The Smiler - Speculation

Blaze · Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:16 pm

By this time in 2009, Thirteen's site was already cleared, so they best get their fingers out!

Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:20 pm

Maybe they have started digging under the cover of the black hole tent.

Bear · Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:36 pm

ryanyoxall wrote: Maybe they have started digging under the cover of the black hole tent.

Not a chance, they'll take the tent down first after clearing whatever's left inside it. There's a floor and everything in there they have to get rid of first!

Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:51 pm

Good point.

Does anyone know how long it took for them to complete the track on Saw? It will probably take longer for this thought as it's longer.

Blaze · Fri Apr 06, 2012 5:54 pm

Coaster track flies up these days. Thirteen took barely a fortnight. This is longer and more complex, but it could still be up in barely a month.

Fri Apr 06, 2012 7:11 pm

Given the fences are now up around the tent it could well be gone by this time next week. I'd imagine with Th13teen the fact they had to dig the deep pit for the drop mechanism added to the construction time. I'd imagine that we'll start seeing foundations and footers going down by the end of the month

Fri Apr 06, 2012 7:43 pm

Blaze wrote: Coaster track flies up these days. Thirteen took barely a fortnight. This is longer and more complex, but it could still be up in barely a month.

Yeah, though I recall footers for Air being put in at least 6 months before it opened. Maybe being a Gerst and not a B&M will shorten that gap though.

Matthew144 · Sat Apr 07, 2012 8:27 am

The Psychoaster wrote:
Blaze wrote: Coaster track flies up these days. Thirteen took barely a fortnight. This is longer and more complex, but it could still be up in barely a month.
Yeah, though I recall footers for Air being put in at least 6 months before it opened. Maybe being a Gerst and not a B&M will shorten that gap though.

It's still 12 months before opening and nobody has any idea how deep the footings are going to be except the building team!
There seems to be a B&M snobbery on here that assumes they are the best thing since sliced bread, SW7 has the same budget as Swarm so just because it is manufactured by Gerstlauer does not meen it is someway going to be inferior.
I expect that this will be a prototype and Gerstlauer will use this as their next big thing, is there a more famous park anywhere in the UK to showcase your latest design.

Sat Apr 07, 2012 9:49 am

The thread on CoasterForce reports that the planning documents have been changed. The noise report now states that it's similar to Saw. The statement about it being the same manufacturer and model have been removed.

I haven't seen the document lately myself, perhaps someone could check it out? Could be quite significant.

Sat Apr 07, 2012 9:55 am

If Apple made roller coasters, they'd be B&M's. Seriously great, but stupidly expensive.

I'm much happier for Alton Towers to have gone with Gerstlauer, the actual coaster is probably costing just half the budget, so about £10m, leaving one hell of a lot of money for theming and experience. The Swarm may have been a £20m coaster too, but I bet at least £15m went to B&M. So if Merlin can do what they've done with The Swarm theming with just £5m then imagine what they'll do with £10m at Alton Towers!

Sat Apr 07, 2012 10:26 am

haydn! wrote: I'm much happier for Alton Towers to have gone with Gerstlauer, the actual coaster is probably costing just half the budget, so about £10m, leaving one hell of a lot of money for theming and experience. The Swarm may have been a £20m coaster too, but I bet at least £15m went to B&M. So if Merlin can do what they've done with The Swarm theming with just £5m then imagine what they'll do with £10m at Alton Towers!

I think you're underestimating just how expensive scenic work really is. It's seriously expensive! The main reason why Swarm only has a few set pieces is because making large scale set pieces such as the plane requires a hell of a lot of work and planning to make it safe for thousands of guests every day. Though rendering buildings and the like is less, it's still very specialist work and requires a lot of time and money.

I am dreading the announcement of this ride being related to an intellectual property that would seriously eat away at that lush £20M budget which could be arguably better spent on more effects and scenic work for the attraction. We'll see though, hopefully it won't be an IP.

Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:09 am

sheepie wrote: I think you're underestimating just how expensive scenic work really is. It's seriously expensive! The main reason why Swarm only has a few set pieces is because making large scale set pieces such as the plane requires a hell of a lot of work and planning to make it safe for thousands of guests every day. Though rendering buildings and the like is less, it's still very specialist work and requires a lot of time and money.

I'm not under estimating anything. It's basic economics that £10m buys more than £5m... in terms of both or either quality and quantity. The point I was making was that if Merlin have achieved great theming for Swarm, we can expect great things for SW7 with a similar or larger budget.

Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:10 am

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Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:15 am

And these..

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Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:25 am

haydn! wrote:
sheepie wrote: I think you're underestimating just how expensive scenic work really is. It's seriously expensive! The main reason why Swarm only has a few set pieces is because making large scale set pieces such as the plane requires a hell of a lot of work and planning to make it safe for thousands of guests every day. Though rendering buildings and the like is less, it's still very specialist work and requires a lot of time and money.
I'm not under estimating anything. It's basic economics that £10m buys more than £5m... in terms of both or either quality and quantity. The point I was making was that if Merlin have achieved great theming for Swarm, we can expect great things for SW7 with a similar or larger budget.

I was discussing with another member on here the other day how the £20m might have been earmarked for a B&M and the budget hasn't been "downgraded" yet for a Gerst.

However, a £20m well themed B&M equates to a £15m very well themed Gerst - so if the budget does change I don't think it will cause issues to theming.

Bear · Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:32 am

YES!! There is possibly a marginal chance* that this coaster could be a Mack, in which case it will be an AMAZING ride and will pull my estimations of Alton's future from the gutter! Pleeeeease coaster overlords, I beg of thee!

*Seeing as it's not definitely a Gerstlauer, as stated in le plans

Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:33 am

£20m was the figure quoted in the planning application for this coaster/project. But, yeah, even a £15m project with Euro-Fighter hardware would be great!

Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:34 am

They need to put a poster on the black fences. Will make the whole appearance look better

Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:35 am

^ They will very soon.

Sat Apr 07, 2012 11:44 am

Tom G wrote: The thread on CoasterForce reports that the planning documents have been changed. The noise report now states that it's similar to Saw. The statement about it being the same manufacturer and model have been removed.

I haven't seen the document lately myself, perhaps someone could check it out? Could be quite significant.

I've just checked. The file has not been changed but I see why several people think it has. The first page reads that the new ride will be "Similar" to Saw. However if you scroll down to further in the document it does still say "the same type and manufacturer".