Wooden Roller Coaster Model

Minnesota Avalanche working scale model wooden roller coaster. Model is 1/32nd scale, 40 feet long and 33 inches tall, and includes motorized chain lift and fully-operational skid brakes. Hand-crafted in spruce and basswood.
The story of how and why I built this can be found in an old issue of Roller Coaster Magazine, which is published by the American Coaster Enthusiast Club. The issue is RC! 66 from the summer of 1998. Visit www.aceonline.org and tab to "publications" for more info.
I hope to have news regarding a new coaster model sometime in 2013.

[@BillWillyBillyBill]

This is easily one of the best wood models I've every seen on the internet. For those who might have missed it, I noticed 3 things that impressed the hell out of me. First, is the speed of the motorized left vs. the speed of the ride (consistant). Second is the speed of the total ride (consistant). Third and most importantly, just listen to how smooth the ride is. Will Pitts should be building the real ones; because he's an engineering MASTER!

[@greeneyesv2]

amazing craftmanship. just a small pity the cars run sooo fast along the track. . . .

[@RICKYTULL44]

I have always wanted to hand make one of these over the years but havent put on my motivational thinking cap yet? I have NEVER EVER EVER EVER seen such a "MASTER PIECE" in my entire life until NOW. I have been building furniture, cabinets, and doing woodworking professionaly for over 20 years, and this is the most skilled thing that I've ever seen handmade !!!! Mr Pitts ..... You are amazing!!!!

[@karencrewe435]

This is Brilliant Will sounds like a coaster to!

[@BillWillyBillyBill]

Oh, and how could I forget about those SKID BREAKS!!! Awesome...

[@ONCEbittenTWICEshyshyshy]

Jesus christ!, imagine if full size coasters went that fast! the g-force would snap your spine and neck. Awesome model

[@indycurt1]

Remarkable work! I've never seen any better. This is absolutely amazing. You are truly an artist. I love the sound it makes too, sounds like a real roller coaster! Only negative would be there is no one sitting in the front car. That is the most popular car on the ride. I've waited an extra 30 minutes just to get the first car on a coaster. Please put someone in the first car on your next one. Best, Curt

[@ready4anyting]

11 years ago I was working for Ripley's BION in Ocean City Maryland, where this nice piece of engineering marvel can be seen. I was the one appointed in maintaining it. The strangest thing on the maintenance of this roller coaster was the break system that stopped the carriages at the end of the round. Never could figure out what material was it made of.

[@furgulley8077]

rollercoaster 1 looks too intense for me!

[@simonpurple6072]

Rct? If so lmao XD

[@dominomasters104]

Fur Gulley Lmao planet coaster

[@dominomasters104]

Simon Purple why did you put lmao it is LMAO

[@devinkayrit397]

Domino Masters It's because he or she uses proper grammar.

[@sidlaurencecortez]

HAHAAHAHA

[@SonickxxVision]

That point of view from the rollercoaster is wicked.

[@ready4anyting]

I remember those good old times in the summer of 2006 when I worked on repairing this awesome piece of art and engineering, and now I am glad that somebody really did it.

[@LesFarrington]

a slow motion video would be an awesome way to show off this magnificent piece of work. i started a model in my parents garage in 1978. it was THE COMET from the state fair grounds in dallas texas. its long gone but was my first roller coaster and it really was a great ride. i wish i had kept working on it. you have something there that is a part of your soul. superb. lets see, 2 decades? if i start now id be 75 years old.....darn. building model roller coasters is a lot like planting trees.....you either start now or you start 20 years ago.

[@ammoguy5]

I Love Roller Coasters. Great job Building This one!

[@Latexghost]

I love the sound it makes.

[@jddays6963]

Instead of the avalanche they should call it the speed demon cause man it goes fast

[@CairnTerrier69]

Wow!!! You built a near replica of the Mountain Flyer that once ran at Mountain Park in Holyoke Mass. Great work....100% impressed!

[@001GenLee]

I'm speechless! That looks to be what they call an out & back coaster.

[@WillPitts11]

Thanks for the kind comments. The skid brakes were made from original prints that were sent to me by Tom Rebbie from the Philadelphia Toboggan Company. I am very thankful that I had a lot of help from a lot of people in building this first model. I'm going to build a replica of the Comet from Fontaine Ferry Park, and hope to at least start on the cars this winter.

[@rleni59]

Very nice. I am amazed at the size and quality of the work.

[@robj7481]

Impressive! My only frustration with miniatures is that they don't move to scale. It's like everything is in fast motion.

[@WillPitts11]

Thank you for your comment. Unfortunately, we can't scale the forces of gravity and friction.

[@thecoasterconnoisseurs837]

Ikr.

[@sethdove8847]

Slow it down using youtube settings

[@DaarthPingas]

Is there any way to help it by using lighter trains?

[@user-uq1fq6gs3i]

dog Heavier*

[@Joedog300]

I greatly admire this guys work and I bet this was very difficult to build, but I just think its funny how it takes 2 decades to make a mini coaster, and a year or less to make a real one

[@markdemelo7643]

Wow freaking insane i can't even come close to imagining how u had the patient's or the know how to pull off something so mind blowing as this. I actually got the same feeling as i do seeing a real one, it even sounds good. Congrats my brother it's a true masterpiece, a work of art.

[@WillPitts11]

Thank you for the kind comments. I have started my new model, and I dearly hope it does not take 20 years!

[@MattPerk7]

Thumbs up for POV! This is real impressive, good stuff

[@waynepoint]

This is one of the coolest things I've ever seen awesome job dude.

[@DAOzz83]

This is simply beautiful.

[@smignosa]

awesome, it's pretty cool, love the functionality, the art, and appreciate all the time you took to make it, please post more vids.

[@ochgottnochma]

thx for putting the digi-cam in the roller coaster.

[@mazzymountain]

nice. the details are sweet (skid board breaks? right on!) ...this truely is a work of art. props 2 u!

[@Donster1213]

This is like thunder road at carowinds. Good Job

[@Nerdydolfin]

Wow that is REALLY realistic. It's amazing!

[@briansherling5515]

Beautiful craftsmanship. You gotta be overflowing with pride. I’m going to do a screen video capture and slow it down to scale. You should post a slow motion video. Really show it off.

[@WillPitts11]

Dear Mr. Sherling, Thank you for the kind comments! I have been meaning to post a slow-down video but just never got around to it. Sincerely, Will Pitts

[@joshuawells4842]

Why does no one in the comments understand that scaling down a coated doesn’t scale down gravity?! That’s why it looks so fast!

[@matanggonzales]

Stunning! - a true visionary. What a talent

[@indyracingnut]

This looks exactly like the same layout as the Rebel Yell coaster at Kings Dominion in VA. (Except the real life one has two tracks) Nicely done!

[@anthonybarnsley4812]

Brilliant! Amazing effort.

[@imanopenfire]

That was sick! What an awesome job!

[@WillPitts11]

@robotandlegolover Thanks for your comments. It's really loud because of the enclosure, which was built by the Science Museum of Minnesota. I started building the first section in my mom's basement when I was in high school. I then took that section to college and worked on it in my dorm. In all, there are 5 sections (each 8ft long) that clamp together. Technically, it's mobile but practically, it's a pain to move.

[@WillPitts11]

@JATO457 Being my first attempt at a model, I tried to put a slight bank on the turn but I did not know that the train would be going as fast as it goes. The curve is banked, but only about 5 or 7 degrees. I'll have better banking on the next model. With the skid brake, I learned that you can't scale friction so in the future I'll have to experiment with different materials in order to get the deceleration over a longer span. Your comments are on point. Thanks and have a great day.

[@XMetallicaAXxx]

WOW THAT"S INCREDIBLE! Your amazing!

[@WillPitts11]

So true...When I started the model in my mother's basement, I had no idea what I was doing. The first section traveled to college with me as I worked on it as I found time. The section traveled with me to my apartment when I graduated from college. I eventually bought a home so I could have privacy to work on the project. Realities of work and other real life issues got in the way of working on the model 100% of the time. And on a real coaster, you have an entire "crew" working on it...

[@DreamOceanChannel]

WOW ! That's a great work !

[@mdscms]

You are the master! This is the most beautiful and most amazing hand-crafted coaster out on KZbin. I have built marble coasters, (and you can see them on my page) but they do not hold a candle to this gorgeous work of art. I applaud you! No one will surpass this coaster's intricate details. Fabulous!

[@tff1293]

very cool, it looks perfect.

[@zoup2nutz]

this looks similar to the layout of boulderdash at lake compounce in connecticut. good job man!

[@AndrewJustin00]

Awesome, Dude!

[@TheFischin]

I like how it takes longer to build a model then the real thing

[@mellesick]

this is just awesome!

[@SkyKid8492]

You are awsome. it is very impressive. It reminds me of a rollercoaster I road in real life

[@WillPitts11]

@JATO457 Thanks for your ideas. I'll keep in touch once I get going on the next model. I have the design completed, but I don't plan to start building until sometime next year.

[@itiseragon]

He could have just spent 12. (i.e. 1989-2001) and that would make it over "three decades" in some people's eyes, but on here it says 1998 is when he either started or finished, so if that's when he finished that could just mean he did nine years of work spanning between the 80's and 90's (two decades), but still, that's an incredible feat!

[@WillPitts11]

@tthrone7 The train chassis is machined from steel. The car bodies are panels cut from balsa wood. The wheels are miniature ball bearings & shoulder screws from WM Berg. The mini-chain and sprockets are from McMaster Carr. I found the motor at an electronics thrift shop.

[@WillPitts11]

@GlitchingEnterprise Here are some quick notes: each rail has 6 layers of basswood strips that are 1/16th inch thick by 3/8th wide topped by 2 layers of basswood that are 1/16th inch thick by 1/2 inch wide.  Each layer is glued with clothes pins and miniature C-clamps. The "rails" are strips of ABS plastic from a company called Plastruct. You may consider contacting ACE online and order the Roller Coaster magazine, RCI 66 Summer, 1998 for a story on my model. Peace. Will

[@timbermoutain]

on the cars of the train theres a peice of metal that connects to it. the metal bends one way to attach and at the top it just lets go as gravity takes over. Also on the track, is an anti-roll back thing that attaches to the car that makes it so it can roll back. look at pics of lift hills and knex coasters

[@WillPitts11]

@aceattack52 each rail has 6 layers of basswood strips that are 1/16th inch thick by 3/8th wide topped by 2 layers of basswood that are 1/16th inch thick by 1/2 inch wide. Each layer is glued with clamps (I used clothes pins and miniature C-clamp - very time consuming and tedious). The "rails" are strips of ABS plastic from a company called Plastruct. You may consider contacting ACE online and order the Roller Coaster magazine, RCI 66 Summer, 1998 for a story on my model.

[@cmccarreiro]

I love watching this!

[@dragonkhan2854]

Super skilled, dude

[@OinzCEO17]

Amazing!

[@WillPitts11]

@Exagerative You are on point that it goes too fast. What I learned the hard way is that I can't scale down gravity and friction. On a future model I hope to apply some techniques to make the train pause slightly over some of the hills. Peace.

[@WillPitts11]

@indycurt1 Thank you for your kind comments. After this video was made, I put people in the first and last car because those are the two places I like to ride. Like you, I'll wait as long as it takes to ride in the front, then I'll wait again to ride in the back. Peace, Will

[@lnordbyrobbie]

wow thats amazing

[@WillPitts11]

I will build another model, hopefully will start building the cars first. I will keep a detailed chronicle of events so I can write a book on how to build such a model. I'm just trying to store up enough energy to commit to the long-term obsession.

[@ellenhafner-lilly3418]

So sweet!!! Maybe I need another hobby after all.....

[@PinkRoseKiller]

+Will Pitts Can you please tell me what you used for the wheels?

[@WillPitts11]

+SuperEminemFan1 The wheels are miniature ball bearings from WM Berg. They are mounted on shoulder screws, also from WM Berg.

[@anthonyblack1771]

Will Pitts ..... This is real cool. Dont mind the comments about too fast. What do they expect? !

[@billmorley3530]

Hi Will--I enjoyed the ride--lol! Wow--you'd never know it was a model-so realistic. You know those old friction motors they put in toy cars? Well if you installed that on your train along with a non-slip track surface, it would slow the momentum on the descent and then theoretically, have enough stored energy to pull it over the next hill. It would then mimic the long motion swings of a “human scale” coaster. Just a thought! Glad you’re building the classics! Euclid Beach coaster?

[@DDRman732865]

amazing

[@AimYourArrowsBand]

AMAZING!!!!!

[@WillPitts11]

@tthrone7 The spacing of the rails was determined after I designed the cars, although there was some trial and error until I figured out the final spacing. The rails are a durable ABS plastic from a company called Plastruct. There are no up-stop wheels on this model, but there will be on the next model. The speeds of the trains and the design of the hills keeps the trains from jumping the track. Please order the Roller Coaster magazine, RCI 66 Summer, 1998 for a story on my model.

[@shalamar07]

Amazing! I want one.

[@dankboeingm737.7]

awesome

[@metashrew]

Its awesome

[@WillPitts11]

@CoolioJoe100 Thank you for you very king comment! I have thought of building another one...but once you jump in, it becomes an obsession and I'm not quite ready. Maybe in a year or two...

[@zigastrmsek2]

20 Years???!!!i wuld built it in 20 months. But it was worth the time.

[@ffta707]

haha this is beyond comprehension. It is so detailed that you could mistake it for a real rollercoaster. Wonderful display, 10/10! NO 11/ 10

[@mochanic5498]

Super cool, but a little to fast!

[@WillPitts11]

@Legosrule11 It was at the MN Science Museum from 1997 to 1998. Ripley's Believe It Or Not purchased it, and I believe it is still located at the Ocean City, MD Ripley's.

[@WillPitts11]

@Demans666 Thank you for your kind comment. It is always nice to commiserate with a fellow modeler! Will

[@mississsippistar]

Wow i want to srink down so i can ride this looks fun!

[@billmorley3530]

Amazing realism--well done. You could have completely fooled me except for the fact that the cars go way to fast on the track to be realistic. Sadly, as in all miniature coasters, due to the smaller scale, the motion of the cars doesn't match what we see in reality. I think a simple solution to this would be a friction type mechanism, similar to the toy friction cars that were made back in the 50's and 60's. The braking action of the motor would slow the descent and the energy that gets stored would pull the cars over the next hill. The result would be a much more realistic up and down rythmn that matches what we see in the life sized coasters. It might work if you geared one of the wheels and made it mesh with a toothed belt on one of the tracks.

[@WillPitts11]

Thank you for your comments. You are so right, we can not scale friction nor gravity. I will employ a different tactic on my next model to give the illusion of scale speed. I don't want to use a mechanical friction device because I want the model to actually "coast" and not "drive". I'm doing some testing, and I hope to have it worked out by time I start cutting wood. Peace and Blessings!

[@WillPitts11]

@LINKEST1 It is currently at Ripley's Believe It Or Not in Ocean City, Maryland, but I don't think it is operating any more. I hope to build 2 more models before I'm done: The Comet from Fontaine Ferry in Louisville, KY and the Bobs from Riverside in Chicago.

[@WillPitts11]

@ThrillRider247 Thanks for the memory! I ended up selling the coaster to Ripley's Believe It or Not and they did not maintain it well. I think it's in Ocean City, MD but I know it's not functioning anymore. Too bad. I hope to build another one once I build up the courage to deal with another obsession. Peace, Will

[@WillPitts11]

@zoup2nutz Thanks for the comment. Peace, Will

[@WillPitts11]

@zoup2nutz Thanks for the comment. Peace. Will

[@Jerrychild]

Is the track made of basswood? What sections are made of spruce? I'm currently designing a train and want to build a model wooden roller coaster as well, so I'd love to talk to you more in depth about this model. I already read your article in ACE magazine and I loved it!

[@WillPitts11]

The track is basswood because it's easier to work with, and the taller vertical posts are spruce (I could only find basswood in 24-inch lengths and the lift hill was higher than that so I found a supplier that had spruce in longer lengths.

[@coasterkramer]

you donate it to the national roller coaster museum they would luv it

[@kamacoz9738]

Nice

[@ThrillRider247]

omg i remeber that at the science musem when i was younger.. they totally should had built this as valleyfair...

[@WillPitts11]

@coasterluv Thank you for your kind comments. Peace. Will

[@MrDabba100]

know all you have to do is build it in real life but seriously great work

[@WillPitts11]

@Hendrix92TheUniverse Thanks! Have a great week. Will

[@tpickett18]

I've always been interested in this stuff but my ADHD keeps me from focusing. I wish I could pay to have you build me a little coaster

[@shuweineoh8550]

So real

[@sithlord5571]

That reminds me of Blue Streak at Cedar Point

[@WillPitts11]

@maxXDish Sorry took so long to respond. I am going to build another model within a few years, and I plan to write a "how-to" book as I build the next model. I hope to have it available in a hard copy as well as a downloadable file. Peace, Will

[@Jackandshadowthedog]

Great

[@WillPitts11]

@atomicsockhop Thank you for your kind comments. Peace. Will

[@wernerkroneman]

@Danny94James Actually, they go as fast as real life, but since distance is smaller, the scale speed is faster. This is because downscaling gravity is somewhat difficult, so it will attract all objects with the same speed. If this model was placed on the moon, it would already look more realistic.

[@dotzzz59]

That looks like "Judge Roy Scream" from RCT2

[@WillPitts11]

@aceattack52 I used miniature bearings mounted on miniature shoulder screws. Visit W.M. Berg for info on all kinds of miniature engineering parts.

[@myanavarro3603]

Are there people in that Little RollerCoater....LOL:)

[@elenacats10]

WoW, kool

[@notserpmale03]

cool

[@WillPitts11]

@MrDabba100 Thank you for your kind comment. I hope to build another someday, but I'm just not ready to commit the time yet.