KCForce's working model roller coasters

[freefallXL]

...unbelievable... in a good way and absolutly FANtastic!!!

[KCForce]

Well folks, the exhibit is now at Union Station Kansas City. Since opening on June 1st, there have been an estimated 5,000 (!!!!) people who have seen my exhibit. It doesn't hurt that it's in a high traffic destination. Today alone there were over 1,000 people by the exhibit. It's such a cool thing to have something you are passionate about be a hit. Some of the management and staff has told me how popular and well received the exhibit is. Today I just sat for a while and watched and listened to people...."Oh wow, they work", "These are the coasters I went on as a child", "Zambezi Zinger was Grandma's favorite roller coaster in the 70's when your mom was your age." "I totally forgot about the Screamroller!" People stop dead in their tracks and smile. Senior citizens and the little kids get excited, it's like it's some kind of hypnotic spell comes over them. I'm amazed at how connected folks are to these coasters and how excited people are. Several people have thanked me for the trip down memory lane. I admit, I'm still a bit in shock over folk's reactions and emotions all over model roller coasters and the artifacts in the exhibit. As weird or mushy as it will sound, I think it's touched people by stirring up happy memories for them through the models and this exhibit. And the most unusual thing? A guy asked me today if I was KC Force and when I said yes, he asked if he could have his picture taken with me. I of course said yes, though I was taken aback a bit. You'd of thought he was meeting Robb or Elissa! I was very touched. (I'm NOT comparing myself to either of them, we all know I pale in comparison, but it's nice to have "fans" of your work.)

 

Okay now the good stuff:

 

I have some exciting news! Project 31 will have a new permanent home after it is on display at Worlds of Fun in August!! All the WOF details soon, I promise! There is a contest to announce related to the exhibits new home (And before you go tattle on me, for advertising, I cleared it with Robb first before I posted this video...)

 

It's not quite as good as a TPR Bag O' Crap, well maybe it is, I don't know, I've never won one before , but I'm giving away a limited edition, one of a kind "Project 31 t-shirt" if you win the contest. It's pictured in the video. Okay, so here's the exciting news, and the contest via video:

 

Project 31 Big Announcement and Contest Video!

 

Anyone, anywhere can enter. I'll send the shirt anywhere in the world! I know that you all are a creative bunch of folks, wait, now I'm slightly scared now that I've said that.

 

So I hope you'll enter and good luck!

 

Peace,

KC

[mightbeawannabe]

How long will you be set up at Union Station? Apologies to the fullest if you've already answered.

[KCForce]

How long will you be set up at Union Station? Apologies to the fullest if you've already answered.

 

August 11, 2011. The exhibit (and Union Station) are closed on Mondays.

[coaster-crazy]

I wish I lived closer to these puppies! Expect a few entries from me for the contest. Congratulations on the permanent exhibit!

 

~Nicholas

[KCForce]

I wish I lived closer to these puppies! Expect a few entries from me for the contest. Congratulations on the permanent exhibit!

 

~Nicholas

 

 

Thanks! And hey now that it will be a permanent exhibit, you have lots of time to get to KC and see them! Looking forward to your entries!

 

Peace, KCForce

[mightbeawannabe]

Well, I might be able to make it down there by then!

 

I live up past St. Joe-so I'm really not that far away, but we hardly ever end up going to Union Station for anything...

[KCForce]

Well, I might be able to make it down there by then!

 

I live up past St. Joe-so I'm really not that far away, but we hardly ever end up going to Union Station for anything...

 

And here I thought you had a good excuse like you lived in California or New York. You have no excuse.

 

: ) KC

[mightbeawannabe]

^Well, for future reference, never assume I have a good excuse, only assume that I have one (or rather, a self-generating list of pretty poor ones in my head).

[freefallXL]

This permanent exhibit is like a MAOAM,.. it taste like a real sweet bonbon in your mind, it gives you a lesson of the history of roller coasters AND (the important thing is) it´s all hand-made.

I it!

 

Many, many luck! And my respect! ...for this project

[SoCalCoasters]

This is great to hear! I went ahead and submitted a name via email:

 

"Screams Of The Past: Worlds Of Fun Through The Years"

[KCForce]

This permanent exhibit is like a MAOAM,.. it taste like a real sweet bonbon in your mind, it gives you a lesson of the history of roller coasters AND (the important thing is) it´s all hand-made.

I it!

 

Many, many luck! And my respect! ...for this project

 

Thanks so much freeallXL. Now what the hell is a NAOAM? Is it a German thing? (really I have no clue!)

[CoasterCreator9]

German candy, associated with Haribo:

 

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GZAG_enUS425US425&q=MAOAM

 

I lol'd.

[Bizarro Hawg]

stuff like this makes me feel stupid.

[KCForce]

German candy, associated with Haribo:

 

http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rlz=1T4GZAG_enUS425US425&q=MAOAM

 

I lol'd.

 

Thanks! Now I'm in the loop.

 

No need to feel stupid, Bizzaro Hawg! (again though I have no clue why you'd feel such...)

 

Peace,

KC

[KCForce]

This is great to hear! I went ahead and submitted a name via email:

 

"Screams Of The Past: Worlds Of Fun Through The Years"

 

Um, hey SoCalCoasters, you may want to check your email, or watch this video :

 

Name the Worlds of Fun Coaster Exhibit Contest Winner and Exhibit Name

 

Yes, folks we have a TPR winner, congratulations to SoCalCoasters and Jon H, (not a TPR person to my knowledge, but we like him anyway) whose entries tied in the voting, so we combined them to come up with a great Exhibit name!

 

I guarantee if you're a coaster or WOF enthusiast, you'll love this exhibit. That's all I'll say at this point.

 

Another is that TPR and Robb have made a contribution to the Exhibit as well. What is it? Speculate!

 

The Grand Opening for the general public will be Sunday, October 16, 2011 at 11:45 a.m. at Union Station, Kansas City.

 

Peace!

Edited October 7, 2011 by KCForce

[TerryLBaker]

That's right, because you are soooooooo much more creative than I am! Good work mate, they're amazing!

[mcjaco]

Came across this, and thought it might interest a few of you.

 

It's a mini LIM system!

 

http://blog.makezine.com/archive/2008/02/amazing-linear-propulsion.html?CMP=OTC-0D6B48984890

[KCForce]

Well, after all that Project 31 stuff, I give you my latest custom designed model - the Blue Blaze. But, alas, this model does have something to do with Project 31. I put it on temporary display at Union Station while the windows are blacked out. I've taken it home now as we're getting ready this week to do some major move in of items for the exhibit.

 

Oh, and here's the YouTube clip of it in action:

 

On to the pictures:

An end view of the Blue Blaze

The finale, an over banked turn into the brake run.

Inversion number 1

Top view of the track showing most of the layout. This track includes a high speed S-turn station fly by into a tunnel that comes out from under the station foundation.

Edited October 7, 2011 by KCForce

[A.J.]

Very cool.

 

I would love to make a NoLimits coaster out of this.

[QueerRudie]

Randal,

 

Like all the other models in this collection, this one is YUMMY all over. Another excellent job, and a wonderful example of the finest non-kit coasters out there.

 

BTW: Have you considered adding a shot-by-shot 'photo TR' of how you build one of these coasters? I.E a new thread called "How Randal builds his Model RCs"?" HINT HINT HINT...

 

R.D.

Edited August 25, 2011 by QueerRudie

[griffonj2022]

These are really cool! Right now, my brother is addicted to the Vertical Vengeance set from K'NEX, and this is much better than what he's been making. Have you ever done any models of newer roller coasters, such as Apollo's Chariot, or any other sit down? How about an inverted coaster?

 

Anyways, great stuff!

[KCForce]

The exhibit will open to the public on Sunday, October 16, 2011 at Union Station Kansas City at Noon.

 

I have edited this post, as the grand opening celebration event I had posted here has had to be cancelled due to various circumstances beyond my control.

 

But the exhibit will still open to the public on the day it was scheduled to and will be a top notch exhibit about the history of the original roller coasters at Worlds of Fun. Hope you'll be able to come and check it out. It will still be a free exhibit.

Edited September 29, 2011 by KCForce

[XYZ]

Wow! This is amazing. I wonder, how much does it usually cost to build an average sized coaster model?

[KCForce]

Wow! This is amazing. I wonder, how much does it usually cost to build an average sized coaster model?

 

It depends on the size. A 6 car train is about 50 dollars to make. The Screamroller was about 50.00 for the structure/lift components. Once you build a train, you can reuse it on other coasters. So you're looking at about 100.00 for your first coaster (plus the price of a glue gun, etc.)