Replicas

I just saw the Millenium Force replica on the Cedar Point shop and I had to purchase it. It looks amazing and would be a great item for anyone's collection. Does anyone think they will make replicas of any other coasters? I would buy a replica of TTD and Maverick ASAP :)
*** Edited 12/29/2006 2:40:18 AM UTC by JackLovesTTD***

Maverick would make a good replica. Though I liked an idea someone came up with some time ago about selling collectable die-cast replicas of the trains of some of the coasters, much like what they do with cars, planes, etc.

I've been trying to figure out how to make free rolling scale model of the Intamin rocket roller coaster cars somewhere between 1:12 and 1:24. The problem keeps coming back to machining equipment and fine craft skill. I've got decent skill but I need more. Also no mini CNC mill, lathe, metal saw, ect for the fine machining of metal and plastics.

I've got magnetic braking almost where I want it except for machining the calipers for the magnets. The problem is they need to be strong for their size and not bend under the high force between the neodymium iron boron magnets.

Through experimentation, I've found that Copper, Aluminum, and Brass are not at all attracted to the magnets, but all cause braking. Copper causes the most braking, Aluminum causes moderate braking, and Brass causes some but not much braking. This could be applied in that copper does the bulk braking while Aluminum and Brass do the finer braking where more control is needed. The issue I had was with finding the best solution to making the eddy currents form to the point where they are useful. I've found several ways to get good braking. The calipers that the real coaster are nice because they are not affected much by metals that are attracted to the magnets that are placed close by.

The track is another issue. It's really a balance between cost and realism. Realistic track made with steel is extremely expensive. Figuring a way to make it with plastic and still look realistic is what I'm looking for.

Can we at least wait until Maverick opens before making a replica of it. ;)

^^Good luck making you model JTC. What your planning sounds cool.....and technical.....

If I made a model, it would be something cheap, easy, and yet effective looking. I'd most likely make the track out of small wooden dowels and the train from a mix of wood, clay and plastic. Of course it wouldnt move, it would just be for looks.

In fact, I think I might do one to pass the off season.

Thanks. This is more of a long term project that is on the drawing board right now. Given the money to buy the raw materials and tools, I could probably do this in a matter of 6 months to a year. Personally, I'm not able to invest the amount needed to do so in a short period of time so I'll have to settle for little by little. While this project is quite technical in nature, I enjoy working with the details.

I've got the stuff for the brakes almost all set except for the piece to hold the calipers together. I actually made one of those wooden cars for kids to build for racing to test the magnetic braking in a somewhat different design. Works like a champ. I used a different design that doesn't need calipers though.

My goal for the project is more on the electrical and operational side. The braking is one step. I want to integrate drive tires and retractable brakes as well as a launch.

Of course the model will be electronically controlled with a computer interface that a friend of mine sells. He designed it for model railroading, but it's flexible enough to be used in place of a PLC for a much lower cost.

I've been wanting to get one of his maxi nodes for a while. I can use that for several other things. Changing it over is as easy as swapping a few plugs and running a different program.

Jason Hammond said:
Can we at least wait until Maverick opens before making a replica of it. ;)

No

When they do make a maverick model i'm buying it for my shrine thing.(it's alot cheaper than roller coaster models.com)