Luke's Projects

Luke's Projects

Siege Equipment

Models

Games

Miscellaneous

Past, present and future creations. Mangonel Dalek Javscript-based Harmonograph

Front Page Trebuchet Maglev The Bonus Box Arcade machine

Links Roller Coaster Raft Race

Model Roller Coaster

Video of the Roller Coaster (Google videos)

My roller coaster so far

This is the prototype, with the intention to design and make a much large more complex roller coaster some time in the future. I've used several different designs of track and most of them are present on this prototype in one place or another, allbeit a small section which I didn't get around to replacing.

The entire coaster (except for the lift-hill mechanism) is made out of lolly sticks , purely because they were the cheapest form of wood which I thought would be up the to job. 2000 lolly sticks costs Ł10! Even the track is made out of them, since my attempts to use anything else have failed. I use a cup of very hot water to 'steam' the lolly sticks, after being in the cup of near-scolding water for about a minute they lolly sticks are very bendy, I simply bend them to the required shape and leave them to dry.

However, in order for the truck to make it all the way around the circuit, I have had to weight it down with blu-tack and coins. This has resulted in a non-functioning lift mechanism, which will need to be fixed before I can really call this coaster a sucess.

Coaster, Version 2 The second prototype (the working version is actually my third attempt). I was using OO/HO gauge model railway 'flexitrack' which, although fantastic for bending into complex corners and bends for home made railways, wasn't design to bend up and down and it completely warped the lolly stick frame out of shape. Also, the amount of glue needed to hold it in place completely clogged up the rails.

Once I've finished the lift hill, and tidied the coaster up I'll create a more in-depth "how to" guide on making your very own home made model roller coaster and some more photos!

Luke's Projects	Siege Equipment	Models	Games	Miscellaneous
Past, present and future creations.	Mangonel	Dalek	Javscript-based	Harmonograph
Front Page	Trebuchet	Maglev	The Bonus Box	Arcade machine
Links		Roller Coaster		Raft Race

Model Roller Coaster
Video of the Roller Coaster (Google videos)

This is the prototype, with the intention to design and make a much large more complex roller coaster some time in the future. I've used several different designs of track and most of them are present on this prototype in one place or another, allbeit a small section which I didn't get around to replacing.
The entire coaster (except for the lift-hill mechanism) is made out of lolly sticks , purely because they were the cheapest form of wood which I thought would be up the to job. 2000 lolly sticks costs Ł10! Even the track is made out of them, since my attempts to use anything else have failed. I use a cup of very hot water to 'steam' the lolly sticks, after being in the cup of near-scolding water for about a minute they lolly sticks are very bendy, I simply bend them to the required shape and leave them to dry.
However, in order for the truck to make it all the way around the circuit, I have had to weight it down with blu-tack and coins. This has resulted in a non-functioning lift mechanism, which will need to be fixed before I can really call this coaster a sucess.

	The second prototype (the working version is actually my third attempt). I was using OO/HO gauge model railway 'flexitrack' which, although fantastic for bending into complex corners and bends for home made railways, wasn't design to bend up and down and it completely warped the lolly stick frame out of shape. Also, the amount of glue needed to hold it in place completely clogged up the rails.
Once I've finished the lift hill, and tidied the coaster up I'll create a more in-depth "how to" guide on making your very own home made model roller coaster and some more photos!