How to Design Your Own Roller Coaster Games

Use your imagination to design a miniature roller coaster.

Designing a roller coaster is a project that is entertaining to children and parents. Though it takes time and patience, your creativity gets a real workout because you can incorporate as many hills and loops as your materials allow. Designing roller coasters also lets people learn about physics and can inspire little minds to inquire about other science--based topics. It is a great way to infuse education into at-home crafts and hobbies.

Things You'll Need

• Posterboard or cardboard

Instructions

1. Draw the layout of the track on a piece of poster board or cardboard before you begin construction. This will keep wasted materials to a minimum.

2. Decide the number of hills you want and their height. Roller coasters at theme parks usually have several hills of various heights.

3. Draw any loops your coaster will incorporate. It does not have to employ loops to be a well-designed coaster. If your coaster doesn't maintain an adequate speed, it will fall off of the track in the middle of the loop.

4. Draw the base. Due to the movement, the roller coaster must sit on a sturdy base, such as a piece of wood, or it may tip over.

5. Choose the material you will use to construct the track, such as metal, plastic or cardboard.

6. View paint samples and decide on a durable brand of paint for the base or the track. Spray paint offers quick and easy application. Hand-painting your creation may provide a better result, but can take longer to complete.

7. Decide on material to secure the track to the base. Glues work well, but can be messy. Staple guns can secure small portions of the track to the base.

8. List items to use as the roller coaster vehicle. A variety of objects can serve as the vehicle, from a marble to a small toy car.

9. Write down a list of items to glue to the base as decorative scenery. Visit a local hobby store to purchase items such as miniature people, concession stands, benches, trees and cars.

Tips & Warnings

• Think through the project to get an idea of the hand tools needed to make a roller coaster. Depending on materials, it may take a drill, screw driver, hammer, glues or epoxies, a saw or other items.

References

• I Love India: Build Your Own Roller Coaster