How to Build a Mini Knex Ferris Wheel

This section stands upright from the flat base and will eventually hold the wheels in place.

1. 1
   Connect five purple rods, using two silver/white connectors on top and two snowflakes on the bottom. (The image in the next step will assist you.)
2. 2
   Attach three blue rods to the snowflakes. Have one facing downward and two splayed either side. Refer to the image.
3. 3
   Repeat the process to make a second standing base. You should end up with two standing bases that look the same.
4. 4
   Connect the first standing base structure to the bottom rectangular base. Criss cross with the blue base to ensure stability. See the image for direction on fixing the criss crossed piece.
5. 5
   Connect the other standing base in the same manner, on the opposite side. Once again, perform the criss cross movement to strengthen the structure.
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Here you'll make two wheels. Follow the instructions again for the second wheel.

1. 1
   Assemble the K'NEX pieces needed. You'll now need eight red rods and four purple connectors. For every two red rods, use one purple connector to connect the two together.

   • Go ahead and connect the red rods with the purple connectors. You should now have four long red rods.

Making the internal wheel star

1. 1
   Get one black connector, four blue rods and the four longer red rods you just attached together. Attach the blue and red rods to the black connector in a circular motion. Use the pattern formation of red then blue, red then blue, and so on. This is now referred to as the star.
2. 2
   Use two white tubes and insert them opposite to each other in the red slots. It doesn't matter which two red slots are used, just as long as they're opposite. Set the star aside for later use.
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Making the outer wheel structure

1. 1
   Use the dark green connector to two attach green rods to the dark green connector.
2. 2
   Connect two red connectors to each end of the green rods.

   • Make three of these "dark green attachments".
3. 3
   Use the bigger dark grey connector and two green rods with the red connectors attached to the ends, put together in the same ways as the previous step's forms. This makes the "dark grey attachment".
4. 4
   Use a silver connector and two gray rods to connect the two rods to the silver connector at the opposite ends. Make four of these "silver attachments".
5. 5
   Connect the silver attachments with the dark green attachment and the dark grey attachment. Refer to the image to help you get the formation put together accurately. It should end in a perfect circle for the wheel in the Ferris wheel.

   • Note: All of the red connectors in the wheel should be placed facing upward or outward, while the other connectors face downward or inward.
6. 6
   Go back and retrieve the inner wheel star piece that you made earlier. Attach it to the wheel using the red connectors.

   • Leave about an inch (2.5cm) of each rod of the star piece sticking out from each of the red connectors. The image will clarify this for you.
7. 7
   Check the shape. Your assembly should now have completed the first wheel. Make the second wheel by going back and repeating the steps from the beginning.
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1. 1
   Assemble the pieces needed for the spinner. You’ll need one big blue rod, 4 beige rotational connectors, two purple connectors, two yellow connectors, two red rods, one small grey rod, one mini black rod, and one tube.
2. 2
   Insert the purple connector to the blue rod at the end of the purple piece. Attach the small black rod.
3. 3
   Attach the yellow connector piece to the small black rod. On the opposite end of the yellow connector, attach the light grey rod.
4. 4
   At the opposite end of the blue rod, insert three beige rotational connectors.
5. 5
   Insert the blue rod through the middle of the yellow connector. Attach a red rod on each end of the yellow connector.
6. 6
   Slide another beige connector through the blue rod. Then:

   • Slide a tube through the blue rod.
   • Slide a purple connector through the blue rod.
   • Attach a small yellow rod to the top of the purple connector.
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1. 1
   Slide one of the wheels through the blue rod of the spinner mechanism.

   • Check that the star's spikes are facing inward.
2. 2
   Hold the first wheel in place with a beige rotational connector.
3. 3
   After sliding the wheel and holding it in place, slide in four tubes. Hold them in place with another beige rotational connector, to make room for the other wheel.
4. 4
   Slide the second wheel through the blue rod.
5. 5
   Slide another yellow connector with the red rods attached at the ends through the blue rod.
6. 6
   Use the dark green hinge to hold everything in place.

   • Check that the spacing ends of the blue rods are even.
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1. 1
   Assemble the K'NEX pieces needed. You'll need one small grey rod, one red rectangular brick, one yellow rectangular brick, two yellow connectors, two orange connectors and two orange chain clips.
2. 2
   Insert two orange connectors through the gray rod. At each end of the rod, insert a yellow connector. At the bottom of the orange connectors, place two orange chain clips.
3. 3
   Place the yellow brick on top of half of the red brick. Then attach it to the orange chain clips. Refer to the image for exactness.
4. 4
   Make seven more of these seats.
5. 5
   Affix the seats. Once you've made eight seats, attach the end of the yellow connector on the first seat to the red connectors on the wheels (start spikes).
6. 6
   Connect the remaining seven seats in the same way. When all have been attached, your Ferris wheel is almost done.The below images are to help show you what it should look like once all the seats are attached
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