Building a Model Coaster
I have built multiple working model coasters. However, mine are all wood. I use balsa wood, for the structure,hand rails and part of the trains. I use very ver thin sheet metal for the to top rails and side rails, and small wheels for the trains. The trains are made of cardboard, wood, and the wheels mounted to makeshift axels. Hope I could be of some help. Good luck.
T.Bupp. . .The cardboard and balsa wood trains actually have enough momentum to complete a course? What scale do you build in? I have been planning on building a model wooden coaster but I haven't quite decided on the details. Particulary in the track construction. I didn't think that building accurate wooden coaster track would result in a satisfactorily working model. I've toyed with using model railroad track and even using a system like the Bandai Spacewarp track. I am into model railroading but of course had to have added a small amusement park to the layout. I started with the IHC HO scale carnival models and eventually scratchbuilt a couple flat rides and other attractions (miniature golf, train ride, kiddie circle rides, etc.) I would love to add a coaster but I am afraid of an HO scale (1/87) A 80 foot tall lift hill would be just about 11 inches high. I am thinking that this is too small to really provide the train with enough momentum to complete the course. I don't want to go much larger because of limited real estate on the layout.
When the Phoenix was rebuilt at Knoebles a local school built a scale replica. I'd say it's about HO size and it's pretty big. The lift is about a foot tall or so and it's about 3-4 foot long.The track is N scale the cars were carved from blocks of wood. It never ran but it did look cool when it was new. I just wish Knoebels took better care of it. The tracks are coming off everywhere the station roof is down and there is dust everywhere on it. It was a really nice model when it was new.
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Parks hit for 2000!
PKD,BGW,Knoebels,DP,HP,PKI,HW,SFKK,SFA, Camden, SFO,CP,WL,IW,KW,BP
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Parks hit for 2000!
PKD,BGW,Knoebels,DP,HP,PKI,HW,SFKK,SFA, Camden, SFO,CP,WL,IW,KW,BP
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