409 replies to this topic

[bfolla06]

Hey everybody
My name is Brian Folland some of you may remember me as sscoasterfan. I am a long time K'nex coaster bulder, but a few years back i sold my three sets (bad idea).

a few days ago i was really missing my k'nex, so i decided to build a real roller coaster (it was kind of a random desecsion and nobody beleved me when i told them), but I am now 4 days into construction and i am very pleased with the progress.

I know this is a model roller coaster website, but i was hoping i could share this news with you anyways. As long as this tread is allowed to stay on here, tomorrow i'm planning on uploading a picture of my current progress.

But more about the coaster...
it is a wooden coaster. directly out of the station will be the first drop. Its hard to tell the hieght because it drops intoa ravine, but i estimate 30 ft or so. I already have 8 ft of track laid, and tomorrow i should be able to put in 8 more. also, i have a very basic car completed. it is bascially a seat with wheels, but the wheels are well built and include side and up-stops. I have already pured 400 lbs of concrete and probably 100 ft. boards.

the main reason i posted this was because iu know in the future i'm going to need some advice and back in the day i could always trust the people of sscoasters.

Thanks for reading, and i appologise about the leght... hope to have pictures for you guys tomorrow evening...

[Antinos]

Great to have you back. I can't wait to see the pix. Do you have any ideas for a layout? I hope that your coaster is smooth and people will enjoy riding it.

[Shamu]

Sounds great so far. We don't have ravines in Florida; all our coasters need lift hills to start. Good luck to you.

[ssfan313]

Wow, it's been a long time. I think I remember you though. Didnt you build a rollercoaster going down your stairs?

[Chaos]

I think he started a hyper right before he disappeared. It sounds very interesting. If you finish it, will you let us get on if were in your area?

[TwistedDreams]

Your name looks vegually familiar. Anyway, this sounds cool. It'd be cool to see it interact with the terrain.
Good luck.
-TD

[Jogumpie]

I hope you don't end up like that German boy:
http://coasterbuzz.c...d&TopicID=42836
Europa Park offered him a job though, plus he was allowed to set up his lifthill in the park... as scenery.

[Shamu]

Just be sure to get a building permit.

[RCT2123]

yep....this sounds freaking awesome. I hope that you keep us updated regulary...can't wait to see it and Good Luck!....

[coasterguy]

that sounds absolutely awesome, i'll definitely want to be kept up to date with this one.

also it's nice to see you around again, I remember you were the first to send a knex model in for my website like 3 years ago. I still remember your coaster, Phoenix II:

[Spinout]

^The images don't work. They say remote linking forbidden.
NVM, they work now.

[Shamu]

They work fine for me. Construct your backyard coaster a little better than your SS coasters .

[Zorn]

This sounds awesome a backyard roller coaster i wish i had one of those. Good luck with this (you must have lots of money to build this) Can't wait for some pics.

^^^The pics work fine for me

[ssfan313]

Ohhhh, you are the person I remember! I loved your models back in the day. It's nice to see you around again.

[bfolla06]

They work fine for me. Construct your backyard coaster a little better than your SS coasters .

Hey now... that was like my second or third custom model, but i'm am gonna try to build it a little better

Yes.. I was the one who built vertical velocity (on the stairs).

No, i don't have a building permit, but the coaster is hidden back in the woods, so i think it'll be safe... I hope anyway

And yes everybody is invited to ride it when it's complete... i live in western New York.

I don't have much money at all that is my biggest problem... i'm a poor college kid, but my dad has a lot of lumber around and i have a birthday coming up, so i will be able to keep constructing steadily.

I was able to work on my coaster today... i cemented in another post (now have used 480 lbs of concrete) and laid another 8 feet of track (now have 16ft). i took some pictures and they look really good, but i couldn't find the cable to transfer them. I'll have pictures tomorrow for sure.

i was wondering what the average angle of decent is on a wooden coaster. The angle on mine is abot 50 degrees i think this is pretty close to a real one.

Thanks for the warm welcome guys and its really good to be back. I'll keep you all posted and suggestions are always welcome.


One more thing... I still don't have a name for this coaster, and if anybody has any ideas i'd love to hear em'

[TwistedDreams]

^Don't go to much over 50*. And think about EVERY ASPECT before you build it. As in don't f-up the pull-ups and have to redo it, that'd really suck.
That's all the advice I have...
woopie...
-TD

[Antinos]

I have a name idea. You could call it Backcountry because of the trees and the ravine. If you want to go over the top and do a logo, you could have two trees and a snowmobile track that goes inbetween them in a kind of S shape. That would looks sweet.

[bfolla06]

so far, things have been going smoothly with no major screw ups, but i am expecting one or two big mistakes that will have to be redone.

the current angle is somewhere between 45 and 50 degrees, and is not going to get any steeper.

and i like the name backcountry and the idea for a logo... but more ideas are always welcome.

but anyways... today construction continued another post was put in supports were added to the main structure which stiffened up the whole track a lot (it's just like building a big k'nex coaster).

I have some pictures these are from yesterday and there are two more posts in the ground since then but this will give you the idea of what is being built and a little bit of the surrounding terrain. I'll try to get some more pictures tomorrow when it'll be a bit lighter.


Tomorrow i am going to the lumber store to get more supplies and will be able to lay at least another 8 feet of track... hopefully pictures tomorrow...

enjoy the pics...

[CP-ephY]

Why are your ties under the rails. They should be attatched so they are level with the rails. The upstop wheels are going to hang right on the edge of the track otherwise, which is potentially dangerous. The car looks nice though. My suggestion is an easy fix so I think you should take it into consideration.

[bfolla06]

I know it would be better if i could get the ties to go in the center, but i would need twice the lumber to make the track sturdy enough. I have set the car on the track and allowed it to roll along, no wheels hit and it is firmly on the track. thanks for the suggestion i will keep it in mind if i do run into trouble witht the track.

I have another question for you guys tho. i know on real wooden coasters there is some kind of metal that that the car's wheels ride on. I figured that tthis was just a thin layer of tinor something to smooth out the connections in the track. but does anybody know for sure what this is for?