Hello, I am new to this forum. I am only thirteen and me and my dad have tried building model roller coasters before, with no luck tho.
I figure that our wooden model will be built out of:
Supports- Balsa wood
Rails- Plastruct
The trains: This is where I need help. I figure styrene for the car but the wheels are really confusing me... I don't understand ball bearings at all and if anyone can tell me what to buy for the wheels and how to build a model train (I have yet to decide our gage, I figure probably and O gage.)
Then when I figure out the train I need to figure a way to make the train fit snug into the track, and I need track consitancy. This is all tough for me, anything you guys have to say would help and would be appreciated.
The chain lift: I have my knex chain lift still and I should be fine with this....
Station: I think I have this covered with a braking system involving magnets and a slight down hill slope so when the magnets drop down the train will roll forward into the chain lift...

Question... Everyone refers to Chris Brewer's sight, and everytime I click the link it goes to a weird search engine deal ?????

obviously the roller coaster will be operating...

Thanks,
Throne

Extremely small ball bearings are available, but they're not cheap. Also, if you're building your trains out of styrene, you're probably going to have a bit of a problem with them being too light- not enough mass= valleying.

Do you or your father have experience with soldering brass? I'd strongly consider making at least a framework for the trains out of brass for durability and the extra mass.

As far a s track design goes, are you wanting function as well as scale fidelity? If you are, you're going to have quite a bit of work. If not, you might check out the model railroad section at a good hobby shop- many gauges of model railroad offer "flex track," which are bendable sections of track. It won't be that correct in appearance, but it will help with building the track a lot.

You can get some of the tiny ball bearings, but be prepared to cough up some dollars, and more than a few. For what you're doing, i think I'd make my own axles with solid bearings, but that's just me.

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My friend worked on a coaster model made out of balsa about 6 years ago and it still works today. Here is a link to a thread where he tracked his progress... http://www.thrillnetwork.com/boards/...ter-model.html

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Thanks,
Can anyone tell me what I will need and how to build a train. I am really confused at that and i am confused at plastruct's web site... can anyone tell me what me and my dad should order to get started?
Thanks,
Throne

bump... to the top

Out of my nearly ten years of being here, how many times has THIS thread popped up? The next post by him will be, "well, we decided it was too hard. Sorry everyone."

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