hillflyer

Working overtime, cruising speed. I just LOVE my new tool box! Didn't quite finish the midway, but it's coming along. Parts of the station facade. Using the cardboard backing from a paper pad, I made what will be there cracked foundation of the Derby Racer carousel. Still new at trying some things like creating wear and tear on old fashioned concrete. Painted the inside of the chain trough. Used the same concept for the foundation for a public restroom that was torn down. Trying to make it look like the bulbs are illuminating. And the underside Break them apart. Chain return pulley. Needs a bit more work. Squirting glue. Fine sand.

Wow, I touched on a lot of bases this week. I worked on everything from props to coaster decorations. Inside the turret on the right, I made the remnants of a popcorn stand that I think I see in one of the photos. The process of making the gooseneck lamps that outline most of the coaster’s pathway. I can’t believe how I accidentally came across one of those little safety pins at my other job. The aluminum hollow tubing was another lucky find. I searched and searched for a tube with an inside gauge that would snuggly fit the safety pin, and not be too ‘thick’ looking. Long story short, I happened to find it in the Hobby Store I always go to. I wasn’t looking in the right place. My version against the real ones. I put those scalloped (?) trims around the top of the turrets that flank the Airplane’s station entrance. I still need to do the top portion. The spear cartouches are not that hard to build, they’re extremely tedious. It looks like I used a 3-D printer, but I didn’t. See page 12, 8 down to see how I made these. I always knew I would use a screen from a window for a fence. Again, the timing is remarkable. Our complexes just got all new windows so I snagged one of my old screens. Just one cut on the bias and make a template to cut along to make more strips. The scale of the fence will be 6’ high which is the same as we used for around the Dipper I think. Up until my visit to the Hobby store this weekend, I was going to use plastic rods for the fence poles. When I found the hallow aluminum tubes for the lamps, I changed my mind. I’m glad I did. That’s beading wire I’m using to tie them on. I can’t wait to put signs on here. “Do Not Trespass” or….”Intent to Demolish”. Someone jokingly suggested I put a figure of someone trying to climb over. I like that idea. After having made a pattern, I cut out walls and pieces for a concession stand as part of the scenery. What do you think? The above concession stand will go behind the yellow poles, and will become part of the decaying midway. Boner shot of all the cartouches and the classic gooseneck lamps. I’m still debating if I want to string lights, (clear beads on beading wire) or not… Next installment will have pictures of the completed concession area, more landscaping, and the top pulley and chain return trough. I don’t know what I’m going to use for chain yet, I might not put one on since it IS supposed to be an abandoned coaster…it could have been removed in preparation for the ride’s imminent demise.

Now that I have most the supplies I need to finish, I’m hoping I can maintain my commitment to go full bore. I’ve been working on various aspects that will all culminate to a finished product. I’ve been skipping back and forth between the Station House, some landscaping, the base, the cartouches. I have an email in to a company that will help me locate some fine hollow tubing for the gooseneck lamps. I could spend months figuring out different ways of how I’m going to build a particular part of the coaster and when it finally comes time to build it, I dive right in to a way I had not previously considered. For example, I thought for years that the base for this thing would be only two plys of foam board. Because of the kind donations, I was able to design a thicker base that will not only not warp, but it will enable me to plant my trees deeper in, and also make a real tunnel at the start of the ride! I hate hate HATED cutting thick boards. I would rather fight with the board than buy a new sharp blade. This time I’m armed with several so I always get a clean slice in two strokes. I need to practice more so I won’t have to hate it so much. Did I mention I hate it? The beginning process of making my base. The foam board always seems to want to warp a tad so I’m putting stiffeners between layers to keep them plane. Set on one of the top layers and set a chair on top, let it sit overnight. The coaster sits on the new base. I won’t permanently secure this on until I add landscaping directly under the structure. The adjoining section will plug in to this one. I was walking to my car after work in the park past what we call Palm Canyon where the City just finished trimming palm trees. Found this hunk of husk…it will make wonderful tall dead grass and weeds! My first test of sand and dead grass. You can also see how I masked over where all the footers need to be glued. From all angles. Trying out some sidewalk and test placing some certainties to help me eyeball the ongoing design. Test placing where I’m going to put my trees so that it will maximize photo composition I will glue on foliage when its time to actually install the trees.

Good news is I’ve surpassed my GoFundMe goal! This weekend I covered four local hobby stores and bought most of what I need to help me go full speed and finish the model. Most of what I need left to do outside of the landscaping part, are little detaily things like the spear cartouches, gooseneck lamps, new station railings. Right now I’m focusing on the front of the station house and the two flanking turrets. Now that I have replenished funds, I can go back and give it that detail I want it to have. Yes, that means I had to start that part over…for the third time. The old (I'll call it sign wall) is upper right. New one is the white one and I'm making a more detailed frame. Template I’m using to chop baby diamonds. After I have all baby diamonds, I have to make twice as many baby BABY diamonds. It occurred to me to paint these blue and sprinkle them into someone’s Lucky Charms but I don’t even want to get that close to my ex. Instead of painting, I will be covering the outside of the turrets with a heavy textured paper. On the back, I’ve marked where I need to slice little marks... ...so that I can replicate certain design features. I decided on a pink to carry over an art deco style that was popular in the 20’s. My color pallet was confirmed when I noticed the interior colors of a neighborhood hotspot. I walk by here all the time, I must have subconsciously absorbed data.. A sneak peek with branches I am using to make trees. I call this "Silver Winter" I'm using a simple art program to sketch out idea for what to do with this corner.

What do you do with these when you're done? Do you print them out and display them in galleries...that's a lot of nice work to be only seen by a few people.

Now that I've almost reached my GoFundMe goal (See "Starving Artist big Break" on Go Fund Me), I felt inspired to finally come up with a complete design for the base on which my model will sit! I'm 97% towards reaching my goal!

^^ What he said. How about I ship you my Airplane and you can finish it by this weekend?? You certainly seem to work that fast!

Yet another stroke of genius. I hope your back heals fast

The feeling is mutual coasterb. You put out a lot of great stuff yourself HEY EVERYONE. yesterday I set up a go fund me account to raise 500 dollars so I can properly finish this thing. In 24 hours, I'm already 78℅ there. Right now I'm at a friend's place, he's holding an art show/sale/auction and my model is the center piece. This is the type of gathering I was thinking of having when I unveil a completed model. With this boost in funding, I've given myself a deadline of August 6th as I'm going to work with my friend on setting up a similar gathering such as this. Can't wait to be done. I took this photo when I first got here. It's a view I've never seen before. The search name for the go fund me is STARVING ARTIST BIG BREAK and it features a photo of coaster.

Thanks!! Hey, you can spell phenomenal, that's pretty intelligent!

Lots of time and thought went in to these, they all look really great! What can you do with them now?

Very nice looking! What are your plans with this when it's done?

OOOOOoooooooo! Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhh!

That looks like a fun ride. I suppose with us being so "PC" here in the US, the name would probably changed to Dizzy Pirate or some such. I can't tell if the clip is all video created or if its an actual model. What does it look like in the daylight?

This grouping of photos are special because they're dedicated to the nicest couple you will ever know. Shortly after I started this project four years ago, David Churilla jokingly suggested I put on there some graffiti, "David loves Lanny." That little gift is to blame for my artistic direction of making the coaster appear derelict, abandoned and injured. On Facebook I dedicated this first grouping of photos of how I built a back wall that features said graffiti. Lastly, I included some boner shots (spoilers or bonus). I can put more if there's any interest. The area to work on. Made the wall back. Scored it so it looks like boards. Why not break a few out? Thinned black wash brings out the lines. Some more color and the graffiti! This section is getting too big to lug around to local coffee houses, so on Saturday I stayed at home, set up shop next to my living room window so I could people watch while working. I don’t like being cooped up alone at home during the day. For inspiration for getting this project finally finished, I taped up what results I have so far from my study of Long Beach’s old Cyclone Racer, which is lined up to be my next project….maybe… After years and years of using sandpaper for tar-paper roofing, I found a much better substitute. Masking tape! I tape it to the back of my hard rubber cutting board and rub it to pick up the texture. This is the underview of the catwalk that went from the (office?) door, over top of the train shed to an accessible vein of other catwalks. I will sand what look like the cleats down at an angle as when this is flipped over, it will sit level on the slanted roof. After laying tape on the train shed roof, I used very thinned black wash to put on some color. Then I put on the catwalk that runs over the top. And some boner shots. Want to see more? Bottom of first drop and the train shed on the left. A had a little visitor on Sunday.

Really a very nice job. How did you happen to choose this particular ride?

This weekend when I took these photos, it dawned me how close I'm getting to completion .The entire super structure has been built, the mid course brake run is repaired and the whole thing is tracked! The next biggest project will be finishing the front of the station house, making the permanent base, adding the remaining cartouches, and landscaping. Hopefully the model will be on display at this year's IAAPA convention. I set some pretty high expectations 4 years ago and immediately got responses saying people couldn't wait to see the finished project. I hope I haven't disappointed. While repairing the block brakes. This is about as high as the final brake run on modern wood coaster s New skids on the block (waah) The whole thing is tracked. This is exactly what I want the ground cover to look like. Half dead over growth, I'll add bushes and trees. Double decker. The burned areas will have burned shrubs and trees to accentuate the damage. More shots like this to come.

I made the first bent for the Cyclone Racer model...sort of. This is a reference and test bent to use while I'm designing on paper. I am considering increasing the scale just a teeny weenie bit over the Airplane model which is 1" = 5'-O". The reason is because of actual cut lumber sizes back in the day. The Cyclone Racer used 6x6 upright posts of Douglas Fir as did the Mission Beach Giant Dipper. The nominal size would be 6 X 6 but the actual measurement is 5-1/2" x 5-1/2". Same with a 2 x 4, the actual size of a 2 x 4 is 1-1/2" x 3-3/4". I ran in to a few problems with making the Airplane sticking with the nominal sizes. For example, the first layer of track bed is made up of 2x2's - eight of them in a row side by side. On the model, that would scale at 16" but the actual measurement on the real coaster would be only 12". When in came to trying to fit the track and the catwalks within the space allowed across the bent was sometimes challenging because of that variance. Just for a test, I created a custom scale ruler for the increased size. Not THAT big of a difference. What would measure old scale at 32' now scales at 30.5. Trying to figure out how this connection would work...seems a bit awkward.

Update. I've been working on my Airplane Coaster model (see thread: The Rye Airplane - The model, the diary...) about 15 hours a week. Soon I'll be coming up on the four year mark since I made the first posting. The structure, and the track, are weeks away from being completed! Then I have to do the landscaping and other detailing. When it is impossible for me to work on that, I've been studying, no, make that scrutinizing the profile of the legendary Cyclone Racer coaster that was once in Long Beach. I want this one to be grand as I'm planning on building the pier as well. So far, I'd say I'm averaging 15 hours a week on the Racer. The project is in no way affiliated with the current and active effort to have the ride rebuilt in Long Beach. If anyone has any pointers as to where I can find some really good and clear Cyclone Racer photos, please contact me. I've discovered some very nice photos online but the resolution is poor. Here are some of them...you can see some reference notes on some of them. One of my favorites. Back in the day when the coaster sat on a pier out over the water. A sample of my note sheets from which I will make final drawings.

I covered a lot of territory since last time. I finished the last step covered in the above post which was completing track and structure on this return leg of the coaster. This is the part where the train is close to home, it was probably just lumbering along. Next I have to start, literally, tying up loose ends. Frayed ends of track where the model will ultimately divide. This process is far easier than I thought it would be. Bottom of the first dip. Slingshot exit heading towards the counter clockwise spiral. Repairs need to be made to the bridge that supports the midcourse brake run. Since it’s close to the burned lift tunnel, I will probably extend some damage to this structure too. Then I have to figure out what to do with this area. I’m going to bring the station house around to the dark line and add random detail, like maybe a homeless encampment in that little shed. An example of tied up loose ends. The midcourse brake run, also looking down the lift hill and the tunnel. It’s photos like these that will help me determine the landscaping in more 3-D. Some boner shots....

Spent most of the last couple weeks working filling in the gap that is now the return leg close to the end of the ride. Built up the track here. Going to stick this there. Spliced. Now to splice in the track. Spliced. More track layering to fill in the gap. Sort of a POV angle. More track layering. This is where we leave off for now. I don't have it in me to finish this tonight, not if I want it done right. A couple bonus views. Your park doesn't have a Church coaster why? I made a new ticket booth. I thought I could do a better job.

Way way way COOL! I love it! Will it be added to your last project as a ride? Were I to pick a non-coaster ride to recreate, I would probably make a Chance Turbo.

I had a little extra money this week to use on supplies. This weekend I will be doing some new track work on a low lying area close to home base.

It would really bug me later that I didn't go back and fix it. But the payoff is satisfaction when the change is done, especially if it is an improvement. I did not like struggling with accepting slap shot work. I was not happy with the inner part of the station roof. Much much better. Much much better. After this photo, I retouched the track with paint to get rid of those white spots. What was once the engine room is now the newly discovered shed.

Thanks for the kind words. I have always loved those cars on the Mangel s Whip. The metal carts remind me me of toys I had in the early sixties when metal was popular. I remember having a whole barn set that was made of tin and was assembled by inserting and folding tabs. I first saw and rode a Caterpillar in 1969 at the 50th State Fair. Classic. I've recently made some new findings reviewing some photos that just surfaced as posted earlier on this page. I have spent SO many hours figuring out some of the mysterious hidden areas of the Airplane, especially around the back of the station house. So I used my best educated guesses and when these new photos came to light, I tore myself apart wondering if I wanted to GO BACK and make only minor adjustments with the new discoveries. I spent more hours just staring at the model like a zombie than actually working on it. I'm so anxious to start my next project of Cyclone Racer (which is impossible right now because of lack of funds anyway) that I didn't feel like turning back the clock. So the adjustments are going really very slow, it takes a while for me to get the clippers and hack out a part I have to redo. But I know I will be glad I took the time when all is said and done. There are a couple of other imperfections that bother me, so the discouragement has slowed me down some. I'm glad these photos surfaced now, while I can still "get in there" and make the changes. If I had completed the model when originally scheduled (November 2014 - ha!) I would be kicking myself for not having an real stick by stick replica. I like the stop motion idea. I've thought about that too, but not focusing on that right now. I have a two friends that are taking animation classes so perhaps that might be a future project. In 1979, and again in 1981, I did the stop motion film on the abandoned Giant Dipper in San Diego. It didn't turn out too bad! These two photos are a case in point. I am digging in this little corner and setting things right.