Roller Coaster Models...for beginners

I have wanted to create my own wooden roller coaster model for a while now, and I finally asked my dad about it. He said it was a great idea.

My first question is what kind of materials would I need. Would popcicle sticks be sufficient for supports, or another kind of wood?

What do you model-makers use for the rails?

Where could I find cars for trains?

What scale are most models reduced to?

I hope this isn't too many questions, but I'm just really stoked that I'm going to be able to make a model. I don't know what coaster I'm going to model yet. I think that a coaster like SOB or Mean Streak might be to ambitious, but a coaster like Blue Streak would be smaller than I want to model.

Fellow model-makers, please help me out with some of this information.

Thanks :)

check out this web site,it might help a little bit.
http://carnivals.cybercities.com/models/models.html

search for models here, I've seen several threads on this subject before.

I wouldn't use popcicle sticks un less you were to build a really large model. I'd stick with strips of basswood. I'm currently constructing an operating junior woodie. It's roughly "HO" scale (1/87) but I made some concessions to make it fit into a certain size space and to make operable. I picked that scale for several reasons. I have a model railroad layout in that scale; I have several other amusement rides built in that scale; it is a common size and easy to find accessory items (people, etc). I picked the track gauge to be N scale (1/160) because I plan to use the truck assemblies from N scale model train cars as the basis of the coaster train. I originally planned to use N scale railroad rails for the coaster track but I am rethinking that because I'm not sure it is flexible enough to bend the way I need it too. I've been experimenting with different sizes of wire. Of course, if you don't pan to make it operational then contruction is much simpler! I've often considered building a wooden coaster structure around a Bandai Spacewarp kit and constructing a coaster car to fit over the ball bearings, anybody ever try something like that?

CPgenious,check out rollercoastermodels.com lots of info there but, most or all of the techniques are for non operational models. Hope it helps.

Yeah I already looked at that site, but I want to build a working coaster. What do people that make working models use for cars so they can complete the course?