Great Tidal Wave Model By Our Own ArrowGuy

Wow.....thanks everyone for your comments. They mean a lot. I was shocked to see this brought up...... I planned on submitting the pics to news since I’ve seen other models featured, so I still might. It’s good to see that Tidal Wave was an important ride to many. It was truly a special part of Great America, and seeing all the memorabilia and old commercials at the event really makes me wonder why such a greatly themed ride had to change. PGA’s is the last shuttle to remain in its original location. It still has anchors on the queue gates and waves on the exit signs! They tried to apply a 50’s theme to the area, but seem to have left the shuttle halfway done.....if the simulator hadn’t been stuck in front of it, they should have kept the nautical theming. I hope you’ll all take some time to ride it, and even though the launch technology has “taken off” with LIMs and such, we owe a lot to this team of great engineers. Anton would have been proud of the event last week. *sniff*.....I really enjoyed Montezooma’s (a newer, flywheel version) when I was at KBF, but I thought the launch ended a bit too abruptly. Nothing beats the back spike though!

I cannot forget the other great coaster modelers that have inspired me over the last 5 years. Models are a way to relive a favorite memory from a coaster or park. I find them relaxing (though I suggest working as large as space and budget allow for ease of construction!), and a great way to pass the offseason (yes we have those in the midwest!). Tidal Wave was simply my favorite ride at SFGAm, and I couldn’t pass up the chance to recreate it, even though the model represents its cousin. We are all artists in one way or another, and I hope that you’ll all find a medium that helps you bring a favorite ride to life. Whether its photography, drawing or sculpture, there is no wrong approach to interpretation.

Rollergator, I can’t for the life of me snap the ones at Americana or Holiday World! LOL. SWIMDEJ, you DO have an Xacto knife right? I think we can make something out of the old Streak bolts! Bring some glue! Heh heh.....anything is better than that darn puzzle. I wonder if it is still set up....Janfrederick & BullGuy, I have had a larger scale version in mind for a couple years. Once I get my side friction done (hopefully by Sept), and tackle the operating Demon, I plan to build a Tidal Wave, large enough to launch realistically (small models lose momentum quickly). It will have the chaser light waves, and as much detail as I can cram into it! I’ll probably launch it with a motor, even though I’ll still model a weight tower and cable. It will probably be at least 8’-10’ long. SFGAm Man, don’t go to the emergency room over this! Its just a toy! LOL. SFgadvMAN, as shown at the top of my page, I used plastic ladder from a hobby store. It has a few more ties than Schwarzkopf track would have, but when you have a track gauge of 1/4”, you need all the support you can get! It simply glues right on to 1/8” plastic tubing. V2 Fiend, it does not operate because it is so small. the train fits right over the track, and will slide for the option of positioning it differently, but that’s it. For more pics on the trip out west, see this link:
Brad's California Adventure: 8 days, 18 parks, 55 coasters, 2 TV shoots & a winner, Matterhorn!

WOW, Congratulations Arrowguy. I hope to someday build models, but I cannot get as creative as you are.

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http://sixflagsthrills.tripod.com/sixflagsthrills visit for some great thrills!
"enough is enough"-?

That is Just simply Amazing.

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Im the #1 Canobie Lake Park Fan!!!These are my top 3 coasters:
1. S:RoS @ SFNE 2. Yankee Cannonball 3. Cyclone

Brad, if anyone ever snaps those tubs at HW, you may just fall into second place....they move too slow, I can't even get a decent "pre-snap swing".

I got a bunch of spins on KBF's Monte during ERT, me and Elliot Fong in the backseat. Finally, we convinced a few employees to ride with us, and once we got them "hands up" through the backwards loop, they were HOOKED. The back spike provides some serious air on the drop back into the station.....

A good friend Steve re-worked the model of Phoenix for Knoebel's (the one out in front of the ride)....yet to see how his work turned out.

Arrow Guy-Great model! I always loved the Tidal Wave at Great America in Gurnee and I look forward to the day when I can get out to PGA to ride theirs to "relive" the glory. I have one question though. How did you get the model to California? Did you ship it? Did you bring it as a carry-on item onto the plane? Did you have to check it in at the airport? What did the airport security think of it?

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Bob Hansen

A proud CoasterBuzz Member

"So you think your'e really brave, gonna see the DEMONS cave.
You silly dude, your'e only food, for the DEMON"

Gator, that's good to hear about Phoenix. Supposedly a schoolgroup had done it initially (or so I was told), and trying to hotglue model RR flex track just doesn't work! They did a great job with the structure and trains. John Hunt should be at PPP with a couple of his models. He did a Phoenix, but I believe that was sold. Bob, I sent it Fed Ex overnight because it was too long for a carry-on, and I wanted as few people handling it as possible. Quite pricey though! I can only imagine what the airport would have said.
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Brad Sherman
"Thanks for riding Tidal Wave and enjoy your day at Marriott's Great America!"
Model coasters and rides

That looks sweet. I wish I could build something like that someday. I am still working on my own Raptor model, which will probably take forever. I am just gathering the materials right now.

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Cedar Point vs. SFMM-like 15 isnt enough?