Theme Park Discussion / Model Roller Coaster

A friend of mine (non NE member) and I, inspired by the content on NE and by roller coasters in real life, have decided to attempt to make a model. This, like many of the things we've attempted, will probably fail miserably. (Our first math project in Algebra 2 was to build a parabola that would heat a cup of water at the focus. Let's just say it didn't even look like a parabola.) But it's worth a try right?

I told him we wouldn't start till after I finish PT3, so were just starting to do preliminary sketches and stuff.

We're having trouble with the theme though. We know we're going to make a wooden coaster, and we know it will be themed in such a way that it will look like some of the quality stuff at NE, and we also know we would like to include a flat ride, and a water ride (log flume or rapids, probably). The coaster itself will be a general out and back that looks something an 'L', with the short end of the 'L' interacting with the flat ride and water ride. We've narrowed it down to 3 themes:

-Western (classic woody)
-Natural (simple with plenty of flowers and trees)
-Ye Olde Europe (13 century-ish)

Which one sounds best?

Any advice that anyone can contribute would be greatly appreciated.

I'd say start simple and go from there. So, classic/simple woodie will be best and easiest to accomplish.

I tried making a Superman: The Escape coaster for my physics class in high school, but I went with a simple out-n-back/twister woodie due to the fact I that couldn't get the electronics to work properly for the magnets. Maybe I'll attempt it in a bigger scale with my K'Nex.

It won't be a working model, that's just too complex at the moment.

Me and my friend have decided to go with a simple theme. We've scapped the water ride, but not the flat ride, and we've decided to call it Star-Rider.
Will post pics soon.

I've heard that bass wood works well for wooden coasters. I imagine it probably would, since balsa is a bit too soft, imo.

Finally, some pictures.

A model of the model made in RCT2 (if that makes any sense). I tried to get it as close as possible to what I really wanted.


Comments and critisism on the layout would be much appreciated.

Edited by Xin, 20 September 2007 - 07:06 PM.

If you're going to waste your time building something with wood, firstly, why model it after rct which is (in different ways) more limited. Secondly, the layout isn't spectacular by a long shot. I'd say, if you do decide to model it after something in rct take a look around, take some elements off of coasters that you really like or take your time and really get a good design for it.