Dunno if I'd call it an improvement...
Also its worth noting when I went it didn't open until about 11ish, and we saw some guys poking about with the security camera at the top of the lift hill.
I'd make a wild guess and say its a temporary cam, and the lights are there to lighten the picture so its more visible. But eh, who knows...
Air Tunnel
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thefatone
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Nope.
It's entirely for the new picsolve video system which they've installed and currently testing out.
You'll notice there's a billion new yourday style cameras around the ride areas, one in the tunnel, one where the photos are, then after the small bridge, over the air plaza, and in the "lets go to the carpark" thing there.
It's entirely for the new picsolve video system which they've installed and currently testing out.
You'll notice there's a billion new yourday style cameras around the ride areas, one in the tunnel, one where the photos are, then after the small bridge, over the air plaza, and in the "lets go to the carpark" thing there.
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BigAl
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Somebody told me last night about a rumor going around that they could be for a new on-ride video or something?
Edit: Ah so it's true! :P
Edit: Ah so it's true! :P
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Jammydodger
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Well that would make sense. I was wondering as well because I noticed all the rides seemed to have RFID sensor boxes installed in them too. There's a couple in Airs tunnel, some on Obvlivion above the station exit and a couple on the rapids after the tunnel and I'm sure there's loads more. It's probably what will trigger the cameras to start filming.
They look a little bit like this if you ever wanna look out for them
They look a little bit like this if you ever wanna look out for them
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Sam
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[quote=""BigAl""]Somebody told me last night about a rumor going around that they could be for a new on-ride video or something?[/quote]
What are they going to do, have a camera on a string dangling from the ride car? I don't get it, how could you possibly do on-ride video on Air? Unless it catches you speeding past at a few points on the ride. Sounds utterly pointless.
What are they going to do, have a camera on a string dangling from the ride car? I don't get it, how could you possibly do on-ride video on Air? Unless it catches you speeding past at a few points on the ride. Sounds utterly pointless.
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Dormiens-Dave
I have heard the same rumours about Picsolve been tinkering around Air, wonder if they are taking the Yourday hardware and maybe doing a ride by ride video thing
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thefatone
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[quote=""Jammydodger""]Well that would make sense. I was wondering as well because I noticed all the rides seemed to have RFID sensor boxes installed in them too. [/quote]
These are the old yourday systems - completely redundant.
The Picsolve system are running by sensors placed around the track. I'm unsure how it'd run, perhaps filming the entire train going past points to view next to the photos in the shop next year (or whenever they get the system working).
Weirdly/annoyingly/interestingly they're not using the YourDay hardware or system. Infact in some locations they've put the picsolve video cameras infront of the Yourday ones.
Would be nice if they just removed the yourday eyesores from the rides. But I doubt that'll happen anytime soon.
These are the old yourday systems - completely redundant.
The Picsolve system are running by sensors placed around the track. I'm unsure how it'd run, perhaps filming the entire train going past points to view next to the photos in the shop next year (or whenever they get the system working).
Weirdly/annoyingly/interestingly they're not using the YourDay hardware or system. Infact in some locations they've put the picsolve video cameras infront of the Yourday ones.
Would be nice if they just removed the yourday eyesores from the rides. But I doubt that'll happen anytime soon.
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pluk
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Dry ice / misting and lighting in the tunnel, a waterfall over the corrugated tin roof. Neither of these things would cost a lot relative to other maintenance. It's a bit pathetic that these things aren't done really, especially in a near zero investment year.
And to say that these sort of things can never happen as they would not see a return on investment is daft. No, it's not the sort of stuff you can stick on the a tv advert and suddenly get millions thorough the door, but taken with other theming and showmanship around the park it does encourage repeat visits and brand loyalty. If that was not the case no rides would be themed, they would just be built over carparks with the bay markings still on the floor (like 6 flags do).
And to say that these sort of things can never happen as they would not see a return on investment is daft. No, it's not the sort of stuff you can stick on the a tv advert and suddenly get millions thorough the door, but taken with other theming and showmanship around the park it does encourage repeat visits and brand loyalty. If that was not the case no rides would be themed, they would just be built over carparks with the bay markings still on the floor (like 6 flags do).
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Air Guy 138
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They should have done something with the tunnel this season, seeing as though there was no new attraction. Also, this may be a stupid idea, but maybe have blasts of wind through the tunnel, so it feels like 'air'? Bit of a mad idea, I know.
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TowersJake
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Why not some nice blue lights added to make the tunnel less dull , (gosh i hate it in there)
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BigAl
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[quote=""Sam""][quote=""BigAl""]Somebody told me last night about a rumor going around that they could be for a new on-ride video or something?[/quote]
What are they going to do, have a camera on a string dangling from the ride car? I don't get it, how could you possibly do on-ride video on Air? Unless it catches you speeding past at a few points on the ride. Sounds utterly pointless.[/quote]
The camera's wouldn't actually be on the ride would they? That would be pointless. They'll probably light the car up as it goes through he tunnel and film everyone from underneath or from the side. How should I know what they're for anyway? I just heard from a few others in chat who'd noticed the same thing as me and they said what they'd heard.
What are they going to do, have a camera on a string dangling from the ride car? I don't get it, how could you possibly do on-ride video on Air? Unless it catches you speeding past at a few points on the ride. Sounds utterly pointless.[/quote]
The camera's wouldn't actually be on the ride would they? That would be pointless. They'll probably light the car up as it goes through he tunnel and film everyone from underneath or from the side. How should I know what they're for anyway? I just heard from a few others in chat who'd noticed the same thing as me and they said what they'd heard.
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djtruefitt
In case anyone hasnt been on Air recently, but they have added a couple of blue spotlights in the tunnel facing from the station to towards the end of the tunnel. Im guessing these are just there for halloween, but they should keep them all year round! The only issue with them is that it now really shows how dirty the floor is with chewing gum and water everywhere. It needs a good clean down there!
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corkscru74
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Honestly couldn't understand what everyone was going on about before I went there again this week. It looked damp and dreadful.
I can't understand it as the station itself is quite well themed and the lighting (which changes every time the carriages are tilted up) is brilliant.
Was thinking (as I was dangling through) how, as it's supposed to be an oasis of sorts, they could just coat the floor in astroturf and fake plants. Even if they just gave it a coat of paint it would be an improvement on the blank concrete. Blue or Black vinyl paint (you know, the stuff you coat garage floors in) would do.
I can't understand it as the station itself is quite well themed and the lighting (which changes every time the carriages are tilted up) is brilliant.
Was thinking (as I was dangling through) how, as it's supposed to be an oasis of sorts, they could just coat the floor in astroturf and fake plants. Even if they just gave it a coat of paint it would be an improvement on the blank concrete. Blue or Black vinyl paint (you know, the stuff you coat garage floors in) would do.
Corky
TTF\'s Unofficial Marketing Guru
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TTF\'s Unofficial Marketing Guru
Being way too fond of his own opinion since 1983
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BigAl
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Astroturf would look really awful and wouldn't fit in with Air's theme at all, although using some brushed metal plates along the floors and as supports along the walls as well as placing a few evenly spaced blue lights throughout might be good. It wouldn't cost much either and would make the tunnel look a little more like it did on the original Air advert. I don't suppose the general public would remember about that or not care anyway so the money would probably be better used elsewhere unfortunately. :/
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CoasterCrazyChris
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[quote=""BigAl""]Astroturf would look really awful and wouldn't fit in with Air's theme at all, although using some brushed metal plates along the floors and as supports along the walls as well as placing a few evenly spaced blue lights throughout might be good. It wouldn't cost much either and would make the tunnel look a little more like it did on the original Air advert. I don't suppose the general public would remember about that or not care anyway so the money would probably be better used elsewhere unfortunately. :/[/quote]
I would personally prefer some fake rock placed sporadically along the walls of the tunnel with wall lights along the sides which light up as the carriage proceeds through the tunnel (like in the advert). We know they can't paint the walls, as apparently it's far too damp for that.
The original concepts for the tunnel look very dated now, in fact they are borderline tacky.
I would personally prefer some fake rock placed sporadically along the walls of the tunnel with wall lights along the sides which light up as the carriage proceeds through the tunnel (like in the advert). We know they can't paint the walls, as apparently it's far too damp for that.
The original concepts for the tunnel look very dated now, in fact they are borderline tacky.
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Blaze
[quote=""djtruefitt""]In case anyone hasnt been on Air recently, but they have added a couple of blue spotlights in the tunnel facing from the station to towards the end of the tunnel. Im guessing these are just there for halloween, but they should keep them all year round! The only issue with them is that it now really shows how dirty the floor is with chewing gum and water everywhere. It needs a good clean down there![/quote]
They've lit the tunnel up during Scarefest in the past. Didn't go on it last year, but the tear before it was a different colour every time, and it worked really well contrasting with the station lights.
They've lit the tunnel up during Scarefest in the past. Didn't go on it last year, but the tear before it was a different colour every time, and it worked really well contrasting with the station lights.
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BigAl
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[quote=""CoasterCrazyChris""][quote=""BigAl""]Astroturf would look really awful and wouldn't fit in with Air's theme at all, although using some brushed metal plates along the floors and as supports along the walls as well as placing a few evenly spaced blue lights throughout might be good. It wouldn't cost much either and would make the tunnel look a little more like it did on the original Air advert. I don't suppose the general public would remember about that or not care anyway so the money would probably be better used elsewhere unfortunately. :/[/quote]
I would personally prefer some fake rock placed sporadically along the walls of the tunnel with wall lights along the sides which light up as the carriage proceeds through the tunnel (like in the advert). We know they can't paint the walls, as apparently it's far too damp for that.
The original concepts for the tunnel look very dated now, in fact they are borderline tacky.
[/quote]
Here's a HD version of the advert: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFhde-5g_Ig&hd=1
The tunnel looks quite too dull but the ribbed like walls are nice. Brushed metal, brighter and more colourful lighting and some fake rock would be great. Also, if they could get the lights to turn on one-by-one as the train passes then that would be a nice effect too. Doubt they'll bother doing anything though. It's been like that for too long now and people would only continue to spit and drop litter in it. I think X-Sector needs more attention than that tunnel.
I would personally prefer some fake rock placed sporadically along the walls of the tunnel with wall lights along the sides which light up as the carriage proceeds through the tunnel (like in the advert). We know they can't paint the walls, as apparently it's far too damp for that.
The original concepts for the tunnel look very dated now, in fact they are borderline tacky.
[/quote]Here's a HD version of the advert: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFhde-5g_Ig&hd=1
The tunnel looks quite too dull but the ribbed like walls are nice. Brushed metal, brighter and more colourful lighting and some fake rock would be great. Also, if they could get the lights to turn on one-by-one as the train passes then that would be a nice effect too. Doubt they'll bother doing anything though. It's been like that for too long now and people would only continue to spit and drop litter in it. I think X-Sector needs more attention than that tunnel.
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captain
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The thing with Air is that, barring the music, there's F A 'oasis' theme at all. Yet because of the plans and the music everyone seems determined to pretend there is. The station couldn't be further from an oasis - it's some kind of futuristic car park/aircraft boarding station that even though it doesn't make sense and blurs into no theming at all at the edges of the building, remains pretty cool. I think almost entirely because of the lights. As soon as you leave the station though, all theming hell breaks loose and you're left with none at all. You just fly over bland block paving and native British plants. Then return past a corrugated metal wall over more brick paving. Whooooo.
The tunnel should be a consistent part of the ride, that not only continues the theme (whatever it is) from the station, but also acts as a prelude to the rest of the ride (whatever theme that is). Unfortunately at the moment, it's like "whoah what even happened in the station?!" and then it just couldn't work out what to do for the rest of the ride so nothing happens at all. So I almost think there's no point theming the tunnel until a coherent theme is established, even if it is almost as loose as the current one. Although I hope it would be significantly better. This is why I think the only reason building SW7 on the carpark would be a good idea, so that they almost have to do something with Air...
The tunnel should be a consistent part of the ride, that not only continues the theme (whatever it is) from the station, but also acts as a prelude to the rest of the ride (whatever theme that is). Unfortunately at the moment, it's like "whoah what even happened in the station?!" and then it just couldn't work out what to do for the rest of the ride so nothing happens at all. So I almost think there's no point theming the tunnel until a coherent theme is established, even if it is almost as loose as the current one. Although I hope it would be significantly better. This is why I think the only reason building SW7 on the carpark would be a good idea, so that they almost have to do something with Air...
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Coasteraddict
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Theming on Air is none existent really, and with N:WLB coming next year, attention will be once again on that side of the park (rather than Dark Forrest/Ug Land) so you would think that they'll theme it properly then. Unless....SW7 really is going to be with air as a new themed area past FV.
However ontopic! Personally I wonder how hard it would be to have the tunnel more like a cave, with rockfacing all over, and to help with the "oasis" theme, water falls and whatnot running down the walls into little pools (fountains), with streaking lights to light up the tunnel which could cause some really good light effects, and would be pretty cool either way. This would not only cover all the damp and horribleness of the tunnel, but people spitting wouldn't be a problem as they'd be spitting into fountains.
This would really help the theme in my opinion.
However ontopic! Personally I wonder how hard it would be to have the tunnel more like a cave, with rockfacing all over, and to help with the "oasis" theme, water falls and whatnot running down the walls into little pools (fountains), with streaking lights to light up the tunnel which could cause some really good light effects, and would be pretty cool either way. This would not only cover all the damp and horribleness of the tunnel, but people spitting wouldn't be a problem as they'd be spitting into fountains.
This would really help the theme in my opinion.