Scale Amusement Park Models

Hey, I just thought I'd like to share some interesting things here with everyone. Basically myself and a friend own over 30 different functionally HO scale amusment rides(some which you might reconize from your home park or local carnivals that have come through your town), and what we do is travel around the WNY(Western New York) area to different show's and setup a display of all our rides. For some of you, you may have seen these mini model flat rides before and maybe some of you might have never seen such a thing in your life till now. But to make a long story short here, I'd just like to show all of you's somthing cool that I think you would all enjoy. Yes we have a fully functional Roller Coaster, we hope to next next build a new coaster from scracth which we've already designed on No Limits.

Feel free to click on the link under my signature to check it out. To see the photo gallery's click on "Models" up in the toolbar and you can see how we've evolved over the past years right up to our last one we had in November. I'd love to hear your comments or remarks any and all good or bad i'll accept ;)

Amazing models! Great work guys. I wish you could bring it to the South!

There are other good ones out there..

• Cummons Scale Amusements Inc.
• John Hunt's Roller Coaster Models

And there are others out there, too. Note: the Roller Coaster Models are not functional. Most (if not all) of Cummons' models are functional though.

AGI does some nice work, I've delt with them, and own one of their Balloon Race models.

John Hunt does great work, and he's a cool guy, I've dealt with him as well. I also have stuff on order from Cummons.

Their aren't too many people in this hobby but it's alot of fun.

Oh, just a note.. John Hunt was the one who built the Blue Streak model in the Town Hall Museum @ CP. You can find photos on his site that I linked above (as well as in person once the park opens ;) )

Don't forget CMG Models although his wooden roller coasters are static models they are the most realistic and detailed ones I've ever seen. He also sells his models to parks for when they make announcements on new rides and to show the public what's in store for next year.

I think his coolest model has to be Gwazi although it is one of the few I didn't see with my own eyes. The pictures of it just look crazy.

He's also selling a model of the Idora Park Wildcat if anyone is interested.

sfdldan I have been interested in building a model rc for awhile. I work with autocad and have come up with some crazy but IMHO sweet looking coaster. I was just wondering what kind of materials you use such as track rail and supports, And where you get them. Would like some input. I discovered that Popcicle sticks really doen't worl as weel as i thought they would. Thanks

Well there is a company called Faller that makes tons of different types of scale models typically HO scale. As well do they have a huge variety of flat rides, they do have two different Roller Coaster kit's one is a WildMouse style with the quick turns and the other is More like a Schwarzkopf.

You could buy one kit and build it the way the model is suppose to be, but with the right enginnering, design, trail & error it is possible to make what ever you want. One thing though is the train is on rollers so its not totally impossible to make a loop but your asking for trouble though if you want one the most you can make is a vertical loop with this track but it has to has more than its average speed to make it through so it dont fall off the track midway. If were to go along with making your own design then your best bet would have to be customizing all the supports more less of of solid plastic or if you wanted to pay up the cash for thin poles of wood. It's really up to you.

But none-the-less is a very time consuming project its not going to happen over night let alone in one week. My friend built the coaster we have now and I tell you I've heard more than enough horror storys about how painstakingly long it took for the model to run as smoothly as it does. Also I'll note other modelers have always stated that they have a hard time getting it to running properly and other's couldnt it the coaster to run the corse at all(that being the layout faller give's in the instructions). If you ever plan to attempt one in the near future feel free to email my partner or myself. You can contact us through our site, we could give you tips, and help were possible and offer what we know. So pretty much it's possible to make your own ride, but don't let those tales of horror scare you at all.

Patience grasshoper Patience ;) *** Edited 1/25/2005 3:22:28 PM UTC by SFDLdan***

Oh yes, that Big Dipper from Faller is a pain, but not as bad as their Wild Mouse IMO. It was kind of fun to build, but did take alot of time. It's great looking, and I got it to work after alot of experimenting. I had to add a large magnetic brake (magnet from Radio Shack) at one point on the track to slow the train and keep it from jumping the tracks. I also had trouble with it pulling into the station correctly, it usually needs a push by hand to reach the lift again, still havn't been able to correct that, but at least it stays on the track for the most part....(fingers crossed...ride however has not been run in months...hoping it still works when I try to set up the park again soon)

We did have a Wild Mouse at one point but we sold it off in the end it was used for nothing more than a spot filler and cause of all the light's it had it was a good eye catcher. But also the storys I've heard building those cars are a pain in the rump and getting it to run properly wasnt a walk in the park.

Guys,

Nice work. I too build models. For anyone in the Rochester, NY area that is unaware there are two operational models I have running. One was purchased by the Rochester Museum and Scinece Center. It is on permanent display and is fully operational. The second model you can see is located at Ridge Road Station in Holley, NY (about 1/2 hour west of Rochester) This model is bigger than the one at RMSC and is also fully functional. The one at RMSC is a sit down model while the one at RRS is an invert that uses a spiral lift. They are built out of copper tubing and brass rod.

Click the link in my sig for pics of my amusement park model. I focus mainly on classic flats most of which are scratchbuilt, but I've been planning a wooden roller coaster for a while now. I just haven't completely been able to work out all the details - anybody got a set of blueprints for the Bertrand Island Wildcat?

Very awessome millrace, I love the shot's you took having the camera on the base it looks like pretty damn amazing amost to real, I love to use that camera angle when taking picture's of our layout's. I think it gives it that pa-zaaz factor.

Especially when you take the pics outside and have real trees, houses and sky in the background (although it would have been even better if I did it at time when there were leaves on the trees to match the model trees!)