The Airplane Model project

[hillflyer]

This section is approaching completion really fast. I've started adding/replacing handrails, adding cartouches, reinforced some parts, painted, filled in some gaps in the track.

Also added anti rollbacks on this hill.

Some POVs

The leap up into the brake run. Note new handrails yet to be painted.

Adding the cartouches.

[Apollo von Sol]

This model is seriously amazing! The details on this is just simply stunning! Keep up the wonderful work you been doing on this and I cannot wait to see the end result!

[hillflyer]

Making more cartouches (kar-tah-shay). It's been more than three years since I touched these. The black and white photo shows the only three I was able to get a clear image of. There might have been three (repeated throughout the ride) but I wanted some artistic license and designed two. Two years ago, I had a request out for a sixth design and this one debuts today.

 

 

Thanks to CoasterB for the giraffe. If you think it looks more like a deer, well, either is appropriate!

Two years ago, I had a request out for a sixth design and this one debuts today.

 

 

Thanks to CoasterB for the giraffe. If you think it looks more like a deer, well, either is appropriate!

The black and white photo shows the only three I was able to get a clear image of.

[COASTER FREAK 11]

These look good! Its interesting, I have never seen any coaster with these type of embellishments before you doing this project.

[hillflyer]

These look good! Its interesting, I have never seen any coaster with these type of embellishments before you doing this project.

 

I know right? It's just one more thing that made this coaster unique.

[CoasterB]

I love these, they are a really good 'finishing touch' or will be once its done. Love the designs they fit really well with the original 3

[hillflyer]

I'm getting close! This section only needs the spear cartouches and the gooseneck lamps and some painting. The base has been cut and I could start the landscaping if I had more money.

In order to help me figure out what I'm going to do with the area around the beginning tunnel, I start adding the turrets to the station front.

[Zingoman]

As this gets closer and closer to completion I get more and more anxious for updates. Every time I see the thread is still on page 46 I sigh and wish for the moment I see of 47 and another slew of photos. I feel like I'm watching a real coaster construction and biting my nails anticipating more progress!

[CoasterB]

As this gets closer and closer to completion I get more and more anxious for updates. Every time I see the thread is still on page 46 I sigh and wish for the moment I see of 47 and another slew of photos. I feel like I'm watching a real coaster construction and biting my nails anticipating more progress!

 

Ditto!

[hillflyer]

Thanks for the good words guys. Things have slowed but they haven't. Couple of things I had to redo and some cleanup detail. Not much to photograph really.

 

The turrets for the station frontI did once and on try number three I got close enough. Even painted and then REpainted. I think the resulting colors reflect a dated art deco look.

 

I am not quite finished. Still some more detail to be added.

Adding pecils to be the columns.

Even Joey is excited.

The wall that runs over the ticket booth.

Added the side white wings. I'm relativity new at cutting foam board and I admit I suck at it

Painted the center and holding it at its correct height while I attach the turrets. I also covered my poorly cut white wings with a thin layer of balsa wood.

Still more to add in the way of detailing.

[hillflyer]

The only run that was still left to build was the string of bents before the final curve into the brake run. The bents were built a long time ago, I just never got around to stringing them together until today.

 

I'm ready and anxious to begin the landscaping but I would have to go out and buy all new materials and I can't afford that.

[hillflyer]

This crop of photos materialized from someone who contacted me on Facebook. He has amassed a large collection of Rye Playland photos and many many of the Airplane during deconstruction.

 

Of course, these photos reveal some of the hidden layers inside the ride, particularly the area that looks like there was a HOUSE under the lift tunnel.

The back of the station next to the Derby Racer.

Hacking away at the station

That looks like a house underneath.

The train shed on the left looking up towards what was once the top.

[hillflyer]

The bumper crop of photos I received last week revealed some information. While most of my educated guess have been confirmed, there are a few things that need reviewing.

 

I'm just replicating from information I've been able to gather. I'm glad these photos surfaced however late, but not too late.

 

Here is an example of my dedication to having the most accurate model I can build.

The old engine room. A clearer photo became available (see previous post), so here I am clipping out the old one and splicing in the new one.

The new engine room.

The new engine room spliced in place

[G Force]

Looks great as always, attention to detail here is on another level, especially this close to completion.

[steambc]

VERY impressive, hillflyer.

 

I grew up literally next door to Rye Playland, so I practically lived there. I was born the very same year they tore down the legendary Airplane Coaster. I would have loved to have ridden that beast.

 

Your attention to detail and ability to weather are remarkable. I had an idea... Why not build a train car that you can mount a tiny camera to, and film a stop-motion ride on the model? I'm sure you can match the speeds and energy variables by mimicking the YouTube ride video. How great would it be to actually film a ride on your own model?!

 

I'm currently restoring two real, full-size Mangels Whip cars and one Caterpillar car. None of them are from Playland itself but of course Playland is still running its Whip ride. They actually run it full-speed. So fast, in fact, that the cars go up on two wheels once they swoop around the ends. We lost the Caterpillar long ago. I actually have the virtually un-findable canopy mechanism so I'll probably have a push-button inside the car and motorize the mechanism so a canopy rolls over the occupants. Why? one may ask... Well, why not? If you can do it, then do it, I say.

 

I found your thread as I was searching for details of how, specifically, wooden tracks are constructed. There's actually very little information about that out there. You've answered all of my questions about that.

 

I know you've received many kudos here on this thread but I must say that your work is astounding. If it gets monotonous, consider the joy you are providing to those who are following this thread and to those who will view your model many years into the future.

[hillflyer]

VERY impressive, hillflyer.

 

I grew up literally next door to Rye Playland, so I practically lived there. I was born the very same year they tore down the legendary Airplane Coaster. I would have loved to have ridden that beast.

 

Your attention to detail and ability to weather are remarkable. I had an idea... Why not build a train car that you can mount a tiny camera to, and film a stop-motion ride on the model? I'm sure you can match the speeds and energy variables by mimicking the YouTube ride video. How great would it be to actually film a ride on your own model?!

 

I'm currently restoring two real, full-size Mangels Whip cars and one Caterpillar car. None of them are from Playland itself but of course Playland is still running its Whip ride. They actually run it full-speed. So fast, in fact, that the cars go up on two wheels once they swoop around the ends. We lost the Caterpillar long ago. I actually have the virtually un-findable canopy mechanism so I'll probably have a push-button inside the car and motorize the mechanism so a canopy rolls over the occupants. Why? one may ask... Well, why not? If you can do it, then do it, I say.

 

I found your thread as I was searching for details of how, specifically, wooden tracks are constructed. There's actually very little information about that out there. You've answered all of my questions about that.

 

I know you've received many kudos here on this thread but I must say that your work is astounding. If it gets monotonous, consider the joy you are providing to those who are following this thread and to those who will view your model many years into the future.

 

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.

[Zingoman]

The fact that you are willing to continuously go back in and correct your work is the reason this model is so above and beyond. I have so much respect for you commitment to getting this thing perfect. Thank you for doing this! It's really like a public service for all of us!

[hillflyer]

The fact that you are willing to continuously go back in and correct your work is the changereason this model is so above and beyond. I have so much respect for you commitment to getting this thing perfect. Thank you for doing this! It's really like a public service for all of us!

 

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.

[CoasterB]

That black & white photo was epic. If you didn't know it was a model you would think it was real.

[hillflyer]

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.

[hillflyer]

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.

[ruupie]

Wow! Really great, keep up the good work!

[hillflyer]

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....

[hillflyer]

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.

[G Force]

Awesome to see this finally taking shape.