 +0900

History:

The Seventh Placed Outer Spiral Support stands just outside the lower curve below Lower Zig Zag (I think).

2019 Jan 03: The Seventh Placed Outer Spiral Support has been glued into place.

2019 Jan 01: The chopstick is fully handed over to Reversible Guy who will put it in place with support from Mr Greene.
2018 Dec 27: Walking up the ramp, Pinky started bringing the chopstick for this piece.

Finished gluing Bar Below Circle by Caret Splitter

Thu, 27 Dec 2018 10:37:15 +0900

Today was mostly a planning session. I wrote several notes to my future self:

Candy Mama hold Bar Below Circle by Caret Splitter (finished as of this entry)
Mr McGlue glue lower end of Bar Below Circle by Caret Splitter (finished as of this entry)
Pinky bring chopstick to Reversible Guy
Reversible Guy get chopstick from Pinky (to be used as Outer Spiral Supports)
Autosticks move into place for Lower Zig Zag Net
G-Choppy cut other autosticks on Caret Splitter Feeder Extension
Mr Greene test Lower Zig Zag Net with small marble
Big Brother push medium green marble up U-turns to test Triple Splitter
Squarehead install guides on Medium Catcher Below Triple Splitter

I took seven frames today, all of which seem good to be used in the final video. Funny thing: Pinky was off screen for just two frames and magically appeared on the other side of the set with a chopstick. I did that with the hopes that G-Choppy can cut the 7th Placed Outer Spiral Support while that side of the stage is in view.

Bar Below Circle by Caret Splitter

Tue, 25 Dec 2018 13:44:03 +0900

(not to be confused with the higher (and longer) Lowest Longest Separator)

This thin bamboo bar hoped to keep small marbles on the left side of the Caret Splitter from falling onto The First Track.

It runs below First Snake-Installed Rail, from which extends the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter.

Bar Below Circle by Caret Splitter turned out to be insufficiently long to keep small marbles on the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter, so The Lowest Longest Separator was installed above it.

Mr McGlue glued 6th Placed Outer Spiral Support

Tue, 25 Dec 2018 13:44:03 +0900

Today over the span of two hours I added 16 frames of video to the project. They are visible as the last 1.25 seconds of the video above.

G Choppy cut a piece that Reversible Guy caught in midair. That required suspending the cut piece with a thread. The tape that I used to hold the piece to the thread is more visible than I hoped, but I guess it can be removed in post processing.

Medium Catcher Below Triple Splitter

Thu, 20 Dec 2018 17:49:46 +0900

The Medium Catcher Below Triple Splitter is an oval which guides medium marbles toward the Back Right Medium Landing Zone.

It was carried into place by Little Brother, who held it while the real glue dried, and had to stay put until Mr McGlue came to glue it in the movie.

History:

27 Dec 2018: Squarehead has picked up the Two Ends Chopped Off Triple Splitter and is bringing them to be used on the Medium Catcher Below Triple Splitter.
20 Dec 2018: Little Brother is holding the piece until Mr McGlue can glue it in place.

Here he is practicing said support.

Glued the Sixth Placed Outer Spiral Support

Thu, 20 Dec 2018 12:33:11 +0900

Today G Choppy cut the Sixth Placed Outer Spiral Support which will soon glued by Mr McGlue. On the other side of the track, Lil Brother is holding the Medium Catcher below Triple Splitter until Mr McGlue can glue it as well.

Of the frames taken today, I think two had to be deleted.

Circle by the Caret Splitter

Mon, 17 Dec 2018 14:27:33 +0900

Will hold the Bar Below Circle by Caret Splitter to keep small marbles from falling onto The First Track

History:

25 Dec 2018: Mr McGlue glued it in place. Big Brother attached Bar Below Circle by Caret Splitter
17 Dec 2018: Candy Mama put it in place, but it has not been glued yet by Mr McGlue

Added Circle by Caret Splitter

Mon, 17 Dec 2018 13:14:17 +0900

Today I got 7 frames taken in under 2 hours. Not a lot, but I got two pieces glued, including another toothpick for the Lower Zig Zag Net and the newly named Circle by the Caret Splitter.

The trickiest bits today dealt with toothpicks; they kept falling, repeatedly, and were a general nuisance to deal with.

Right now, the demo outer spiral is on the track so I can figure out where to place the Sixth Placed Outer Spiral Support, but it has not been placed yet. I plan to put it at an angle from the stage just inside the Left Side Small Landing Zone.

after gluing (and cutting) fifth placed outer spiral support

Mon, 10 Dec 2018 11:48:48 +0900

Today I hung the top of the bar G Choppy cut last livestream, the Fifth Placed Outer Spiral Support. The top of the bar remained suspended in air for 6 frames, or 1/2 of a second of playback time, and Reversible Guy has just caught it.

But the trickiest bit was at the back of the stage! Trying to get the Lower Zig Zag Net in place required some patience to get the pieces in place. The space is quite small, and the pieces even smaller. I’ve got little toothpicks moving around, trying to be glued from underneath the lowest bar of the Lower Zig Zag

Sixth Placed Outer Spiral Support

Tue, 04 Dec 2018 16:51:39 +0900

This piece stands at an angle from just inside the Left Side Small Landing Zone

History:

20 Dec 2018: G Choppy cut the piece which will soon be glued in place by Mr McGlue
17 Dec 2018: decided to put it just inside the Left Side Small Landing Zone
04 Dec 2018: miscounted the Fifth Placed Outer Spiral Support as this one

Before Gluing Fifth Placed Outer Spiral Support

Tue, 04 Dec 2018 12:59:08 +0900

Today I got the traffic jam sorted by the Caret Splitter, and actually got three (3) pieces glued:

Here is the most recent snippet

I had to delete about 4 or 5 of the frames below, but here are the frames I took today.

Caret Splitter Feeder Extension

Fri, 30 Nov 2018 09:09:07 +0900

The Caret Splitter Feeder Extension will feed small and medium marbles to the Caret Splitter Feeder.

History:

2018 Dec: Glued in place by Mr McGlue

2018 Nov: Squarehead brought it up the ramp

Fifth Placed Outer Spiral Support

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 14:46:29 +0900

The Fifth Placed Outer Spiral Support is on the outer edge of the stage, right at the bottom of the Caret Splitter Right Track. As of 10 December 2018, it has not yet glued by Mr McGlue, but has been cut by G Choppy.

History:

10 Dec 2018: The piece has been cut by G Choppy, and the remainder has just been caught by Reversible Guy.

04 Dec 2018: The piece is glued in place, but has not yet been cut by G Choppy on film.

Lower Zig Zag Net

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 14:46:29 +0900

The Lower Zig Zag Net catches marbles on the Lower Zig Zag as they fall from Lower Zig Zag 2F to Lower Zig Zag 1F

History

02 Jan 2019: Glued sixth rib onto Lower Zig Zag Net

17 Dec 2018: Glued third rib onto Lower Zig Zag Net

04 Dec 2018: Glued the first rib of the net onto Lower Zig Zag

Traffic Jam at Caret Splitter

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 14:33:00 +0900

Today I broadcast for over an hour, during which I got maybe 8 frames taken.

Very glad that I left notes for myself to get started quickly, and I hope the notes I left will help me get started again. Maybe I should scan those notes. They were basically plans for upcoming stuff.

There is a bit of a challenge in how to get Squarehead up to add onto the Caret Extension while Reversible, G Choppy, and Mr McGlue are working on the Fifth Placed Outer Spiral Support.

Fourth Placed Outer Spiral Support

Thu, 29 Nov 2018 14:19:45 +0900

This piece is the first to not be placed at the full height it needs to be for the Outer Spiral, but will first hold the Caret Splitter Feeder and then be extended vertically a bit to hold the Outer Spiral.

The Fourth Placed Outer Spiral Support was glued into place near the end of the aptly named livestream Glued Fourth Placed Outer Spiral Support

History:

29 Nov 2018: the piece is in place, and has been glued by Mr McGlue.

Glued Fourth Placed Outer Spiral Support

Tue, 27 Nov 2018 12:09:55 +0900

Today was super slow progress, getting about 7 frames done in 1.75 hours or so.

Main issue was having so many characters active at the same time! I realized after the first frame that I had not moved the Autosticks (toothpicks) toward the Caret Splitter Feeder, so they are paused for about 4 or 5 frames. I am sure it will be fine, though.

I have added reminders to move them over the next several frames.

Glued fourth placed outer spiral support

Tue, 20 Nov 2018 13:46:02 +0900

Today I glued the Fourth Placed Outer Spiral Support after G Choppy cut it.

In the background the orange marble has rolled off the top of the Lower Zig Zag, where Mr Greene is going to help build an LZZ Catcher.

Here are the frames from today. Just 3 in 30 minutes; the first one was missing something!

Caret Splitter Feeder

Sat, 17 Nov 2018 15:33:21 +0900

The Caret Splitter Feeder sends small and medium marbles to the Caret Splitter.

It is fed by the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension, which extends to the Outer Spiral.

History:

2018 Dec 4: extended with Caret Splitter Feeder Extension

2018 Dec: successfully tested by Pinky using the blue medium marble

Third Placed Outer Spiral Support

Sat, 17 Nov 2018 14:19:45 +0900

This piece stands at an angle near the Decorative Walls, and is cool because Reversible Guy kinda dropped it there without paying too much attention.

History:

2018 nov 17: Casually placed by Reversible Guy

planning fourth placed support

Fri, 16 Nov 2018 16:38:39 +0900

I planned the Fourth Placed Outer Spiral Support a couple days ago. Been busy on Version 2 of the website so did not write this entry right after doing the live stream.

There was another live stream the same day, where I got Reversible Guy closer to placing the Fourth Support.

Back Right Medium Landing Zone

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 14:06:52 +0900

This landing zone balances the Front Left Medium Landing Zone, and will eventually be fed by the Triple Splitter. It has a toothpick placed at an angle to keep marbles from rolling back once they arrive at the end.

Construction history

01 Jan 2019: Doctor Sugar has placed the first (of two?) Guides into Back Right Medium Landing Zone.
20 Dec 2018: Little Brother is holding Medium Catcher Below Triple Splitter until Mr McGlue can glue it in place.
15 Nov 2018: this landing zone is not yet connected to the Triple Spliter. That’s somewhat of a problem because the Lower Zig Zag makes it hard to put anything under the Triple Splitter, much less a medium track. Good thing it only needs to be short and straight.

Caret Splitter Right Track

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 14:06:52 +0900

This track is only for the small marbles, leading them quite quickly from the Caret Splitter entrance to the Left Side Small Landing Zone.

As of this writing (Nov 2018) small marbles get stuck there and cannot move forward. I have a few ideas of how to fix it, but am not sure if they will work.

25 Jan 2021 Autosticks are on their way to build a structure here to keep small marbles on the track.

Decorative Walls after the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 14:06:52 +0900

Pinky placed these soon after the First Snake-Installed Rail. They are shaped somewhat like flowers or ice cream cones (albeit on their sides).

Backpack Jack brought the second set of these, which Pinky placed.

History

2019 Feb 05: extended by Pinky

2018 Nov 17: first placed by Pinky

First Snake-Installed Rail

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 14:06:52 +0900

The First Snake-Installed Rail keeps medium sized marbles on the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter after they go down the shorter leg of the Caret Splitter. It does not keep small marbles on the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter.

This rail runs somewhat above The First Track, and is just barely out of the way of Large Marbles running on The First Track.

Starting from the front of the track, near the shorter leg of the Caret Splitter, The First Snake-Installed Rail supports the Lower Curver off the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter, two thirds (2/3) of the way along its length.

Lower Curver off the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 14:06:52 +0900

This is just a bit of track essentially parallel to the Left Side Small Landing Zone.

Along with the Upper Splitter off the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter, this guides medium marbles from the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter to the Front Left Medium Landing Zone.

Lowest Back Left Small Marble Curve

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 14:06:52 +0900

This curve comes after the Decorative Walls that Pinky put in place. It feeds into the Left Side Small Landing Zone

Lowest Largest Backtracking Chopstick

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 14:06:52 +0900

Half of the Lowest Largest Backtrack, this is a single chopstick which guides the Largest Marble down from the Snake Plate U-Turn to the Lowest Largest U-Turn.

Lowest Largest Backtracking Popsicle Stick

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 14:06:52 +0900

This is a single rail which guides the Largest Marble down from the Snake Plate U-Turn to the Lowest Largest U-Turn.

When I placed it, I put it too close to its partner the Lowest Largest Backtracking Chopstick for them to really focus on their task of guiding the large marbles, plus the characters big feet get stuck in the gap, so this piece is annoyingly placed.

Lowest Largest U-Turn

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 14:06:52 +0900

This image shows the Lowest Largest U-Turn being installed, 22 October 2017.

The Lowest Largest U-Turn feeds into The First Track, and is fed by the Snake Plate U-Turn.

The Lowest Largest U-Turn is only used by the large marble, and is its last turn before arriving at the large marble resting point on the bottom of the track. The Lowest Largest U-Turn lies just above the first track, which had its first test on 9 October 2017 (skip forward to 50 seconds).

Right Side Small Landing Zone

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 14:06:52 +0900

This landing zone is only for small marbles.
It is fed by the Little Wiggly Track and the Below Lower Zig Zag Track.

History:

2021 July 06: Pinky tested two marbles running down three levels of the Lower Zig Zag then onto the Right Side Small Landing Zone. Everything worked just fine.

Below Lower Zig Zag U-turn

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 10:23:59 +0900

This is a short segment of track that runs under the Snake Plate U Turn. It guides marbles from the Lower Zig Zag to the Right Side Small Landing Zone.

History:

2019 Dec 18: Pinky tested it as Little Brother brought up a wall to fix it.
2018 Nov: inaccessible, because the supports of the Snake Plate U-Turn Berm block marbles coming from the Lower Zig Zag.

Front Left Medium Landing Zone

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 10:23:59 +0900

This landing zone balances the Back Right Medium Landing Zone, and will soon be fed by the Caret Splitter.

Left Side Small Landing Zone

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 10:23:59 +0900

This landing zone is fed by the Caret Splitter and Lowest Back Left Small Marble Curve.

On its front-pointing end, small marbles arrive from the Caret Splitter while on its back end, marbles roll in by Pinky’s Decorative Walls.

The Outer Spiral runs above, supported by The Lower Left Side Arch.

Snake Plate

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 10:23:59 +0900

The Snake Plate was chosen by Lazy Snake as a good place to sleep. This informed the name of the plate and the U Turn surrounding it.

Snake Plate Chopstick

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 10:23:59 +0900

Though it has a short name, this is a short stick with limited value. It is part of the entrance to the Snake Plate U-Turn, but the Triple Splitter does most of the work.

Snake Plate U Turn

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 10:23:59 +0900

This U-turn sends large marbles back along their way after coming down the Triple Splitter. The U-turn is too tight for large marbles to stay on it without help from the Snake Plate U-Turn Berm

the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 10:23:59 +0900

Starting diagonally opposite Triple Splitter, the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter is a long track next to The First Track. It cannot handle large marbles like Triple Splitter but it guides small and medium marbles after they come down the left (shorter) side of the Caret Splitter.

Its first guard rail is Bar Below Circle by Caret Splitter which worked for medium sized marbles, but didn’t work for small marbles.

Its second guard rail is The Lowest Longest Separator which keeps small marbles from falling onto The First Track.

the Triple Splitter Small Marble Catcher

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 10:23:59 +0900

This catches small marbles almost immediately after they hit the Triple Splitter. This hangs from the Triple Splitter, suspended above the Back Right Medium Landing Zone. It sends marbles down to the Right Side Small Landing Zone.

History:

29 Apr 2019: small marbles now roll out properly, but they have not yet been fully tested within the final film.
15 Nov 2018: small marbles do not roll out from under the Triple Splitter onto the Little Wiggly Track, but they should.

Upper Splitter off the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 10:23:59 +0900

This is a small curved track that pushes medium marbles to the left, away from the First Snake-Installed Rail.

Along with the Lower Curver off the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter, this guides medium marbles from the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter to the Front Left Medium Landing Zone.

History:

01 Jan 2019: broken (and reglued) while trying to plan where track will go after Caret Splitter Feeder Extension.

Snake Plate U-Turn Berm

Thu, 15 Nov 2018 09:52:29 +0900

The Snake Plate U-turn Berm keeps marbles on the Snake Plate U Turn.

Focus on this side

Tue, 13 Nov 2018 09:25:18 +0900

I started focusing the camera today!

In two hours I was able to take about 1 second worth of frames (I am guessing). During these frames:

Pinky pushed the blue marble up the Caret Splitter and onto the Caret Feeder
G Choppy walked over to where Reversible Guy and Mr Greene placed what will be the Fourth Placed Support for the Outer Spiral
Dr Sugar watched the orange marble roll down the top of the Lower Zig Zag
Busy Snake went off the First Snake-Installed Rail and headed to the Snake Plate with Lazy Snake
Big Brother moved the First Ramp into place
Squarehead headed off the set to get a popsicle stick (which will be used to extend the Caret Feeder)

Here is the snippet. The last 3 seconds are new

Things that happen in first ~10 minutes

Sun, 11 Nov 2018 08:40:38 +0900

I am making a list of the things that different characters did on the track to build it. This will give names for the important track parts, and help populate the new workers pages.

The first three video snippets set the stage (literally) for building the marble track. In the first video snippet Rabby pulls the base into place.

In the second video snippet, Garinoppi flies the bearing into place

In the third video snippet, the right angle character (unnamed) helps draw a circle on the stage, and the screwdriver (unnamed) screws the bearing into place.

Second Placed Outer Spiral Support

Sat, 10 Nov 2018 14:19:45 +0900

This piece stands outside the Snake Plate U-Turn Berm. It was placed by Reversible Guy who caught the upper end which G Choppy cut off. That upper end became the Third Placed Outer Spiral Support, on the opposite side of the stage, near the Decorative Walls after the Lowest Small-Medium Splitter

Caret Splitter

Fri, 09 Nov 2018 21:37:34 +0900

The Caret Splitter sits opposite the (top of the) Triple Splitter. It is the small section of track which spans the end of the medium marble resting point which does not involve the Triple Splitter. I named it Caret Splitter because it is shaped like vaguely like a caret ^. It is actually shaped more like the Japanese character へ, when viewed from the direction the marbles will reach it.

Marbles arriving at the Caret Splitter will be sorted with the Caret Splitter Rudder, which is attached to the Caret Splitter Rudder Lever Spinner, atop of which will be the Caret Splitter Lever.

glued two more toothpicks on lower zig zag

Thu, 08 Nov 2018 13:22:31 +0900

I glued two more toothpicks on the Lower Zig Zag today. Dr Sugar will be able to test the Lower Zig Zag soon, and will find it fails, but will hopefully get it to work by the time the Lower Zig Zag comes around to the front of the scene again.

Pinky will push the medium marble up the ramp above the Caret Splitter to test, and will find that the medium marble works perfectly, because it does.(*) In real life. Perfectly, every time.

toothpicks for lower zig zag

Wed, 07 Nov 2018 10:06:31 +0900

Today before lunch I did a livestream in which toothpicks moved themselves up toward the Lower Zig Zag, where they will be rails on the second level of the Zig Zag, while the two toothpicks which had been so fiddly before were cut by G-Choppy and glued into place (by me, not yet by Mr McGlue.

During this time, coming up from the camera point of view, Candy Mama is leading the brothers onto the set, with something which looks suspiciously like it might be the ramp to get onto the stage. (Mainly because it is the ramp.)

Mr Greene ghosts

Thu, 01 Nov 2018 10:08:50 +0900

Today I realized I had made a mistake moving Mr Greene over the Lower Zig Zag and Triple Splitter. I knew he could pass through walls, but there was no reason for his body to pass over them instead of just walk right through them.

That means I had to delete three images, which are available to Patrons! Here are the frames I ended up with today.

glued next zig zag

Tue, 30 Oct 2018 17:42:33 +0900

In 1.5 hours today, I was able to take two pictures and glue two pieces. Great to get the middle of the Lower Zig Zag glued, if not stabilized. Mr Greene is holding it in place while the glue dries on the upper end. G Choppy is coming over to cut the toothpicks for the lower end so they can hold it in place.

caught the chopped stick

Tue, 23 Oct 2018 10:40:21 +0900

Today, Reversible Guy caught the piece of chopstick that G-Choppy chopped last week.

G-Choppy has just cut the toothpick that was in Dr Sugar’s head so it can hold the second level of the Lower Zig Zag.

Candy Mama is barely visible in the bottom of the frame as she leads someone or something onto the stage!

Glued second support for spiral

Sat, 20 Oct 2018 10:52:19 +0900

Today I finished what I had hoped to complete yesterday: gluing the second support for the outer spiral.

Here is the latest snippet!

Here are frames from today, including one I had to delete because I forgot to move Shikatama-san.

Nearly placed second support

Fri, 19 Oct 2018 13:26:13 +0900

I had hoped to get the second support cut and glued today, but I ran out of time. I may have wasted too much time making sure the left and right snakes were moving properly.

At this moment, G-Choppy is ready to cut the vertical stick that Reversible Guy is holding. Dr Snow and Mr Greene are working on the Lower Zig Zag. There are some toothpicks crawling up toward the piece Mr Greene is holding; they will hold it securely once they are properly positioned.

toothpicks for Lower Zig Zag

Tue, 16 Oct 2018 11:41:38 +0900

Today in a bit over two hours, I added one second worth of frames to the video. After about only 5 frames or so, I noticed the camera support I had set up originally stopped supporting the camera stand. So I spent a decent amount of time repairing that. Hopefully it will continue to work as a support.

In order to save a lot of time, I have decided to allow toothpics to move themselves. I need at least two toothpicks to hold the lower end of the second-to-bottom track on the Lower Zig Zag, but there are no characters nearby the cache of toothpicks. I want to get a good deal of the Lower Zig Zag built during this current pass in front of the camera, so allowing the toothpicks to move will save time and get the Lower Zig Zag construction underway.

Mr Greene helps Dr Sugar

Thu, 11 Oct 2018 13:52:14 +0900

Mr Greene is named after the drawing I made for Chris.

He is about the same size as Dr Sugar, so maybe they can be partners of a sort. Is Mr Greene a nurse? Is Dr Sugar a woman?

Right at the moment, Mr Greene is climbing up onto the stage to help Dr Sugar put together the Lower Zig Zag, but I am super pressed for time if I want to get anything done before the stage rotates around again. I guess they will be working on it for a full rotation.

quick few frames

Thu, 04 Oct 2018 09:03:25 +0900

Short livestream today during which I had just enough time to check the Inner Left Guide for the Caret Splitter (ILG4CS) (featured in title image of this episode).

After testing the ILG4CS, I had enough time to take a few frames, which I posted below.

The unnamed white guy with green head has just delivered short popsicle sticks(*) which will be used in the Lower Zig Zag. I think I will make him ghostable. He will be working with Dr Sugar, who is apparently not ghostable, so it will be a good combination to have their differing styles of motion working together.

before gluing inner berm

Tue, 02 Oct 2018 14:32:10 +0900

Today, my three hour live stream culminated with me gluing the inner berm for the medium marble just below the Caret Splitter while two more ramps for the Lower Zig Zag are being brought in by a rarely seen character with white body and green head.

The part of Mr McGlue was taken over again by the original Mr McGlue, after maybe 10 or so frames with the stand-in Mr McGlue.

three Mr McGlues

Sun, 30 Sep 2018 05:57:02 +0900

“Hello Mr McGlue, my name is Mr McGlue.”

“Nice to meet you. Wait, who is that guy?”

Today I made two copies of Mr McGlue. I only needed one, but I wasn’t happy with the first one. (nor the second one, but I ran out of yellow pipe cleaners…)

As you may know, Mr McGlue is a ghostable character, meaning (for my convenience) he can pass through wooden sticks. As the track construction moves along, Mr McGlue’s big feet were making it more and more difficult to let him pass through ~~certain~~ most areas of the track. I had considered removing his big shoes, but they are glued to his feet in a way that would damage his feet too much. So I made a copy of Mr McGlue with short feet.

blue roller

Thu, 27 Sep 2018 09:36:53 +0900

Pinky has pushed the blue ball down the new track, and (IRL) it works pretty well, but needs a bit of an inner berm, so maybe I should make it fall down through that gap during this test so they know what to make next.

In the background, the manager has just put into place the next length of track for the Lower Zig Zag

ready to roll

Thu, 27 Sep 2018 07:59:26 +0900

Today we got the backdrop in place over the Caret Splitter and Pinky is ready to roll the blue marble down to test the track. The track works relatively well in reality, but not well enough so I will need to make some modifications to it.

Ahem, the workers will need to make some modifications to it.

Today’s snippet is only available for Patrons of Marble Track 3 on Patreon

Sweets Party Attendants

Tue, 25 Sep 2018 22:58:39 -0500

Thanks to the Sweets Party Attendants for providing support in terms of sweets, naming several characters: G-Choppy, Candy Mama, くるりん, and encouragement plus help translating the site!

Caret Splitter Backboard

Tue, 25 Sep 2018 18:10:49 +0900

History:

25 Sept 2018 Mr McGlue glued Caret Splitter Backboard onto First Placed Outer Spiral Support

toothpick delivery and started next snippet

Mon, 24 Sep 2018 15:31:25 +0900

Today was split into two livestreams, though both were quite short. I got a piece glued behind the Caret Split, and had toothpicks delivered by Mr Shikatama for use in the Lower Zig Zag

Here is Toothpick Delivery, the longest version of the sixth snippet in the original silent mt3s.robnugen.com playlist.

The rest of the livestream is here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uY0G07cf9fY during which I actually glued the stick behind the Caret Split.

glued first support for Outer Spiral

Sat, 22 Sep 2018 21:20:49 +0900

Today I spent 45 minutes (livestreamed) to glue a single piece in place. Getting it into the right place while shooting frames for the animation was like solving a puzzle. To summarize the puzzle, I created a 2-frame gif (that Patrons can see (or you can watch the 45 minute livestream and see it in there)).

This photo is an overview of the scene while figuring out the best way to get the piece into the right place while taking frames that don’t show how the piece was put into place.

First Placed Outer Spiral Support

Sat, 22 Sep 2018 14:19:45 +0900

This is not the first support for the Outer Spiral in terms of size or distance from either end of the Outer Spiral. It is the first support that was installed to support the Outer Spiral.

This piece fell from the sky into Reversible Guy’s hand because he needed it at that moment to add the Backboard for the Caret Splitter. To get it to fall from the sky I had to think of a reasonable explanation. There is a scene that explains it, but that scene will only be available on the DVD (or to Patreon patrons).

Hide

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 22:58:39 -0500

Thanks to Hide for providing zipties!

These were most helpful for holding together pieces while the glue dried.

Little Wiggly Track

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 17:38:54 +0900

The Little Wiggly Track will catch small marbles that come out of the Triple Splitter. Above shows a side view.

Here is the top view.

Lower Zig Zag

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 17:38:54 +0900

The Lower Zig Zag currently has three levels: 1F, 2F, and 3F, using the naming convention of buildings in Japan.

Originally planned to accept marbles from the Triple Splitter Small Feeder Feeder, that plan was canceled by the installation of the Lower Zig Zag 3F Net Affector because the Lower Zig Zag 3F was too high (and pointing the wrong way) to allow such a transition to work.

History:

2021 July 06: Pinky tested two marbles running down three levels of the Lower Zig Zag then onto the Right Side Small Landing Zone. Everything worked just fine.

Outer Spiral

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 17:38:54 +0900

The outer spiral hasn’t fully been created. I have created the demo Outer Spiral, shown in the image. The plan is for the real outer spiral to pass large and medium marbles onto the Triple Splitter, without affecting any of the track below.

I want the large and medium marbles to roll smoothly around the entire track at least once, and possibly twice, but I will probably prefer to make the continuation of this track curve smoothly inside the middle area of Marble Track 3 instead.

Triple Splitter

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 17:38:54 +0900

The (top of the) Triple Splitter sits opposite the Caret Splitter. The Triple Splitter is a section of track with non-parallel rails. The large marbles make it all the way down the Triple Splitter, but the small marbles and medium marbles fall in the beginning and at the middle of the track, respectively.

Construction History

Sep 2019: Big Brother tested the Triple Splitter when Pinky tested the Caret Splitter Feeder Extension Reflection.
May 2019: The Triple Splitter Small Feeder now feeds small marbles onto the Triple Splitter. The marbles properly roll under the rail onto the Little Wiggly Track.

after catching chopstick

Fri, 21 Sep 2018 15:27:02 +0900

Pretty good progress today; I have essentially begun making the Lower Zig Zag, and have nearly glued in place the first support of the Outer Spiral.

G Choppy is walking quickly over to the Lower Zig Zag area to help cut sticks to make it into reality.

Here are the sticks for the Lower Zig Zag before Square Head brought them onto the track.

chopstick fell into place

Thu, 20 Sep 2018 10:00:44 +0900

I have officially linked the scene taken from the top and the main scene.

Here is the latest version of the sixth snippet. The last few frames show a chopstick falling out of the sky. The chopstick is not yet fixed in place, but once G Choppy cuts it, I will glue it into place as a support for the Outer Spiral.

Frames taken today include a few to link the scene taken above the main scene. Marble Track 3 Patrons can see the the scene taken on top, which will show up somewhere on the DVD.

repaired large marble berm

Tue, 18 Sep 2018 16:49:47 +0900

I fixed the berm for the large marble today in a quick livestream only focused on that repair.

At this point, the stick still has not fully fallen from the sky; I need to take another frame of it in the air and then of it in Reversible Guy’s hand.

I plan to work on the track again Friday, and will get the stick into place then.

oops broke large marble berm

Mon, 17 Sep 2018 21:49:57 +0900

Immediately after filming the previous livestream, the camera I had set up precariously fell and broke the large marble berm.

Dang. Fortunately, it’s relatively intact.

filmed scene on top

Mon, 17 Sep 2018 17:58:35 +0900

Filmed a scene on the top shelf of my desk, which will connect with the rest of the movie later.

Perhaps this cut scene which will be on the DVD … oh my goodness I can make a DVD of the movie and allll the frames. Wouldn’t that be awesome??

Here are some of the images that I took today.

Support Marble Track 3 Construction on Patreon! (first draft video)

Sun, 16 Sep 2018 06:15:14 +0900

Support Marble Track 3 Construction on Patreon!

(Helpers) name listed on Marble Track 3 website $1 / livestream
(Animators) access to frames I take for the marble track $2 / livestream (not available yet until I figure out how)
(Groupies) shout-outs during the livestream once a month $3 / livestream
(Owner) receive email at yourname@marbletrack3.com $55 / livestream

nearly ready for vertical support

Thu, 13 Sep 2018 09:37:18 +0900

Pretty great progress today.. nearly ready to have the bamboo stick “fall down from the heavens” into place where Reversible Guy will put it where it can support the outer spiral, coming soon.

Special thanks to Prentiss for watching live; in the livestream, I introduced the characters, explained the plan for the outer spiral support, and described the plan to have the brothers knock the chopstick off the top.

Oh that reminds me; I should put blue fabric on the top, from where they will knock the chopstick down.

snake marble piece progressed

Tue, 11 Sep 2018 11:43:49 +0900

Today after a slow start dealing with tripod falling apart and with my computer conking out, I got the camera mostly lined up and took several frames, which will be visible under this snippet:

The last five seconds of the snippet are new.

Great news is that we are very close to finishing this snippet with a chopstick falling out of the sky, and therefore close to filming the backstory of how that chopstick came to fall in such a manner.

bonus gluing sticks: started curtain rod creation

Sat, 08 Sep 2018 19:45:50 +0900

Oops I forgot to glue what will be a curtain rod for the top, so I did a second livestream today, much shorter than the one above:

Here are images for the second livestream in case it ever gets its own episode:

planning the end of sixth snippet

Sat, 08 Sep 2018 19:06:45 +0900

This is a must see or must miss depending on your point of view because it shows new points of view on stop motion: the planning stages. And new camera angles, and nearly a new character that I decided not to introduce yet.

Here are the frames from this livestream:

planning outer cycle connections

Sat, 08 Sep 2018 13:09:22 +0900

I forgot to take an image for this episode, so I used one of the frames.

Tried to figure out how to use the first double splitter as a small marble track, but I cannot get it connected to the first wiggly ramp because it would block the medium sized marble output point.

planning outer spiral supports

Fri, 07 Sep 2018 09:19:42 +0900

Lots of progress on the outer spiral, in terms of designing how it will connect to the tracks and supports underneath it.

Only five frames taken today. Here they are!

placing toothpicks while snake spirals

Thu, 06 Sep 2018 08:14:39 +0900

Had a quick livestream today during which Reversible Guy (apparently) glued a single toothpick and G Choppy cut two others which I had hoped to glue but could not quite before I had to head out.

… hmmmm I do not see the livestream on Youtube, after having streamed 90 minutes ago.

So I streamed again for about 20 minutes (to keep the total livestream duration accurate) but this time waxed poetic about my other life, and how he also wants to livestream.

twenty questions and reinforced outer spiral

Tue, 04 Sep 2018 11:32:11 +0900

Today I reinforced the outer spiral with some extra pieces; when I tried to pick it up without them, it wanted to flex at points that only had the tracks holding it together.

I also glued a single toothpick onto the piece where Pinky has been standing for a while. Reversible Guy brought the toothpicks from the center of the track.

And the snake has started spiraling onto the bar, though it is blocked by Mr McGlue and G Choppy.

finished 16th segment and 9th day

Mon, 03 Sep 2018 18:27:24 +0900

Today I added the 16th segment to the outer spiral. It’s nearly complete! I used super glue, but ended up having to use real glue and cutting the live stream shorter than I might have otherwise. Tomorrow I should be back to regularly scheduled streaming for 2 hours or so.

Oh, and I found a new camera angle that gives the live stream what is nearly my point of view when working on the track. I hope you like it.

Support

Sat, 01 Sep 2018 22:58:39 -0500

You can support Marble Track 3 Construction in a variety of ways. Once Marble Track 3 Construction is finished, the person or entity who has given the most support will receive the actual Marble Track 3 track itself.

Monthly support can be given to @MarbleTrack3 on Flattr, Marble Track 3 on Donorbox, or or Patreon. Patrons get to see snippets before the rest of the world, and can get access to all the frames of MT3 Construction.

fifteen segments in outer spiral

Thu, 30 Aug 2018 19:58:49 +0900

Livestreamed for 2 hours today, during which I added four more segments onto the outer spiral, for a total of 15, and took fourteen frames of the movie, of which I think I deleted 2, leaving 12 which will make a total of 1 second of video.

No great difficulties today. I forgot to take a pic of the setup I had for the outer spiral segments to dry. The first person who does a screen grab of them will get a prize. Must link to this entry, and link to the timestamp of the screengrab for verification.

glued feed to split bridge

Wed, 29 Aug 2018 23:30:20 +0900

Today I did a relatively quick livestream during which I decided to re-place the vertical support for the feeder track into the split bridge.

I forgot to take a picture, but I will do that now.

Here are the frames I took today. The first one was deleted because it just magically put the vertical piece into place.

snake looking for a spot

Tue, 28 Aug 2018 11:58:30 +0900

Wow; I just finished streaming for 3.5 hours, (during which I could have run off to teach a lesson. I am super happy that I turned it down. Would have been frustrating to run off and do that,) and I feel happy happy to be so productive here.

The trickest part today was dealing with the snake; they are far harder to manipulate than I anticipated! That is why the snake does not slide off the bar it’s on; that would have chewed up too much time, so I made the snake poke at the next bar as if looking for a place to start. In addition to being easier to film, I think it’s more realistic snake behavior.

made 11th section of outer spiral

Thu, 23 Aug 2018 15:49:22 +0900

I made the eleventh section of the outer spiral, and used it to create an outer spiral frame, but (even though I used super glue, the 11th section was wobbly, so) I have not attached the eleventh section to the outer spiral yet.

Today’s frames (yes, just two):

got small marble through triple splitter

Wed, 22 Aug 2018 10:59:25 +0900

After the superglue fix yesterday, the small marble catcher stayed in place (without sagging) for the few frames that needed the small marble to rest on the catcher before rolling down the zig-zaggy track.

Delayna, a friend of mine from YRUU back in my high school days watched the livestream for her first time. Yay Delayna! Thank you for watching!

Here are the frames I took today.

Superglued small marble catcher

Tue, 21 Aug 2018 13:07:55 +0900

Today I felt a little guilty for using superglue, but it was just so deliciously fast to put together segments of the outer spiral. I got two segments added in a relative flash compared to before, waiting for a day for glue to dry, etc.

Then, and therefore, I superglued the small marble catcher under the triple splitter. If it stays in place, then progress should be quite quick; I should be able to get the small ball catcher properly supported and ready for testing (within the movie) next time I do filming.

That time I deleted more frames than I took

Thu, 16 Aug 2018 09:01:44 +0900

After taking 6 frames and watching the resulting output, I deleted 7 or 8 frames to reshoot them.

Basically the small marble catcher below the triple splitter needs more support before it can properly catch marbles.

I need to record the snake swiping a small marble off the splitter, but there is no support, so I gotta put the support up before the snake does the swipe, and do the swipe before I put the support up because the small marble keeps making the support sag downward.

triple splitting small marbles

Tue, 14 Aug 2018 11:18:15 +0900

Probably no output video today, but I added two more segments to the demo outer spiral, and nearly have the small marble being triple-split correctly.

In the first part of the live stream, it was super frustrating today working with the fiddly pieces of the outer spiral which kept falling every which way while I tried to glue them.

Then in the latter part, nearly as frustrating when the small marble catcher on the triple splitter broke.

outer spiral is 5 segments long

Fri, 10 Aug 2018 09:53:06 +0900

Again no output video today, but I took two frames, and photos of several of the workers so I can put photos up for them.

Though it is a bit crooked, I got two more segments added to the outer spiral.

Here are the two frames I took today

prepared some sections for outer spiral

Thu, 09 Aug 2018 21:53:49 +0900

I took no frames today, but I worked on the outer spiral for a good twenty minutes or so, making two pairs of sections, each of which will extend the spiral by two sections, so I expect to add four sections to the spiral next time I livestream.

In other news, I have decided to rebrand my patreon page as Marble Track 3, although I think the URL will still be patreon.com/thunderrabbit

nearly glued triple splitter

Tue, 07 Aug 2018 11:27:18 +0900

I livestreamed for nearly 2 hours today, during which I glued five pieces, three of which are meant to appear in the final movie. The other two are for the outer spiral stand-in.

The challenging bit today was having two ghostable characters appear to pass through each other. Mr McGlue and Reversible guy needed to occupy the same space at the same time.. I think it looks reasonably fine. Here they are ghosting through each other.

brief work on outer spiral

Fri, 03 Aug 2018 22:31:12 +0900

I just did a quick livestream to continue work on the outer spiral. It’s a whole lot faster to just do the work myself instead of having the workers do it hahahaha

This photo shows the two next portions of the outer spiral as the glue dries.

one hour before a single frame

Fri, 03 Aug 2018 10:43:49 +0900

I prepped some thigs that will make progress faster in the future.

I set up a “cutting station” where I can easily measure lengths of wood to within 1mm accuracy, which I will need to do frequently while making the outer spiral track, which at this point consists of a single segment of track about 4cm long.

I cut a piece which will correctly hold the triple splitter bars at the right distance from each other on the upper end.

apparently fixed triple splitter

Tue, 31 Jul 2018 12:50:53 +0900

Worked for 2 hours today, getting a bit confused as to when / how to fix the snake around the triple splitter so that I can secure the splitter to the correct width to separate marbles by size.

The snake had flipped the switch but the stage moved away too quickly so I had Squarehead flip the switch back. Part of the problem may be that I have not been moving the stage a consistent amount recently. I need to start using the dots to measure how far I rotate it each time.

snake nearly wrapped

Tue, 24 Jul 2018 12:59:56 +0900

Today over the span of about two hours I created 12 frames of video.

The most difficult part was getting in the snake to properly wrap itself around the upper marble splitter and not have the orange marble fall every time.

In the background the gluer walked through the bridge and the blue marble and the pink character to come glue at piece near the foreground.

Also in the background, The reversible guy is picking up two pieces which will lead to the bridge.

flipped the switch

Sun, 22 Jul 2018 21:19:39 +0900

Special thanks to Mayumi and Jimmy for voting on the Great Tail Switch Mystery. Should the snake’s tail flip the switch or not?

In the last video, the snake’s tail was perfectly poised to either flip the switch or not, and we three (me, Jimmy, Mayumi) unanimously voted to have the snake flip the switch. For me, it had been “too long” since the stage direction had been reversed.. nearly two full rotations!

Zeroth Placed Outer Spiral Support

Sat, 21 Jul 2018 00:06:02 +0900

The Zeroth Placed Outer Spiral Support supports the Triple Splitter. It was placed sufficiently long ago that it never got a name until now (as far as I can tell)

History:

2019 Sep 24: Realized the Zeroth Placed Outer Spiral Support does not have a page

re-delivered marbles

Fri, 20 Jul 2018 23:11:51 +0900

Finished delivering the marbles in this live stream. After Spoonhead caught the marbles, he had to catch up with the rotation of the stage to bring them back into place.

Anyway, during this livestream I created the last bit of this video.

tail flip mystery

Fri, 20 Jul 2018 23:11:51 +0900

In this livestream, I added 1 second of video to the 6th snippet.

In the background, the reversible guy has just gotten the bridge cut and is about to place it when he (and I, ahem) realized it was flipped around the wrong way.

In the foreground, the snake began climbing up the ramp to the triple ball splitter while the manager tries to work out how to get the small ball to fall at the right place.

gotcha

Sat, 14 Jul 2018 12:58:18 +0900

12:58 Saturday 14 July 2018 JST

Working on MT3 today I had a funny idea. There were two marbles ready to roll off the track and I realized it would be great for the spoonhead guy to catch them. So I had to erase eight frames, but they were not too hard to recreate, and the end result is great.

The frames are shown in the last second of the video above.

ready to test

Thu, 12 Jul 2018 22:32:22 +0900

Apparently I did not write anything here either. Strange.

snake powered fall

Sun, 24 Jun 2018 13:53:59 +0900

13:53 Sunday 24 June 2018 JST

Added about 3 seconds worth of frames, so about 36 frames today. Pretty good! One of the snakes has finished his first task and is now snaking around to meet up with his friend who will soon be able to snake around. Not sure if I will have them leave… oh, maybe they should curl up and wait somewhere.

Pinky fell off the stage and hit the switch, so the stage is rotating again. This helped me glue the upper rail along the medium|small marble split. It’s drying now.

yoi sho

Fri, 15 Jun 2018 12:55:05 +0900

12:55 Friday 15 June 2018 JST

よいしょ is the audio I want to add right at the end of this video. In this case, it is the equivalent of “3. 2. 1. lift!”

Spoonhead is adept at getting the marbles onto the stage because he’s the right height for that. I gave him long arms as well to help lift marbles (and knock the switch around accidentally).

Speaking of accidents, while trying to film the frame after they lifted the marble, it fell and knocked everything askew.

history in Japanese

Sat, 09 Jun 2018 08:20:48 +0900

08:20 Saturday 09 June 2018 JST

１０年前二番目のビーだせんは六ヶ月で作りました。　Ten years ago, I made Marble Track 2 in 6 months.

いじめる人が「六ヶ月は無駄でした」だって。　Trolls said I wasted 6 months.

ファンの人が「すごい！どうやって作った？」だって。 Fans asked how I made it.

だから、去年新しいビー玉線路「三番目ビーだせん」を作り始めました。 Therefore, last year I started a new marble track, Marble Track 3.

予定は毎週二時間以上「三番目ビーだせん」を作ります。 The plan is to work on it at least 2 hours per week.

今も作ろうと思ったんだけど日本語の宿題も大切です。I was going to work on it now, but I should also write Japanese.

history

Fri, 08 Jun 2018 21:52:59 +0900

21:52 Friday 08 June 2018 JST

I started a channel on YouTube for my latest passion project: Marble Track 3, which is being built to show people exactly how to make a marble track out of wooden sticks and glue.

It all started 10+ years ago when I showed Marble Track 2 to the world. https://mt2.robnugen.com/ As you can see in the comments, trolls were like “you wasted 6 months of your life!” Fans were like, “wow! how did you make that??”

adding small curve

Fri, 08 Jun 2018 15:16:58 +0900

15:16 Friday 08 June 2018 JST

In addition to creating frames for the movie itself, I have been creating a curved track to be the stand-in track for the large marble to spiral around the whole stage.

introducing spoonhead

Wed, 30 May 2018 05:15:44 +0900

05:15 Wednesday 30 May 2018 JST

I spent a couple hours on MT3 yesterday, culminating in introducing a new character whose job is to carry marbles onto the stage. On his way out, he hit the switch to reverse the stage rotation, so Squarehead will fall because he is just about to jump off the stage onto the ramp, but the stage is just about to reverse direction.

Fancy Footwork

Tue, 22 May 2018 12:44:56 +0900

12:44 Tuesday 22 May 2018 JST

Only a couple of characters to move around, and no big disasters of things moving without authorization, so I was able to add five seconds of video today in just 1.25 hours.

helpful snakes

Tue, 15 May 2018 14:36:10 +0900

14:36 Tuesday 15 May 2018 JST

Today I livestreamed more of The Making of The Construction of Marble Track 3

snakes

Sun, 13 May 2018 19:15:18 +0900

Hahaha I am really entertained by this next portion of the video. Didn’t even really see it coming until just the other day when I needed a way to hold up a rail while it gets glued into place.

Since June 2017, I have spent 7.5+ days on Marble Track 3.

The resulting video snippets, available via https://mt3s.robnugen.com/, total approximately 9 minutes 39 seconds.

what's on the ramp

Thu, 10 May 2018 09:34:25 +0900

09:34 Thursday 10 May 2018 JST

Neat neat neat I just discovered some new characters who should prove to be pretty useful as well as squirmy and maybe giving heebee jeebees!

plans

Wed, 09 May 2018 10:25:02 +0900

10:25 Wednesday 09 May 2018 JST

I am in the middle of making the marble splitter work for small marbles.

The manager has just glued one rail into place and will glue the inner rail next.

Next, the manager will:

glue inner rail for small track
test the too small marble (which will fail)
eject too small marble
test a correctly-sized small marble

At the same time, Reversable Guy (RG) will place the other splitter top rail. Only problem is holding it in place before there are supports for it.

retested large marble

Wed, 02 May 2018 10:12:52 +0900

09:05 Wednesday 02 May 2018 JST

Yesterday I glued a piece onto the track which was designed to catch small marbles as they fall through the not parallel bamboo chopstick marble splitter.

Now it’s time to see if it worked!

Woohoooo it worked!!

pics and writeup

Mon, 30 Apr 2018 11:00:00 +0900

11:00 Monday 30 April 2018 JST

(written 00:11 Tuesday 01 May 2018 JST)

Great progress on MT3 today. I shaved the bottom of the marble splitter chopsticks so the small marble could pass under them. I made a bit of a continuity mistake though by actually lifting one of the chopsticks a bit (instead of just shaving the bottom of it).

These are pics from before the shave:

I like Marble Track 3 construction video (so far)

Fri, 27 Apr 2018 17:35:08 +0900

17:35 Friday 27 April 2018 JST

Just smiling after watching the latest snippet for Marble Track 3 construction. It’s the one called “Brotherly Spat” on YouTube. In it, the brothers get into a fight, which they had done a little bit in the first video, but this time, it’s on, as they said on Southpark, and the brothers’ fight is meant to look like a cartoon dust cloud with random feet and other extremities poking out of the cloud as it hovers in mid air.

brotherly spat

Tue, 24 Apr 2018 13:32:35 +0900

13:32 Tuesday 24 April 2018 JST

Curiously, I do not see the live stream that I broadcast today. Usually they are visible on Marble Track 3 YouTube channel immediately after upload.

moving chopstick

Tue, 17 Apr 2018 13:53:29 +0900

13:53 Tuesday 17 April 2018 JST

I did only about 56 minutes of MT3 today before I glued a piece and had to pause. The large sized marble has been lifted up onto the track; the little brother has gotten back onto the stage and is fighting the big brother; the manager has just placed a little toothpick rail on the small marble track that meanders down from the ball splitter.

ready to glue u turn

Tue, 10 Apr 2018 16:55:36 +0900

16:55 Tuesday 10 April 2018 JST

At the time I am posting this, I actually already glued and tested the U turn.

Here is the video I streamed during the test:

stopped the madness

Wed, 04 Apr 2018 09:58:02 +0900

09:58 Wednesday 04 April 2018 JST

I added lots of frames yesterday to Marble Track 3 video. There was a long section with just 2 or 3, or even just 1 character moving at a time. I added 20 seconds to the video, which destroys any previous day expect maybe the first couple days when I just had the manager walking around.

I did not exactly predict the current situation; I just knew the chopstick poking off the edge of the track should do something. It ended up knocking over a bridge, which knocked the switch into fast mode which caused some havoc including Candy Cane Mom and Green Cutter to lean toward the center of the stage to offset centrifugal force due to the rotational velocity. (I think my terms are correct here).

lil brother hitches a ride

Thu, 29 Mar 2018 15:41:11 +0900

I worked for 90 minutes today and nearly 60 minutes the other day (but did not put up a new video then). The latest:

While the Reversable Guy went to see what happened, the little brother grabbed onto the chopstick which had kept the stage from rotating properly. Before crashing into the ramps, he jumped off; he is fine.

Soon RG will go back to the switch and perhaps find the ramp knocked over, or maybe the ramp will turn the switch on full blast which could be fun..

glued dual track rail

Sat, 24 Mar 2018 11:15:41 +0900

I have two sets of notes descrbing what characters should do. The Reversable Guy is trying to figure out why the stage is not rotating. The green head guy is about to glue a small stick under the ball splitter.

Meanwhile, Candycane Mom has just put the dual track rail in place down at another ball split point. It will hold medium-sized and small-sized marbles.

hmm is the stage slowing down?

Tue, 20 Mar 2018 15:22:32 +0900

(written 09:25 Wednesday 21 March 2018 JST)

In a single day, I can take maybe 20 or 30 frames, which adds a couple of seconds to the final movie.

Yesterday, I worked 2 hours on Marble Track 3, including adding a new dimension of planning to the project:

I wrote notes to script out the next 5 weeks (or so) for the Reversable Guy (character whose head looks largely the same when facing forward or backward) as he debugs why the stage is slowing down. For what I have sketched out so far, in final movie time, it will be like (323-183) / 12 = approx 12 seconds of video.

progressing nicely

Sun, 18 Mar 2018 16:40:52 +0900

An interesting thing is happening with the stage rotation. Last week I noticed a chopstick was sticking out too far for the stage to turn all the way around, and this time it has hit the wall and begun to hamper the rotation of the stage.

I think the cutter guy might cut the offending chopstick and have the stage spring forward, which I may do in slow motion again, like when the manager got yanked by the spinning bearing while they tried to wrangle it.

glued three pieces

Sat, 17 Mar 2018 15:33:38 +0900

I think I added four seconds of video today in about an hour and a half. Pretty speedy because at some points only two characters were moving.

Since June 2017, I have spent 6.3+ days on Marble Track 3.

The resulting videos available via https://mt3s.robnugen.com/ are like 8 minutes 32 seconds long.

back to work

Tue, 06 Mar 2018 16:36:21 +0900

Now that the little brother has been found to be alive and kicking, it’s time to get back to work.

I will be out of town during the weekend, so not able to work on this until next week, probably Thursday or Friday.

Since June 2017, I have spent 6.3+ days on Marble Track 3.

The resulting videos available via https://mt3s.robnugen.com/ are like 8 minutes 28 seconds long.

look at me!

Tue, 27 Feb 2018 12:07:40 +0900

12:07 Tuesday 27 February 2018 JST

I finished the 5th snippet today. The little brother has been found, and did a little dance on the topmost track, much to everyone’s consternation because they had just spent several seconds looking for him.

This clip has 1400 frames in it.

found little brother

Tue, 20 Feb 2018 11:27:37 +0900

11:27 Tuesday 20 February 2018 JST

I had previously thought of having the little brother come running up to see what all the fuss was about, and knock everyone off the stage. But I have done that once, and it wastes a bunch of time, and the timing didn’t work out anyway.

So in the end, the characters who were looking for him all turn around one by one. Candycane mom will put her hands on her hips after she fully turns around. This will be the last frames I add to this Take in Dragonframe. After this, we’ll have six (6) snippets in the playlist.

calling for help

Mon, 12 Feb 2018 12:03:22 +0900

~~14:03 Friday 09 February 2018 JST~~

~~{< youtube s-KCwA27wjA >}~~

12:03 Monday 12 February 2018 JST

On Feb 5th and Feb 8th I finished the final 5 seconds of video uploaded as “squiggle squiggle” on Friday, and then three seconds of “squiggle squiggle squiggle” on Saturday(?) and now after filming 2 seconds of video in 60 minutes, he is nearly out from between the plates, and they are nearly in full force looking for him.

still looking for little brother

Tue, 06 Feb 2018 13:52:38 +0900

13:52 Tuesday 06 February 2018 JST

I got a couple seconds of easy filming done today during which I debated for a bit if I should have people get worried about little brother. Ultimately decided yes, and I’m quite happy with the results so far! The guy with green head is now helping big brother look for little brother. Candy Cane has finished coming up the ramp with a load of five popsicle sticks. The very last frame of the film I output today shows little brother barely visible between the stage platters. I haven’t uploaded it to Youtube yet, but I assume I will when I get back home or find free wifi somewhere.

nearly 8 minutes of mt3

Sat, 03 Feb 2018 12:13:15 +0900

12:13 Saturday 03 February 2018 JST

I spent an hour or more figuring out how to get Blender to import images and output video. This video is all of the frames I have so far. (5500 or so)

just before gluing 7th rib

Tue, 30 Jan 2018 10:54:48 +0900

10:54 Tuesday 30 January 2018 JST

Recorded 2 seconds of video today, including having the little brother spin around and fall off the top end of the track splitter. The big brother started to run down to the area to look for his little brother but he won’t find him… I have decided to have the little brother crawl out from between the stages in about 6 movie-seconds from now, which may be in 2 months from now? .. maybe just one month, but it should be great.

spinning again while adding 6th rib

Sun, 28 Jan 2018 21:53:25 +0900

21:53 Sunday 28 January 2018 JST

I spent nearly 3 hours on Marble Track 3 today, but over an hour of it was trying to figure out how to make Blackmagic Fusion import multiple sequences of images to put them into one movie.

I was not able to figure it out.

I have a sneaking suspicion that BM Fusion is not designed to do this. Most of its output options were images, so.. apparently it is designed ot output images instead of videos. It did have an option to output quicktime, but the default was jpg.

curving ribs 4 and 5

Fri, 19 Jan 2018 15:55:02 +0900

15:55 Friday 19 January 2018 JST

This clip includes 1066 frames. I didn’t upload clips the past 2 or 3 times I worked on the track because it took a long time to add the first three ribs to the edge of the largest marble’s track.

Now I am in the process of getting some characters off the set because they are just じゃま and wasting time during filming. I already have the brothers wasting enough time, plus the guy in the back trying to make his way around the currently-highest point of the largest marble’s track.

Glued first rib

Sat, 13 Jan 2018 15:55:02 +0900

13 January 2018 JST

(posted 00:08 Tuesday 23 January 2018 JST)

Two pics from a few days ago when I set up a clamp to hold the first rib in place while it dried.

pics and toothpicks

Tue, 09 Jan 2018 15:59:39 +0900

15:59 Tuesday 09 January 2018 JST

I have worked on MT3 a few times since getting back. A couple days ago, progress was super slow and I did not even export a video clip, much less upload one. Today I got much further, after having figured out a way to lift the bridge, and then I had the green cutter guy make some curved toothpicks which will be used for rail supports to keep the large marbles on track during the 2nd to last U-turn.

recovery after big marble mishap

Tue, 12 Dec 2017 09:51:29 +0900

09:51 Tuesday 12 December 2017 JST

I added a record 7 seconds of video in just 2 hours. Part of that was certainly due to fewer disparate things going on, not the least of which being that the stage was stopped from turning!

At this point:

the cutter is just about to cut the excess support off the ramp base, after which the gluer will lift the base and glue the pieces to it.

oops characters reacted too quickly

Thu, 07 Dec 2017 20:56:11 +0900

20:56 Thursday 07 December 2017 JST

I am quite happy with at least half of the frames I shot today. Fortunately, I am happy with the difficult ones! They were the frames in which the big marble rolled down the M Splitter and then slammed against the wall, driving the white pole all the way into the wall.

After the ball hit the floor, I had the other characters react to the “sound”, but upon playback, they react too quickly. The frames of those characters all moving toward the sound were all pretty easy to take, so I feel good about re-shooting them. ~~I estimate it’s about 15~~ I need to delete only 7 frames in all, so just the last half second at the very end of the video below:

before releasing the big marble

Tue, 05 Dec 2017 13:46:08 +0900

I worked on MT3 in two parts today. Right around 2 hours total, I think, not including letting glue dry (during which I ate lunch and had a nice nap). I found a pretty good technique for keeping the large marble in place: using a twist tie looped around the track seems to do the trick. If I had taken the time to figure that out before I had the guy push the big marble up the M Splitter, he would have been able to walk up on both rails. As it is, he had one foot down and one foot up, lodged betwen the rail and the marble to keep it from rolling.

guy fell off stage after ramp was overturned

Wed, 29 Nov 2017 15:39:28 +0900

15:39 Wednesday 29 November 2017 JST

I finally glued the last piece of the M Splitter.. and it works! Marbles roll down it faster than I had hoped, so I considered lowering it.. but there is just enough room for the small marbles to roll under that track and onto the small marble track which has walls on it, if I lower one of the walls.

Unfortunately, that wall is also the support for the track, so it will be tricky to cut. I might have to use the dremel or something..

Fully glued half of M splitter

Sat, 25 Nov 2017 12:07:59 +0900

12:07 Saturday 25 November 2017 JST

Only one hour so far today on Marble Track 3.

The images above show the track before and after having glued the second support on the first half of what I am calling the M Dropper or M Splitter. It will split the medium sized marbles off the large marble track by being too wide for the medium sized marbles to touch both sides of the track.

glue half M dropper

Fri, 24 Nov 2017 14:17:52 +0900

14:17 Friday 24 November 2017 JST

Today I glued the first half of the track which will separate the medium sized marbles from the large marbles. I am reasonably sure I can get it to work without too much undo/redo, but it has taken some time to get it to look like the characters put it all in place.

One slight mistake: I need to cut the end of the sticks because they stick out beyond the edge of the circle. I guess that is not bad in itself, but for now I want to keep from doing that.

cut vertical piece

Fri, 24 Nov 2017 08:37:43 +0900

I just uploaded the video that I took yesterday. At this moment, the vertical bar is cut, but I have not taken the photo for that cut. The green guy has swiped his sword, and I cut the bar, but.. let’s just say they are not poised for the shot.

Since June 2017, I have spent ~~4.444~~ 4.4+ days so far on Marble Track 3.

dual chopsticks arriving

Tue, 21 Nov 2017 13:01:35 +0900

I added about 2 seconds of footage today in 1.5 hours. Fast because a lot of it was just moving some characters around. Slow because Jennie came to sit in my lap for a bit. (I have come to accept the idea of letting her walk onto the scene; I will just take pictures of her entry… but she chose not to walk on the desk.)

Anyway, I am about to add a difficult bit to the large track, which will kinda set the stage, so to speak, for one of the small tracks, which runs nearby, and a medium sized track, which will branch off from the large track (by falling through the track. (That’s the tricky bit.))

mt3.robnugen.com

Sat, 18 Nov 2017 15:00:18 +0900

During the livestream today, I watched the (5) clips so far to see which characters have had the ability to pass through tracks. Basically it’s easier to let characters pass through tracks, but I think it would be a good subtle thing if some characters (consistently) can, and some (consistently) cannot.

Anyway, I took notes and pinned them to the blue fabric which makes the floor of the set. The character in question had not ghosted through tracks before, so I had him climb over the track again today. It’s visible near the very end of this clip.

three angled walls

Fri, 17 Nov 2017 10:46:29 +0900

Today I glued the third of three angled walls along the small marble track which will eventually catch marbles which will have rolled over the medium sized track that ends with the toothpick lock.

I have spent 4.2+ days ) so far on Marble Track 3.

1.5 hours to add three pieces

Tue, 14 Nov 2017 14:08:06 +0900

Funny to put it that way, but yeah today about 30 minutes per glued piece, if I recall correctly. I went to bed early last night and woke up early to get started on MT3.

Right now I am on the train so don’t have the clip ID handy.. oh but Chrome remembered it.

I am optimistic that the pieces I glued in place will prove to have been glued in correct enough places to stay put. Oh, and I used the dremel I got from Dad to clean up some pieces. They look nice.

added stairs in back

Fri, 10 Nov 2017 16:40:56 +0900

I have spent 4.1+ days on MT3 so far.

knocked off the stage by the big ball

Thu, 09 Nov 2017 15:43:34 +0900

I added 4 seconds of video during three.75 hours of livestreaming today; thanks to Jimmy for watching the last two!

I have spent 4+ days on MT3 so far.

started last track

Tue, 07 Nov 2017 22:57:34 +0900

I have spent 3.8+ days on MT3 so far.

started other small tracks

Mon, 06 Nov 2017 22:30:56 +0900

I have spent 3.7+ days on MT3 so far.

big curve ball

Fri, 03 Nov 2017 16:29:43 +0900

I added 13 seconds of video in 2.25 hours today!

I have spent 3.6 days on MT3 so far.

Thanks to Jimmy for watchin 2 hours today!

brought first bamboo

Thu, 26 Oct 2017 15:09:17 +0900

Here is the latest video in my marble track construction series. I added about 4 or 5 seconds to the end of the video today.

I have spent 3.5 days on MT3 so far.

22:26

grun1.com is working again.

glued first curve

Sun, 22 Oct 2017 21:13:07 +0900

I glued the first curved piece which will turn the largest marbles nearly 180 degrees.. perhaps 170.. I am not yet sure if the track will work, which kinda spooks me. In Marble Track 3, if the characters glue everything before I glue it, I won’t easily be able to test a portion of track that seems like it needs testing. aka once I glue it without testing, it will take double extra time to refilm them putting the piece in place.

got another track glued down

Fri, 20 Oct 2017 15:43:16 +0900

I bought an AC adapter to use with my camera. Today I had been able to use the battery for about 90 minutes before it conked out. The adapter was 2000 yen from Amazon, but between 6000 and 8000 yen at Bic Camera and Yodobashi Camera. How will this play out in the long term? Bic Camera connect with Amazon Buy Now inside their store? I think that is the simplest way (which Amazon would love).

glued some small track

Tue, 17 Oct 2017 12:38:59 +0900

I have spent 77+ hours on MT3 so far.

Special thanks to Jimmy for watching the Live stream nearly 3 hours today

two more rolls

Sat, 14 Oct 2017 20:19:45 +0900

I apparently did not write anything when I originally posted this, but (off the top of my head today, Sept 2nd, 2018,) I think this was back when Shikatama-san was rolling the big marble on the first track multiple times in a row but kept getting the ball knocked down the track by various antics.

The First Track

Tue, 10 Oct 2017 17:38:56 +0900

The First Track is made of two bamboo skewers. Its placement bisects the stage, and guides all the other tracks on the lowest level.

After Francois kicked the stage in place, the First Track supports were put into place by Candy Mama, who slid its supports in like hockey pucks sliding across ice. The Brothers actually placed the First Track before The First Roll.

first roll celebration

Tue, 10 Oct 2017 13:11:43 +0900

Yay they rolled a marble!

Live stream was in two parts today.

Above video shows up to the first roll
The first roll https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i9gCFg5TpqQ

I have spent 73 hours on MT3 so far.

10:23 Wednesday 11 October 2017 JST

Oh wow I really love it. The characters manically run around for a bit and it’s hard to tell what’s going on, but then they all line up for the first roll; I think it looks pretty good.

nearly ready to glue

Sat, 30 Sep 2017 20:02:01 +0900

To be honest, this is taking longer than even I expected. I need to plan ahead a bit better to put characters where the need to be to glue stuff down, etc.

I have spent 70+ hours on MT3 so far.

Two livestreams today. Above, and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZAxfzXo63I

first rails and marbles

Thu, 28 Sep 2017 15:41:47 +0900

I have spent 68+ hours on MT3 so far.

Playlist https://mt3s.marbletrack3.com/ mt3s stands for Marble Track 3 Snippets.

first rolling marble

Wed, 27 Sep 2017 00:06:51 +0900

It does not honestly make a lot of sense, but the marble rolled on the stage and the guys ran around while it spun.

I have spent 66 hours on MT3 so far.

Francois kicked the stage into place

Sat, 23 Sep 2017 21:43:13 +0900

It isn’t as smooth as I’d like, but the moment Francois kicks the stage represents about 1 hour of time spent during which I attached the upper stage to the lower stage. Connecting the upper stage was challenging enough for me, so it would have taken a silly amount of time to create footage of the pipe cleaner guys doing it.

Here are today’s livestreams:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qpeHQqscrnA up to when I let the glue dry on the circle-drawer after adding a new piece to make it a drill guide

Attached bearing to stage

Fri, 22 Sep 2017 20:35:13 +0900

Once I got the screwdriver upright, it went quite quickly to get all the screws in. Even so, it took two hours to do the screwdriver part in the video above.

Francois arrives

Fri, 22 Sep 2017 20:35:13 +0900

The playlist for Marble Track 3 now has four videos.

20:35 Friday 22 September 2017 JST

Get the helicopter up to super high speed and hovered the stage over to the right then started bringing the new stage with Francois.

I have spent 60+ hours on MT3 so far.

Bearing

Fri, 22 Sep 2017 17:38:54 +0900

The bearing is actually just a convenience for me, but has become a somewhat important part of the movie of the Marble Track 3 construction.

The first time I tried to create a stop motion animation of the construction of a marble track, I had no way to easily reach the back side of the track, which made it difficult to manipulate things without it being obvious that (other) things had moved.

finished drilling holes

Mon, 18 Sep 2017 18:12:55 +0900

Pretty sure I finished the

05:20 Tuesday 19 September 2017 JST

haha I don’t remember what I was going to write. I am pretty sure I did not finish the sentence.

I finished drilling the holes, but they may not be deep enough; yup that was it.

wrong direction

Thu, 14 Sep 2017 16:04:39 +0900

I livestreamed for just about an hour today, and added a gag related to the direction of motion. Standing on opposite sides of the circle, the direction of rotation was miscommunicated between two characters.

Here is a link to MT3 snippets playlist

I have spent 54+ hours on MT3 so far.

drilled one hole

Tue, 12 Sep 2017 11:58:07 +0900

It was a bit challenging to use the screwdriver and drillbit which are pretty heavy compared to the pipe cleaners, but I was able to get the first hole drilled, and I think I have a good system to drill the other holes in just the right places. I have glued the drillbit holder (yellow and green pipe cleaner guy) to the top of the bearing in such a way that he will hold the drillbit in the right spot for each hole simply by rotating the bearing.

screeching the bearing

Mon, 11 Sep 2017 18:35:25 +0900

Because I needed to get the bearing aligned, I did a little trope of the scratching fingernails variety as one of the characters simply pulled the bearing into place. He was not one of the characters who tried to wrangle it, but the sorta-joke is that apparently he could have done it without all the trouble of making it float, etc.

I have spent 51+ hours on MT3 so far.

rewind before Matrix

Sat, 09 Sep 2017 20:25:13 +0900

Two livestreams from today, the second one being of me trying to figure out how to copy / reverse some frames in Dragonframe, plus messing with OBS a bit. I need to add 20 minutes to the total count because I forgot to start the second live stream on time..

slow motion flip

Fri, 08 Sep 2017 11:28:11 +0900

I am really happy with this bit of the sequence. Thank you, Wachowski siblings.

I have spent 45.75 hours on MT3 so far.

beginning to wrangle

Tue, 05 Sep 2017 07:14:09 +0900

Starting livestream now. I think this is my channel so you can follow along https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHiQhB8J_KI2LYQ7dsexfLw

09:47 Tuesday 05 September 2017 JST

I have spent 44 hours on MT3 so far.

let's get ready to wrangle

Sat, 02 Sep 2017 00:15:51 +0900

I have spent 42 hours on MT3 so far.

Latest segment as of today:

They are preparing to center the spinning bearing over the stage.

setup

Wed, 30 Aug 2017 20:04:10 +0900

First step was to make a shelter to protect the project from my cat https://new.robnugen.com/journal/2017/05/30/finished-mt3-shelter/

I added lights, blue background which work well enough for my first project.

Bought a pretty good camera and stand (because the stand I tried to make was too flimsy).

Here is my current setup as of 30 August 2017:

finished drawing circle

Mon, 28 Aug 2017 19:37:20 +0900

⁂ Two videos and three or four livestreams today (and tonight).

https://youtu.be/to4mS_4E-d0

12:22 Thursday 31 August 2017 JST

begin centering bearing hasn’t finished processing, but I uploaded the video:

finished drawing circle

Sat, 26 Aug 2017 11:13:16 +0900

Last night in the middle of drawing the circle which will help me center the bearing on the stage, I had to reglue the guide which I used to show where the pen should draw along the edge, so I paused the livestream while it dried.

17:27 livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J6wzdFQO2II started drawing the circle

1:31:35 livestream: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vo_ysqq0VXc finished drawing the circle

I have spent 1 day 14 hours on MT3 so far.

Here is a link to the playlist which makes up the movies https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-KjsYc4Mb5g&list=PL0osPGt21FB48UwuhtCUoi9JndC9YDHAZ

getting to work

Thu, 24 Aug 2017 16:46:25 +0900

I have spent 1 day 8 hours on MT3 so far.

Plus whatever I spent today (4 or 5 hours across two livestreams, including the first one where I replied to Jimmy’s chats).

while ma watched

Tue, 22 Aug 2017 08:14:13 +0900

Ma watched while I added about 100 frames to the video.

00:58 Wednesday 23 August 2017 JST

I have spent 1 day 8 hours on MT3 so far.

playlist MT3 movie so far

Wed, 16 Aug 2017 22:49:51 +0900

This is the first time I published the playlist of videos. I guess there were two videos at the original time of publication.

curiosity

Tue, 15 Aug 2017 11:09:19 +0900

Turned on the rotating bearing to test it, and one character nearly came too close.

Cropped blue background

Mon, 14 Aug 2017 23:17:05 +0900

This took about an hour to do. Well an hour+ to research before I found Fusion, and then an hour to do it. I’ll just call it 2 hours.

I have spent 1 day 3 hours on MT3 so far.

The helicopter has landed

Sat, 12 Aug 2017 03:24:42 +0900

This 20 second clip took 6 hours to make.

According to the durations listed on the livestreams, I have spent 1 day 1 hour on MT3 so far.

http://www.stopmotionanimation.com/profiles/blogs/my-first-flying-object

Using thread, I suspended a bearing plate from a broom over my
set.  I did not have a good way to adjust the length of the
thread, so I used several layers of thick cloth (socks) on one
side of the broom to allow the plate to descend toward the stage.

Using Dragonframe's increments on a bezier curve, I got the plate
to do some vaguely reasonable side to side motion as it came down.

Special thanks to my friend Kai for providing the toy skeleton to
be my RC bearing plate pilot!

storyboards

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 20:34:25 +0900

20:34 Friday 11 August 2017 JST

I drew these storyboards on the day I got the remote control for DragonFrame.

Wondering how to add a blur effect

Fri, 11 Aug 2017 05:12:48 +0900

05:12 Friday 11 August 2017 JST

While preparing for my next scene, I realize I want to add a blur effect, so I introduced myself on stopmotionanimation.com because

I just came to the most technically difficult part of my movie: flying a helicopter (flat bearing thing) into the scene. I have an idea for how to rig it up with thread to simulate flight, but I want to add an effect of motion blur on the blades of my helicopter (flat bearing thing).

skeleton arrives

Tue, 08 Aug 2017 11:33:46 +0900

This is the first time the skeleton has been seen in a scene of Marble Track 3.

The livestream was 3 hours; it got split in the middle

https://youtu.be/AALQGwA44Gc

video time: 68 seconds so far

video making time: 69001 seconds ( 19 hours) so far.

finished making skeleton

Mon, 07 Aug 2017 05:26:56 +0900

Interesting to see the sun start to stream through the window at the end.

16 hours so far.

backup solution 2017

Fri, 04 Aug 2017 13:53:48 +0900

I tried getting Cyberduck to talk to Amazon S3, but could not do it as easily as I was able to get it to talk to Dream Objects S3.

Last time I used duplicity, I included GPG in the mix, so the files are encrypted. I apparently did not put the key in a safe place so they are effectively bricked.

This time, no GPG, and I have set the files to be public (but I do not know where / how people can access them). Oh, and I could not get duplicity to work.

skeleton escapades

Tue, 01 Aug 2017 11:52:05 +0900

14.5 hours so far.

started making skeleton

Tue, 25 Jul 2017 12:39:17 +0900

I started putting together the skeleton that Kai gave me as a 490 piece 3D plastic puzzle.

The livestream got interrupted

13.25 hours so far.

begin assembling the characters

Sat, 22 Jul 2017 22:09:08 +0900

I added 200 frames in 2 hours 41 minutes (which included some prep time for future frames)

12.5 hours so far

Added two frames

Fri, 21 Jul 2017 19:11:26 +0900

I added two frames to the video today. Now when the camera is knocked backward, it takes a bit of time to move.

first stage moving first stage into place

Tue, 11 Jul 2017 14:14:22 +0900

9 hours 24 minutes so far in livestreams for this thing.

got my Dragonframe bluetooth keypad

Fri, 07 Jul 2017 10:51:23 +0900

Nice.

It came with some little cards that can be used to focus, and some pages that can be used to plan scenes.. maybe I will sketch some out now.

08:11 Saturday 08 July 2017 JST

Yesterday I ended up with about 80 frames of completed video.

I might redo them from a different camera angle, but that would mean (starting over and) making a new shelf (or something) to hold the camera.

bought an extension cord for my headset

Wed, 05 Jul 2017 10:44:42 +0900

Today at Bic Camera in Lazona, I bought an extension cord for my headset. It will replace the male-to-male and female-to-female (and tiny male-to-female) extension monstrosity that I bought in Akihabara last week or so. Hopefully this will sort out the issues I had with sound in previous video.

Have a plan for the base

Tue, 04 Jul 2017 13:00:06 +0900

The livestream features some audio pops and stuff at the beginning so watch your ears.

Here is the video of just the frames of characters moving around. Red/white guy escapes the stage.

Here are all the still frames taken today:

Rabby

Sat, 01 Jul 2017 09:12:39 -0500

The movie starts with Rabby bringing in the stage, led by Squarehead. Rabby is/was my first stuffed animal from when I was a little kid.

Rabby was really hard to work with because he simply does not stand up straight. I am hesitant to string a thread through his head to hold him up, but that is basically what it takes to work with Rabby very easily.

303 frames of video

Tue, 27 Jun 2017 19:42:35 +0900

I am pretty happy with the resulting video.

Mr Greene

Thu, 01 Jun 2017 09:12:39 -0500

Mr Greene was recently named after a dot on a drawing I gave Chris a couple years ago.

15 March 2022: He is currently holding Eighteenth Placed Outer Spiral Support

29 Oct 2018: tested the small marble on the Lower Zig Zag.

finished MT3 shelter

Tue, 30 May 2017 20:46:10 +0900

Marble Track 3

Wed, 24 May 2017 11:00:43 +0900

I just bought a camera who I might name Mr Snaps. That’s the first name which came to mind. Dragonframe stop action animation software supports it.

Amazon is eating the world: I bought the camera and requested free delivery, scheduled to arrive within 21 - 25 hours from now.

started on MT3

Tue, 02 May 2017 13:32:35 +0900

And by started, I mean I mostly cleaned my desk, found a reasonable way to hold my camera, found Open Broadcaster Software, free streaming software that works on OS X, andddd made a crappy livestream.

Now I am headed out to buy a couple of helpful items.

~~glue~~
~~wall~~
~~hooks~~
~~bearings~~ (yay!)

Started Marble Track 3 (for the 3rd(?) time)

Sun, 22 Jan 2017 15:59:38 +0900

I wonder if I’ll finish it this time.

I wonder if I’ll do my crazy time-consuming version or just make a normal version.

Because we have a cat, I’m starting by creating a shelter for the track.

00:07 Tuesday 24 January 2017 JST

it all started here

Wed, 27 Jun 2007 10:07:34 +0900

27 June 2007 JST

(written 10:11 Monday 25 September 2017 JST)

Okay so it all started ten years ago. I made Marble Track 2 during my free time at work and then made this video.

People asked how I made the marble track. It’s a simple question with a simple answer. “I glued sticks together.”

I decided I should answer with a bit more detail by showing the pipe cleaner characters making the track. So this set of videos (which will eventually be one video) will answer the question about how to make the track.

About

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

Who has time to waste making one of these?

I wanted to make another Marble Track after I made Marble Track 2, but it would be a waste of time. The Internet told me so:

Frequently Asked Questions

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

FAQ

What is this?

This whole project is to answer a question that I received back in 2006 after posting Marble Track 2 online. “How did you make the marble track?” I decided I could create an elaborate stop motion video of some characters creating a track. The livestream videos on this website are to preemptively answer the question “How did you make the animation?”

Yeah, but how do you know how to make it?

Future plans

Mon, 01 Jan 0001 00:00:00 +0000

　● Triple Splitter

The bars of the Triple Splitter sort the marbles correctly, but I still need to:

make enough space for the small marbles to pass under the bar and down the Little Wiggly Track.
make a track to catch the medium marbles when they fall through the triple splitter.

　● Outer Spiral

Feeding into the Triple Splitter, the Outer Spiral will circumnavigate the entire track. Large and medium marbles will roll around the entire track in a clockwise motion (as seen from the top), and small marbles will feed into the triple splitter from the other direction, though I don’t know exactly how far around the track they will go.