Building the Wisdom Super Sizzler
By Matt Cook     

After always admiring the Super Sizzler on the Windy City Amusements Midway, I decided it was time to tackle this project in HO scale. The first step in building the Super Sizzler was to get full detail photos of the real ride. Photos were taken from all different angles of the ride, including racked shots. Detailed photos of the background scenery were taken panel by panel. To take photos, I used my Fuji 4.3 Mega pixel digital camera. The next step was to make detailed drawings of the ride using AutoCAD 2000 and then reduce them to HO scale. After this was done, the next step was to piece the back wall scenery together. Good friend and modeler Jay Wilcox helped with this step. The scenery was then printed on glossy photo paper, and the sprayed with a clear gloss overcoat to protect it. The decking of the ride was constructed of evergreen plastic, which was cut out with a band saw and then the edges were filed down. To create a diamond plate texture, I cut and glued bridal veil to the decking and used my airbrush to spray it silver. The next step was to figure out how to make the rest of the ride. I purchased Sizzler parts from good friend and expert model builder, Don Cummons, to build the sweeps and cars. The sweep assembly was assembled, and then painted accordingly. I added small beads, which I found in a local craft store to the sweeps and cars to resemble turbo lights. The sweep assembly was mounted to the deck along with the gearing to make it work. The next step was to add the quartz floodlights to the deck, fencing, stars, and the bally cloth. For the fence, I used Grandt Line porch railings that were ordered from a local hobby shop. The quartz light poles were constructed from 3/32” brass tubing, with metal light hoods, which were obtained from Don Cummons. The bally cloth was made from pink and blue fabric that was bought at a local craft store, cutting each stripe out individually and then gluing them together.
   

Photos

Construction of the sweeps and tubs. Finished product. Back side of the super Sizzler.

Go Back