SW6 Ride Discussion

[Lorenashley]

whats the possibility that the track not only tilts like gravity max, but also rotates aswell? therefore putting you in the backwards position?
( Be gentle with me, i know nothing of track design or construction! )

[Evostance]

[quote=""Lorenashley""]whats the possibility that the track not only tilts like gravity max, but also rotates aswell? therefore putting you in the backwards position?
( Be gentle with me, i know nothing of track design or construction! )[/quote]


That would be some complex enginnering. Personally I think its much more likely to tilt backwards or drop and launch like I mentioned above

[Mr P]

This world's first thing could me something as daft as "World's First Roller Coaster themed as a crypt that's within 300 metres of a overhead cableway"
Unlikely, yes. but still i think we have to bear this in mind.

[riderita]

why would they shout about a worlds first if it was something lame like that?

The words "worlds first" are being splashed over the promotional material. This would suggest a certain level of confidence from the towers...

It will be good.

[Mr P]

[quote=""riderita""]why would they shout about a worlds first if it was something lame like that?

The words "worlds first" are being splashed over the promotional material. This would suggest a certain level of confidence from the towers...

It will be good.[/quote]

yeah, i know that its unlikely, but look at Blackpool Pleasurebeach. A World's First that was second hand!

[craigyboi]

[quote=""AstroDan""]Again, what staff are saying is 9/10 not true - with no offence to staff. Extremely few staff know the truth about SW6.[/quote]

I totally agree, most staff won't have a clue! But, regarding my post earlier, I found it strange that she told me that, as she knows nothing about coasters at all, and didnt even know what a tilt was and I hadn't heard anyone mention a double tilt on here really and wondered if it was possible..

craigy

[Lotte]

[quote=""AstroDan""]Again, what staff are saying is 9/10 not true - with no offence to staff. Extremely few staff know the truth about SW6.[/quote]
John Wardley is reportedly to have said that not even his wife knows saying secret weapon,if people want it to be a secret so be it.

[Dylan]

I doubt we will find out beforehand for definite.
The only way to get some idea is when the track for the backwards section out of the station is installed. May be able to make some educated guesses then.
It's all very intriguing. I like the not knowing!

[craigyboi]

[quote=""Mr P""]This world's first thing could me something as daft as "World's First Roller Coaster themed as a crypt that's within 300 metres of a overhead cableway"
Unlikely, yes. but still i think we have to bear this in mind.[/quote]

hahaha that made me laugh...

[AdamPanic]

Been having a look at the plans again, and spotted 4 unused footers (Small Circles)
What are they for?
Plus a another switchtrac? (Bigger Circle)

Plus can anyone find the section that leads back in to the station after the helix on the vertical elevations, cos I can't.

[kingda dude]

You have to look carefully. it is hard to see because some of the land gets in the way, this makes it hard to see and that section isn't that detailed so there is no information to get from it.

[Maelstrom]

Those 'unused footers' you marked have actually been constructed if you look at the latest construction pics (they run next to the footers for the station in same way they do on the plans.) I think it is likly that this is for the transfer track in the mainatnce bay as runs along side the brake run and is the most logical location for the maintance area as the plans do state it is located within the building.

[AdamPanic]

That does make sense, when I think about. I think then the garage transfer track is under the guest bridge. After Braking but before the station like Air.
To add an extra train into the run
1. One on the lift
2. One on the brake run (Which is likely to still be able to run to the "hidden" section.)
The new train pulls out of the garage, pull in station loads.
While exitting the station the brake-run train follows it into the station.

The wait incurred to change to fewer trains would be acceptable.

[Maelstrom]

I am starting to think that it won't feature a drop section in the building but more likly to be a backwards tilt. The reason i think this is that the big hole that has deen dug does not join up with the trench which holds the backwards section. I think it is likly the hole willl hold the equipment that will enable the track to tilt and the track will tilt and join up with the end of the track in the trench (the trench does go will within area which will be within the building) and those big footers next to the big hole will hold the large supports needed for the tilt track.

If it does feature a drop it would only work if it dropped in the hole (is it big enough for a train of 20 people? (the minimum i epxect the trains to hold) then rose back up to ground level before being launched backwards but would need to drop straight away to below ground level for the helix, but i cannot see this happened as would not be enough room for a backwards launch section.

[Dylan]

I had assumed a drop and backwards launch too, but the construction has really confused me now with the positioning of everything. I have NO idea what's going to happen!

[chrismci]

I'm thinking tilt rather than vertical drop too. I'm also sure the trains won't drop below groun level, and the hole (which is now a solid concrete box) is only going to house the machinery. Tilt is more likely than drop because the tilt won't need to be combined with a backwards launch.

I just had the thought "3D motion sim"...if the train is locked to the track, and the track is on full motion hydraulics, they'd easily be able to create the sensation of a long drop that could end with the track tilted to continue the ride. They wouldn't even need a 3D cine, in the dark the effect could be done with a few flashing lights. That would be world first. But it would introduce greater potential for ride downtime, as the motion hydraulics would certainly need more attention than a simple tilt mech.

[Rob L]

I agree that the way construction is going is making everything seem a bit more confusing. If there is a drop where they dug the huge hole, which I am still hoping for, then I'm not sure how the track will actually go from the drop to the backwards helix, as the hole seems to be sealed off on all four sides. If a drop is going to be here, I'd imagine that the track will have to go up again after the drop. I really hope that the hole isn't just to house machinery, it would seem almost like a waste after all this excitement!

I don't think we'll be finding out what is going to happen any time soon, so all we're going to have is speculation, which I think is a good thing. I'd love to go on the ride in March not knowing what's going to happen, it would make it a much more exciting first ride.

[chrismci]

[quote=""Rob""]...I really hope that the hole isn't just to house machinery, it would seem almost like a waste after all this excitement!
[/quote]

Remember that the track enters the building at roof level, so there's plenty of height for a drop without needing to go below ground. Whatever is going to happen it will need machinery below the lowest point of a drop.

...I don't think we'll be finding out what is going to happen any time soon, so all we're going to have is speculation, which I think is a good thing. I'd love to go on the ride in March not knowing what's going to happen, it would make it a much more exciting first ride.

Agreed. I'm expecting to be able to ride sw6 for the first time without knowing for sure what to expect. Speculation is fun though, I'll be happy if one of my speculative guesses hits the mark.

[Sam]

First photos from ATA

I think the manufacturer is still up in the air, though we will find out hopefully in the next few hours when pictures of the track show up. We're pretty sure the trains aren't going to be single cars, as I believe 2 trains were mentioned in some plans.

Although if I had to put money on it, it'd just about be Intamin, I think there's a really good chance it's someone else too. The folks at CoasterForce seem convinced that we and ATA have got it wrong, and it won't be Intamin. Buying in groups seems to be a strategy that worked well for Tussauds so I doubt Merlin would have abandoned it, with the three SW's, Spinball & Fury, Rita & Stealth (Air and N:I?). Saw and...? Everyone seems to have ruled out Gerstlauer due to the size of the trains, but they seem to be one of those manufacturers like Vekoma that tailor to a park's demands. It doesn't have to be a Eurofighter, though they aren't building much else these days. The recent crop of launched Eurofighters around shows they are capable of launches, but they very rarely build rides with trains as opposed to cars.

The dark horse is Premier. They don't have any rides in the UK, and only one small one in Europe so could be offering a discount, Megafobia style, to have a European showpiece ride. Parts of the Revenge of the Mummy at Universal parks are very similar, including switchbacks, indoor dark ride sections, and mild backwards launches. The only problem is the length of the trains and that the track doesn't match. Again, another manufacturer that will cater to a parks exact requirements (Powder Keg). Their rides also seem to be a bit hit and miss, like Intamin. Quite a few didn't really work out, or had to be torn down (Batman and Robin), and Alton have always gone for reliability before (Maurer Sohne spinner, Intamin accelerator, B&M, Mack mine train).

The other contender is Mack. Tussauds/Merlin seem to have a good relationship with them (Flume, RMT, Marauders, Logger's Leap and more recently, Flying Fish refurb and Battle Galleons). I reckon Merlin management see Europa Park as a bit of a benchmark for where they want Alton Towers to be, and you can see this with the resort rebranding. Blue Fire has really brought them up to Intamin's level - they have shown they can easily match them at Intamin's own game. The problem is here, Mack don't really have any models that would match the SW6 plans, I think Alton would much rather use them for a YoungSTAR Beastie replacement.

It looks like this well be a well themed coaster, and I think a higher percentage of the SW6 budget will be set aside for theming than any other SW (not including Oblivion's hole). The "enthusiasts will be dissapointed" leak can't help but steer me away from Intamin a bit, and more towards Vekoma or Gerstlauer. I think there'll do a Disney job with it, in there'll buy a pretty poor coaster, track & trains, but the theming and magic section will cancel that out. We'll see.

[furie]

I've always stuck with Intamin since somebody on here showed that the track and supports match Intamin and that's where my money still is

However, seeing track won't help. We've seen the track in the plans already. If it's standard bi-rail and square supports - then it doesn't narrow it down at all. The physical track reveals nothing more than the plans did.

A shipping note, or label will though