Eric10

So..for those that have built a faller model before...they now how frustrating and tempermental they can be at times. In my last post I had mentioned how the string had snapped, and I was looking for a suitable replacement. I found one just at my local Hobby Lobby, but ran into a lot more issues, than I had bargained before after I replaced it. It seems as though, after a continous amount of use...(as in daily operation for hours..) had done it's toll on the mechanism that runs the model. Several crucial pieces that required alignement (so the motor can run fluidly), had become cracked and were starting to give way, which resulted in the motor not being flush with the primary drive wheel that winds up the string. At first, I thought this could be a simple fix. Smother glue (although somewhat crude...) along the cracks and it should align everything much better. This simply didnt' work...so I decided to replace the entire drive mechanism underneath the model. Hopefully, in the next couple of days..(I know..I know...I say this a lot!)...I should finally (finally!)...have a video of this baby working! Here's what it took to get the mechanism switched out.. Here is the primary drive mechanism...without motor...after prying it off the base of the ride. The instruction manual never states "no glue", even though there are screws to hold the mechanism in place..I decided that it would be better to go ahead and glue it also. Unfortunately this was a terrible idea, and resulted in me having to carefull pry it off. Here's the result... Here is the underside of the model, after the damage was done. Before I even started to replace the primary mechanism, I went throught additional sprues and attempted to gather up the parts I needed through extra pieces that were provided and forutunately, was able to come up with most, if not all the parts needed to re-do everything. Here is the final completed mechanism, fully functioning!

Yes, I was extremely lucky to get my hands on the tea-cups for such an amazing price!!.... Also, as for an update, It's been over a year since I had my power tower operational, and the string just snapped in half when I was working on shooting the video. I'm working on finding a suitable replacement at the moment, and should hopefully be able to get some updates rolling out soon.

Alright...so I'm sorry I haven't been able to update like I said I would. I've just been extremely busy and just simply haven't had time to update this thread. Fortunately, I think I'll have more time to update and include information that some people hope to have. I know when I was beginning, I would have loved to have step-by-step instructions to give me an idea of what these models are like. For now, I can't upload any new pics and/or videos yet...but my plans in the next couple of days include: -Music Express Construction Log -Pirate Log Flume Construcion Log -Numerous Videos of functioning models Just thought I would give an update...If you have any questions, please feel free to ask!

I'll try that. The thing about the plastic folder is that it's extremely slick so the gears can easily glide across them. The motor isn't that powerful and when running it just on the wood, it starts and stops and is somwhat jolty. I'll try it though. The thing about making an entire amusement park is you have to have a huge workspace. Although, I have quite a bit of room to work with..I have so many models that I don't think I have the room to spread them around and create an entire park. However, I have begun putting them on diorama boards and creating dioramas out of them though. When I'm finished, with the current one, I'll post pics.

I own the coasterdynamix comet and scorpion. Both are great kits in my mind. They are quite shocking when seeing them in person. See..here's mine. I haven't ever attempted to customize my scorpion..

mcjaco: Thanks!...I'll try that. I figured I would show some more pics, but this time of the rare faller tea cups. I recently found these from a dealer for only $15 (with motor). That's an extraordinary deal. The only thing though, was that it didn't have a base. I emailed faller and they said they had it and could ship it. After several weeks of waiting for the part..it arrives, only to be the incorrect part...I had to improvise..but I successfully have them moving correctly now.. Onto the pics! This is where it became difficult. I needed some way to get the model to turn correctly without the base. The first step was in finding a material that the gears would slide across to get enough friction to move the tea cups. I tried wood, but it was somewhat loud and not very effective. The most optimal material was a shiny..slick folder. I just a cut a circle out of the folder and it worked perfectly. Because the turntable was elevated from the ground I added bushes around the entire model..(as seen in the pic) That's it for now..a video may follow for the power tower AND tea cups in the next couple of days. Completed ticket booth! Building the ticket booth. Ticket booth parts! Railings for the model.. The roof and sides of the model.. Top of the model; hides the motor. Completed large tea cup.. Large tea cup that spins inside yet to be assembled.. Motor assembly Another shot of tea cups and turntable. Tea cups and turntable. Another shot of completed tea cups. Shot of finished teacups. All parts for teacups. Tea cup handles... Tea cup seats.. The tea cup assembly... This is the completed turntable. These are the 4 turntables and 4 gears. 4 teacups sit on each turntable. When sitting in the base it rides in the base allowing each to turn sepeartely. Box and parts...

I purchased the model from eurorailhobbies.com for about $160. Which is actually quite a deal now. Prices have unfortuantely skyrocketed. It took me about 2 weeks to build, but I only spent about 30 minutes on it each night. I may put up a video of it sometime today, so you can see the ride in action!

I figured I would share my amusement park models that I have been building for numerous years. I decided I'd begin with one of my favorites..the faller power tower. I also took pictures while I was building it, so there is a construction log to go with it! NOTE: Some of the pictures are out of focus, because it's sometimes hard to get a focused pic of such a tiny part. If you have any questions just ask!! The underside of the model..lots of wires due to control box wires and about 7 lights... Well, that's it for now...If you have any models you want to see built..just ask. I may have it. The right side of the model. The following is all the accessories onto the base. The ride is supposed to be a "carnival" power tower. Therefore it comes with a trailer that the ride can collapse into. (although..it's glued so it won't collapse into the following trailer) The operators booth. The completed ticket booth. This is where you buy your tickets..yet to be assembled.. More miscellaneous decoration... Miscellaneous decoration... I had no idea what this was until I realized that it was some sort of grease for the motor. This is the supplied thread that goes throughout the tower... The reed switches attatch onto this white "clip". These are the reed switches. They tell the control box when to start and stop the motor. It was now time, to hook the model up to make sure everything worked. Here is the control box..that allows varied operation. Completed car..with various riders... Time for car assembly!... This is where the thread is pulled through and back down. It acts similar to a "pulley" system. This is the top of the tower... This is where the halfes are glued together. The picture is very blurry...but these go on the tower adding color. This is the tower construction, which is built in two halves...on the far left, you can see one half fully built, and on the right you can see what it takes to get the half. These are the "large wheels". The thread goes through these providing the lift of the car. The motor assembly.. A decal was then added to the base. The finished legs are also in front of the base. The legs were then built. The base was built first. ...and more parts... Parts... The instruction manual that is provided, fairly easy to follow The following is the box that the moel came in...