The Disc Cutter Fairground Ride
Built by Santiago Plicio in January 2026
2026 started and on the very first day I set about creating my new model of a rotating fairground ride that had to feel different from the many ones I have built since 1999.
I started by using a large circular plate made with 24 flanged sectors (part № 54) which I had had for some time, but I increased its diameter by adding one flat plate (part № 72) to each of the sectors, 24 in total — half in yellow and half in red.
To each of these two flat plates I bolted one curved strip (part № 89) and one double bent strip (part № 45) to hold the 12 cars of this ride.
I was not sure I would have enough parts for all the cars to be identical, so I had 12 large pulleys (part № 19b) and to each of them I bolted 12 yellow flat plate (part № 53a), each of them having a seat for the riders and a cross bar.
One small axle was attached to each of the cars so they would freely rotate when in motion. All the cars were fitted with a heavy counterbalance for a swinging action at rotation.
Next was the building of the main base made of eight large flanged modern Meccano 12½” x 3½” plates all in yellow. At the bottom of these plates I bolted some long double angle girders so the base was rigid and strong.
On top of this base I built a second flat platform made of another four similar flanged plates leaving a gap of 1½” so a motor can be fixed there to be connected to the circular moving structure.
I decided the platform would have to be in a vertical position, but originally I wanted this unit to go from the horizontal to the vertical with a motor and a complicated device, but being very heavy I decided to keep it in the vertical position saving a lot of hard work.
A heavy-duty axle bolted to this platform would hold the rotating large unit, and this needed to be re-positioned a few times until it was at the right distance for realistic loading and unloading of riders.
I also bolted a circular plate (part № 146) to its bottom with eight wheel discs fitted on brassy spacers so two heavy elastic bands could engage the motor once fitted underneath, and that proved tricky with only have 5cm of space.
I fitted the motor under the tilting platform and also the right type of pulley for the two elastic bands. I was relived when I finally managed to achieve the exact right position.
The first test of the motor worked but at certain intervals the transformer kept cutting out, and when I changed the motor for another one, again the same problem happened. Luckily I had a motor with a gearing reduction system built for another of my previous models, and when I fixed it to this one it worked very well.
Next was to build the front loading area with a type of a bridge, some of the usual finishing embellishments and fittings.
When the final test was made, the rotating unit worked like a dream and all the twelve cars swing freely at speed. Upon increasing the speed I did notice the cars go to a full turn which will made the thrill ride element much more interesting, However I decided it best to limit operating at those speeds for very short intervals only.
As standard practice for me these days, all of the cars and the rotating circular unit can easily be removed to minimise the overall heavy weight for transportation.
The Disc Cutter — Strapping in those who dare and cutting the wimps from the queue, and only then really turning the screw!