150 replies to this topic

[Ryan Shrout]

So, this could be the biggest new wood coaster to come out in years. Its going to be a complete custom project by Rocky Mountain Coasters. What do you think about this, as yet unofficial, project?

[The BeastFan]

Based off of the photos, the first hill looks to be between 115-130 ft tall. Also on the first drop, it is said it will angle up to 81 degrees (which is insane for a wood coaster, but this IS RMC we're talking here). I expect something like El Toro in the way it rides (high speed pacing and air time) but with an obvious hint that it'll be more of a terrain coaster with a more interesting layout. I'm also curious about the trains. It is said RMC will be making their own trains. I highly suspect another articulated design (where each seat is its own car), similar to Millennium Flyers and Timberliners. This ride will also be entirely made with their patented topper track.

I think this will be a HUGELY underrated project with both CP and SFMM slated for big announcements later this summer. SDC is fairly overlooked, but this should be a nice surprise among the 2013 batch so far. I have a lot of hope for this in that it turns out to be the next step in wooden coaster designs. Gravitygroup and GCI will be taking note I imagine if this turns to be a big success like they've had with Texas Giant's transformation.

[MorganFan]

Has anyone seen the picture of the possible zero-g roll? Even though it will probably be a really overbanked overbank, could someone please post that here?

Edit: Nevermind. I see that Ryan has posted it here.

Edited by MorganFan, 24 June 2012 - 10:24 PM.

[The BeastFan]

I'm going to say this isn't a 0g roll in the works. It looks as if the ride will go up the 2nd hill and make a hard banked turn (possibly over-banked) as it descends from said hill. Imagine El Toro's banked turn around except the banking doesn't begin until just after the crest. I have doubts this will have any inversions.

[Bretten Bailey]

^RMC was looking into adding inversions to their wooden coasters. Of course a loop would have to be conquered first before even attempting a zero-g roll. I'm not saying that this coaster will have a loop, but I wouldn't be surprised to see another attempt at one in a few years (and I'm sure RMC will be at the helm of it).

[Ryan Shrout]

I disagree. I think that perhaps the reason wooden inversions have failed for so long is that everyone tries for a vertical loop. An inversion like that means a ton of forces and a really large inversion. Remember that the first inversion on a steel coaster was a corkscrew. It was small, rather low on forces, and way over-supported. And of course now that we have so many different inversions, anything is pretty much open. Personally, I think a in-line roll of some sort would be the easiest inversion to throw on a wood coaster.

[Vater]

SoB's failure had absolutely nothing to do with its vertical loop. It had everything to do with just about everything BUT the loop. I realize you weren't referring to SoB, but still...I bet a corkscrew would have been just as successful as the vertical loop was in the early 1900s, possibly even less so. I seriously doubt that the corkscrew being the first inversion was much more than what the designer wanted to acheive, considering the vertical loop arrived only a year later.

[The BeastFan]

^Agreed. The loop was the only part that worked properly. I don't get the argument that the loop was the problem just because it was removed. News flash- the first accident happened in the Rose Bowl. It was blamed on poor structural engineering and using a combination of wrong and bad wood (both of which the park knew about from day 1 btw, Paramount designed it that way to use less wood, thus less cost, the entire structure is a condemned mess). The loop was removed so the park could use new trains and Gerstlauer didn't approve them to go upside down.

And I would think a loop would be the easiest inversion to pull off. Loops don't have nearly the lateral movement as other inversions. As soon as you get into corkscrews and 0g rolls, you're adding a lot of other forces.

I still say this isn't going to have a 0g roll.

[The BeastFan]

I've been reading the interwebs, and have potentially breaking news. There are lots of people who were at the park today who saw the next bit of track go in place, and we may have an inversion confirmed tomorrow. We'll see when these TR's come in.

[biZarRo]

Wow, a woodie at SDC is definately what i would imagine the next coaster being. When I was there a couple years ago, the park was a lot like Dollywood, and had very few coasters, with Wildfire and Powderkeg being the only major thrilling coasters there. ThuNderaTion is a mine train, and is somewhat thrilling but is designed more as a kids first major coaster. The other two there are pretty much kiddie coasters, but I still love Fire in the Hole for its theming. This woodie is definately the thing that SDC needs and would fit in perfectly with the other rides. An inversion would be amazing, and I hope its a loop. I heard that SOB's loop, when it first opened, was really smooth, smoother than most parts of the ride. If anyone can bring it back, i would think it would be either RMC or Intamin, and RMC is possibly first. I hope I can get a trip out there next year, this looks awesome.

[drachenfirebgw]

I was in the non-inversion camp, but like you said BeastFan, the confirm that broke yesterday has been blowing up the amusement world the past 24 hours. Can't say I'm incredibly surprised Rocky Mountain Coasters would pull this off, just so soon though. I suppose they thought now or never. The one big project (New Texas Giant) and a ton of Topper Track jobs, and with how top heavy the amusement manufacture industry, especially in wooden roller coaster, I suppose it makes sense to try to hit another one out of the park right away. Can't say I'm surprised SDC jumped on board too. This has a very different feel compared to Son of Beast. Solidified manufactured that has used their technology successfully before, though like we said, this thing will have RMC trains.

Even before the confirming this ride alone was screaming at me to take a Silver Dollar City, Six Flags St. Louis, Worlds of Fun, Holiday World, and Beech Bend trip. Never done that many parks in a row before, but when I do make that kind of trip, Outlaw (semi-confirmed name via trademark), Prowler, Voyage, and the plethora of other wooden roller coasters will be why. But specifically this thing.

[Vater]

This has a very different feel compared to Son of Beast.

I would hope so. Every coaster has a different feel compared to Son of Beast.

[The BeastFan]

Photos from MidwestInfoGuide.

http://midwestinfogu....12/index2.html

Its already angled at about 135 degrees at this point. That's either a heck of an overbank, or we're seeing something more interesting in store.

Also, if it is an overbank, wouldn't it already begin to curve at this point? Usually, the peak of an overbank occurs in the middle of a curve, and this thing is already at 135 degrees or so. I can't see this going anywhere but to 180 at this point.

Edited by Mike Strobel, 28 June 2012 - 04:37 PM.

[biZarRo]

^I think that element will be either be a stengal dive or a zero g roll.

Announcement as of right now is in 40 days, 22 hours, 40 minutes, and 30 seconds.

[Vater]

But who's counting...

[Ryan Shrout]

The footers seem move on to curve to the left of the track's forward progress. The only logical way for it to get there from its current point is to just rotate all the way through an inversion and then swoop down left.

[steel-Rock]

I have GOT to get to Branson very soon. I am willing to give this a little bit of time though. I want to see how all of this craziness plays out first.

[biZarRo]

But who's counting...

me

[The BeastFan]

Well, we have a confirmed inversion. Its best described as a cutback (a la Drachen Fire except with a different entry and taller).



Photo from TPR.

Also, with that tight of a transition, there is no way this doesn't have an articulated stock.

Edited by Mike Strobel, 05 July 2012 - 11:11 PM.

[Vater]

I wonder what the angle of the banking is. The question I have is, will this be marketed as an inversion or an overbank?

[Ryan Shrout]

Wow that looks unreal. I feel like I might need to make a road trip out to Missouri next summer.

[biZarRo]

So its basically a stengal dive, but with higher banking to make it an inversion? Brilliant! I can't wait to see any other inversions that this coaster might have.

EDIT: @Mike, im not totally sure it would have articulated stock, seeing as Texas Giant didn't, and there are plenty of twisty coasters that don't have any either. I'm not just talking about woodies, but tons of steel coasters lack the articulated train design, and still have a twisty layout, Flight of Fear being an example.

Edited by biZarRo, 06 July 2012 - 10:48 AM.

[drachenfirebgw]

I wonder what the angle of the banking is. The question I have is, will this be marketed as an inversion or an overbank?

That's a great question, and I'm not really sure. They could advertise it as one and get slammed by strict traditionalist that would say that this isn't an inversion, and go through the rumblings and grumblings that come with all of that. Or they could avoid it altogether, and basically coin a new name for the Stengal Dive, wooden roller coaster style. Inclined loops are considered inversions as was Drachen Fire's cutback, with that in mind I'd say this is an inversion, but that's in the park's hands at this point.

So its basically a stengal dive, but with higher banking to make it an inversion? Brilliant! I can't wait to see any other inversions that this coaster might have.

EDIT: @Mike, im not totally sure it would have articulated stock, seeing as Texas Giant didn't, and there are plenty of twisty coasters that don't have any either. I'm not just talking about woodies, but tons of steel coasters lack the articulated train design, and still have a twisty layout, Flight of Fear being an example.

I agree. We could see an articulated stock from Rocky Mountain, or something similar to Gerstlauer's New Texas Giant design. My personal feeling here is that they will go articulated, because it does offer more flexibly and less doubt about how the rolling stock with traverse the track.

About the actually, inversion... cutback... thing. This looks sick. I won't be able to get to many parks in the next few years, however, when I do this will be on the list. Anything ah la Drachen Fire in pleasing to my eyes and ears. It looks fantastic, and I'm wondering what forces we'll get traversing this element. Some negative and positive G's and some laterals also? It'll be an interesting combination I'm sure.

[Danny Miller]

So it is essentially a bigger, more banked version of this:

http://rcdb.com/2.htm?p=37939

Should be sweet. My guess is that with people already speculating and saying it is an inversion, they would be foolish not to market it as one to draw people in.

[biZarRo]

^actually, it doesn't look like a cutback, imo, its more like an increbibly overbanked stengal dive. like this http://rcdb.com/1565.htm?p=4524