Th13teen - Ride discussion

[Nightfall]

I have a feeling they have already found a quick fix. As daveslodge wrote it is back to operating as it did during opening weekend (minus the back row).

If we don't find out before hand I’m tempted to ask at the tour next month, as it would be very interesting to know for my course. Hopefully I won't be distracted by Wardleys other words of wisdom

[Vik]

[quote=""DiogoJ42""]Do we know for certain what the problem is regarding weight / not loading the back rows? I've read a few theories in this topic, but has anything been confirmed?

Can anyone who works at the towers shed some light on this once and for all, or is it "confidential"? [/quote]

Nothing has been confirmed, doubt anything will be in an official sense. Most of the theories tend to stem for little snippets people tend to hear on the grapevine.

Thirteen has ran reasonably well recently, and this is with the back two rows not being filled. On the occasions they have loaded the back rows, like first thing last Sunday for example, it has broken down within minutes. Reverting back to not loading back rows and it ran fine until the end of the day when it had its usual end of day hissy fit. Much better to run it like this until a fix can be worked on, which I imagine would not be until closed season. Though the downside is those queueing can't understand why trains go round with empty seats when the queuelines full.

Also, on the subject of marketing the ride: Lets not be to hard on the marketing department. They were given a brief to market Thirteen as a Thrill ride. So in effect they had to dress Mutton up as Lamb. It has got people through the gates. A lot of people enjoy it, equally there are people who think it is rubbish. You can't please everyone I guess. It does seem to be all about the drop and the backwards bit. Without the trim brakes the main coaster section would be a lot better.

The vast majority of the people I know who have ridden it, (though I know of many who found Thirteen closed!) have really enjoyed it, though most commented on how they were expecting it to be on par with Nemesis or Oblivion given the advertising they had seen.

[e4kenndr]

ive searched for this tour thing people are talking about but can't find anything on it-any help ppl?

[DiogoJ42]

[quote=""e4kenndr""]ive searched for this tour thing people are talking about but can't find anything on it-any help ppl?[/quote]
I believe it's the event that was organised to replace the canceled preview weekend. So it's not available to 'joe public', only those who had tickets for the preview event.

[Dean]

They may be currently installing a new braking system at the bottom of the drop, as there is now a bracket under the track for things to be attached to, and they must be doing this work overnight as temp generator lights have been brought in, or they have been put in place ready for dark ish opening of Th13teen during the 80's day next Sunday as ride close is 8pm.

Sunset is just before 9pm on 23rd May...

[DiogoJ42]

Please don't tell me they are putting in more trims?

[Dean]

[quote=""DiogoJ42""] Please don't tell me they are putting in more trims?[/quote]

It may not be a braking system, but something is being added to the bottom of the drop which I guess will be a form of brake...

[John]

Surely they can't make it any slower, it barely makes it round as it is...

[Nightfall]

Just to confirm you mean the first drop and not the freefall drop.
If so I’m guessing it's a mechanical trim rather than the magnetic trims, but why at the bottom of the drop?

[Dean]

[quote=""Nightfall""]Just to confirm you mean the first drop and not the freefall drop.
If so I’m guessing it's a mechanical trim rather than the magnetic trims, but why at the bottom of the drop?[/quote]

Yeah first main drop...

[James6]

Maybe there replacing the magnetic brakes with these mechanical brakes?

Can't decide if that would be a good or a bad thing... :-k

If that's not what there doing, what else could it be?

[Islander]

You've got more control with a mechanical trim than a magnetic one - can set it to trim more sparingly... [-o<

...or of course trim more harshly...

[Dormiens-Dave]

I had heard on the famous grapevine that they where going to replace the magnetic breaks with mechanical ones, as islander has said a magnetic break will always slow the train down based on its weight, and initial inertia regardless of what speed you actually want it to run at.

A mechanical trim can trim to an exact speed regardless of the weight of the train giving more control over the ride experience.

Also a new rumour about the weight issue for the drop is to do with the type of hydrolic fluid in the drop rams, if this is the case it will be closed season before they fix it as it takes ages to flush out the fluid and replace it with a different type i would imagine.

[Kaz]

Also a new rumour about the weight issue for the drop is to do with the type of hydrolic fluid in the drop rams, if this is the case it will be closed season before they fix it as it takes ages to flush out the fluid and replace it with a different type i would imagine.

Without sounding rude, is that not basically 'I think', rather than a rumour. Anyway I very much doubt it, I think a company which specialises in making hydraulic mechanisms would know what fluids to use. Its not rocket science, your just moving a set weight.

[Nightfall]

[quote=""Kaz""]I think a company which specialises in making hydraulic mechanisms would know what fluids to use.[/quote] Quite true although the question is how many hydraulic systems have to perform an operation like this?
The biggest concern for the ride during development would have been finding a fluid that could repeat the motion within reasonably quick success. As weight seems to be the issue it could have been that they chose the fluid that could cope with the number of drops, but underestimated the amount of weight they would have to carry in that time period.
Most hydraulics either move heavy loads slowly or light loads quickly.

But that doesn’t quite explain why the ride worked well, then went weird for a month and now seems to be getting along ok. Wouldn’t the wrong fluid just be causing constant problems?

[Vik]

[quote=""Nightfall""]

But that doesn’t quite explain why the ride worked well, then went weird for a month and now seems to be getting along ok. Wouldn’t the wrong fluid just be causing constant problems?[/quote]

It would of taken some time for any major problems to materialise. It seems to be running ok now, but only when the back to rows of the trains are empty. Dave is quite correct in what he has mentioned about the wrong type of hydraulic fluid being used. It is believed to be too thick, the same stuff that is used for Rita, which obviously needs it.

Again all the info is gleamed from a variety of grapevines that grow at Farley Towers and beyond, but I wouldn't put it past Towers, in an effort to keep costs down, to use the same Hydraulic fluid as is used on Rita rather than the type which they should of been advised to use.

[Jon]

If they are making any serious amendments to the ride, why isn't it just before the second lift hill? This way, it can run the whole of the outdoor section at the intended speed before slowing to the right speed to hit the lift hill. Simples.

As Walt Disney said, people in the queue have been waiting there to see the whole show. They want the full product. Having the ride slowed down is not as it was designed to be.

[Vik]

The possible change to mechanical brakes concerns me slightly. Would there not be a noise issue with these? Being very close to Alton Village, that could cause some problems. I know they won't be braking a train travelling at high speed, but they would still create a bit of noise.

[Dormiens-Dave]

[quote=""Kaz""]

Also a new rumour about the weight issue for the drop is to do with the type of hydrolic fluid in the drop rams, if this is the case it will be closed season before they fix it as it takes ages to flush out the fluid and replace it with a different type i would imagine.

Without sounding rude, is that not basically 'I think', rather than a rumour. Anyway I very much doubt it, I think a company which specialises in making hydraulic mechanisms would know what fluids to use. Its not rocket science, your just moving a set weight.[/quote]

No because i didn't think it up, i heard it from other enthusiasts, which is why i called it a RUMOUR and not a THOUGHT.

Also to add to Nightfall and Vics comments Hydrolic fluid comes in many different types in order to allow for heat generated during operation causing expansion of the Oil, different oils expand at different rates, if an oil chosen expands too much it causes stress on the mechanical components hence why the phrase "its pissing hydrolic fluid" has been heard on the great and mythical grapevine, this could be caused by seals degrading due to oil expansion.

I think the reasons the trims can't be put just before the second lift hill is because theres no straight piece of track to fit one on, its all a bit twisty at the end

[James6]

Sorry to change the focus of the topic at the moment.

I actually love Thirteen but was unbelievably dissappointed by it's opening...

Nothing happened, no ribbon cutting, not even a count down from 13. I just found it such a wasted opportunity, even Pirates Landing at Legoland got more of a ceremony! Almost wasn't worth going specially for opening day.

Was wondering what you guys though about it

And I heard a lot of TTF chanting in the build up to the ride opening :P