[arby]

It's really none of my business to tell you how to do this model since you're doing great as is. However, if you think you're going to have a difficult time completing it in time for opening, I would recommend focusing on the plantation house first. Then you can add the rest of the entrance afterwards. Just my $.02.

[Chris]

he said last night that he should be done in a couple of days!

edit: nevermind

[FamousAmos]

^^With the Toll Plaza that is. After I finish the toll plaza, I will make the Admissions building, then the metal scanners, then the plantation house, and so on. I'll have another update later tonight.

[Chris]

Ah, gotcha.

[FamousAmos]

I wish I could be finished in a few days , but that would be impossible.
Arby, I would love to go ahead and start on the Plantation house, however some of the materials I need for it I have yet to order (I'm waiting on my FAFSA return to come in so I will have some money to buy the rest of the needed materials). Technically speaking, the toll plaza won't be finished until I order the HO scale people, and HO scale automobiles.

[Tawny71]

Ok…so I'm gonna step in and be Mom here for a minute. You're using your student loan money to pay for materials for the model??? Shouldn't that be used to pay for school? Don't get me wrong…I'm thoroughly impressed with the model so far. What you've done is pretty amazing. But, as a mom, I would worry if my son was using the money that was supposed to be for his education for something like this. Is this something you can get some college credit for? Or just something you're doing for fun? I know it's cool and everything, but I'd hate for you to be using funds that really should be allocated somewhere else just to impress us.

[Chris]

He's already paid for books and classes and this is the money left over. It sounds like he lives at home so it doesn't need it to go towards rent. I think he's doing ok.

[Tawny71]

Student loans are really intended to pay student expenses. If this is just for a hobby and not for a class, then it's not really a good expense to use it on. He's taking out a loan to do this. A loan that has to be paid back. With interest. It just doesn't seem like the wisest decision. Again, I'm a mom. I look at things like this from a mom's perspective.

[Chris]

Maybe I missed it, but where did he say this was a loan? He said he is waiting on FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). You don't have to pay back FAFSA and it's not much, anyway.

[FamousAmos]

Yeah, it is not a loan. It's just the FAFSA. The last day to be able to use it to buy stuff for college (for PHCC anyway) was January 29th. So I can no longer use it, until I get the check anyway. Believe me Tawny, if it were a loan, I would never use it for this purpose. I'm trying to avoid loans at all costs. This money from the FAFSA is perfectly fine for me to use (I'll only be using about $150 of it anyway). What I have left I'll save and use for next semester. Thank you for your concern though

EDIT: I was also encouraged by my college adviser to use what I had left to pay for this project.

[Tawny71]

Good deal. I know from experience, loans are awesome till they come due. And honestly, I did not spend my student loan money wisely. Trying to help others not have to go through what I did.

Keep up the good work, Josh!

[cameronmbrown1]

Ok. Last post for today. I just joined and emailing Carowinds can take days to get the answer to my questions. How is the entrance to the park supposed to work because Chris said they removed the turn styles for quicker access?

[FamousAmos]

More than likely they will be going the Cedar Point route. All we have to do is buy the tickets, walk under the canopy that straddles the state line, scan the ticket, get scanned with the wand (for security purposes of course), and walk right in the park. Super quick and very efficient.

[pproteinc]

^ Uh....Cedar Point does'nt scan anyone or anything to my knowledge. The only thing being scanned is your pass or ticket. Well I wasn't scanned.

[redrunner97]

Carowinds will though, even though Cedar Point doesn't. Wand metal detection and ticket scanning. Then you can go in.