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Everything posted by scooterdoug
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3 Best: X Tatsu Riddler's Revenge 3 Worst: Viper Gold Rusher Revolution A lot of people on here have the right idea. Get there at least 30 minutes before the park opens, then run straight to X. Don't worry about the seat rotation, it won't make you sick...just scare the crap out of you. After X, go to Deja Vu, as that line moves very slow (it's a shuttle coaster, after all). After that, hit up the rides in the back of the park. I always go to Scream right after Deja Vu. It doesn't seem to get a very long line (though I haven't been on a Saturday in years, I always go on a weekday), but it's develops this somewhat painful vibration in the afternoon (I'm guessing as the track heats up from the sun). In the morning, though, it's B&M smooth. Oh yeah, Tatsu in the front is a sublime experience. I never really eat at SFMM, I just stuff myself for breakfast. I did have some corn from a place by Batman. It was actually quite tasty. Though, honestly, how can you screw up corn? Have fun at the Mountain! -Doug
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Most thrilling drop?
scooterdoug replied to RIP Psyclone's topic in Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, & Donkeys!
The front of Millennium Force definitely gives me that "butterflies in the stomach" feeling. In the back, you get far more dramatic airtime, but it's the front that gives that wonderful freefall feeling. Also, Eejanaika really surprised me, and I had already ridden X. I was in the middle, and the airtime on the first forward rotation was surprising and prolonged. I don't remember that sensation on X. -
The "Post Your Favorite Family Guy Quotes" Game!
scooterdoug replied to robbalvey's topic in Random, Random, Random
Brian (while watching "Sex in the City"): "So....it's a show about three hookers and their mom?" -
My New CoasterDynamix Design
scooterdoug replied to scooterdoug's topic in Roller Coaster Games, Models, and Other Randomness
IwantRevenge, it took me about a month to build that. I put 2-3 hours into it about 4-5 times a week. The bigger elements took more time, as the bigger it is, the harder it is to make it smooth and clean looking. Scruffy, I will not be adding other rides to it. I'm not really into making permanent, themed amusement park models. I just like building different coaster designs. That's the beauty of the kit, you can keep building different configurations as much as you want. Thanks for the nice comments. -Doug -
My New CoasterDynamix Design
scooterdoug replied to scooterdoug's topic in Roller Coaster Games, Models, and Other Randomness
Good estimate, Vekoma Fan Boy. The Dragon costs $500, the Scorpion $200, and there are 2 expansion packs at $50 each. However, when I bought the Scorpion, I didn't take into account that having such a tall design would require ALOT of supports to make a rigid structure. So, I had to do extra ordering of supports while I was building. I also got alot of extra base plates to accommodate the sheer size. I could have gotten away with fewer base plates and made a more compact design, but I really wanted that thing to sprawl all over the room. When all is said and done, I probably spent about $1000 on the whole thing. Worth every penny. The materials are high quality, and after 2 and a half years of owning it, I haven't even come close to tiring of it. In fact, I'm already thinking of my next possible design. And the customer service is fantastic. Since I was ordering so much, they took it upon themselves to help bring the shipping cost down. They really take care of their customers. I highly recommend a kit, they are fantastic! -Doug -
Hello all, The "coaster room" used to be a guest bedroom that happened to have a coaster model in it. The bed was recently removed, so things got really out of control. I bought a Scorpion kit to add to my Dragon and expansion pack, and made a beast that takes over the whole room. I combined the two lift hills together to make it REALLY tall, and bought an extra lift hill to use as a station. The result is...well, I'll let the pictures speak for themselves. For the record, I have banned myself from buying any more kits or track. I mean, if all this CD material is not enough to make me happy, then I have a bona fide addiction Enjoy the pics! -Doug "There really needs to be a CoasterDynamix Anonymous" Heim
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I enjoy Goliath very much. The first drop is great (though I really don't like the slow down at the top of the lift hill), and it is smooth and intense. However, there really isn't much airtime to speak of. I do enjoy positive G's (and Goliath has them in spades...especially the infamous "Helix of Death". However, I think that high positive G's are better on other styles of coasters. When it comes to hyper coasters, I expect lots of airtime. In that sense, Goliath falls rather short.
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Even though you seem to have already made your choice, I just have to echo everyone else. If it's a THRILL park you're looking for, the answer is very easy: the Mountain. You'll have an absolute blast. Just make sure you don't go on a Saturday! Those crowds make me wanna
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I just stumbled upon your question. I hope I answer this before you leave. Keep in mind that I never actually hiked Mt. Fuji. That said, I think that it is overly ambitious to do Fuji-Q AND Mt. Fuji in one day. Depending on what station you start from, you could be looking at a full day trip (people who want to do the whole thing frequently start their hike at the bottom at 6pm and arrive at the top around 4:30am to see the sunrise). You could certainly do Fuji-Q Highland in the morning and then hike to the Mt. Fuji summit from one of the higher stations. However, keep in mind that Fuji-Q Highland can consume more time than you realize. I figured that I wouldn't be there that long, what with only 3 coasters I really wanted to ride. However, I ended up staying there 6 hours and having a really good time. Finally, even if you do manage to cram that all into your day, you could end up exhausting yourself. Going to a theme park uses up energy, and you need plenty of energy for Mt. Fuji. Fuji-san is a daunting mountain not to be trifled with, and I would suggest hitting it with all the energy you can save up, not drained from a few hours of coaster riding (you're thinking of two coasters, but Fujiyama is actually cooler than you might expect). Just my two cents. When it comes to big hikes, I always like to devote the entire day to it. Have fun in Japan! -Doug
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Pete C, Hamu86 gives some pretty solid advice. Everyone does seem to run to Fujiyama. When I went, Fujiyama was the only one of the big trio running upon opening. Eejanaika opened about 20 minutes later, followed by Dodonpa. Eejanaika's line varied, with the shortest being 10-15 minutes when it first opened, maxing out at around 45-60 minutes later in the day. Dodonpa seems to stick at about an hour wait all day with no variations. Fujiyama fluctuated from 10-40 minute waits (longer when the other 2 rides were down, shorter when they opened). You will likely see similar wait times that I did, as I also went on a Sunday. Also, keep a close eye on the weather forecast, as they close rides at the slightest hint of rain (though the rainy season will be well over when you go). My advice would be to gate crash and head straight for Eejanaika (assuming it's open when the park opens). Ride that a bunch while keeping your eyes on Dodonpa. When you see them launching test trains, head over there to maybe get on without the usual hour wait. Fujiyama seems to be the most reasonable line there, so ride that when the line looks respectable. Also, while the back is best on Fujiyama for airtime (back is also smoother on Eejanaika...go figure), you have no choice in where you sit. In Japanese parks, they tell you where to sit. Just keeps the line moving more efficiently. Finally, if you choose to gate crash, I would suggest using the train (since the bus gets you there well after the gates open). Use Japan Rail's very excellent Hyperdia www.hyperdia.com/cgi-english/hyperWeb.cgi for train times (enter "fujikyuhairando" for your destination). Just be ready for an early wake up! Hope this helps. And remember to chant "Eejanaika, Eejanaika!" with the ride ops as they send you on your way! -Doug
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Thanks again for the kind words. I just got back from a bachelor party weekend in the Bay Area (with a solo trip to Great America included...more credits) and finally got a chance to check this site. As for your question, TheRapidsNerd, yes, I did have a bit of sushi in Japan. I only went for one sushi meal. While it was pretty clearly a run-of-the-mill sushi place for Japan, it was of excellent quality...what you would expect from a really good (but not great) sushi bar in the States. Though I never did try octopus (I don't really like it...too freakin' chewy). Thanks again for all the feedback on my first TR!
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^Thanks for the nice words. Shurikens are not a part of Aikido training. We were just playing with them after the morning keiko. The only weapons I have ever seen used in Aikido are boken and jo. As for the shuriken, I was trying to throw this: http://i133.photobucket.com/albums/q53/scooterdoug/shuriken.jpg Yes, 8, even 4-pointed would have been easier to throw. At least I got one to stick to the target
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Thanks for the nice comments, everyone. I feel at this point I should be more fair to Japanese food, as I only included, um, unique items in the TR. Japan has tons of great food. I ate more yakitori (skewers) than I can count, they are delicious. I also discovered that a good bowl of ramen is a special thing indeed. As I mentioned in the TR, sukiyaki is incredibly delicious. Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera with me for the best meal of the trip: Kobe beef. We went to Kobe specifically to try the beef. A full, multi-course meal with a 180 gram steak as the centerpiece cost a whopping $130! However, it was worth every penny. I mean, I have never, EVER, had beef this good. It is sooooo tender and unbelievably jucy and flavorful. Because of this one meal, I have been ruined for steak. Nothing compares. Thanks again for the nice comments. -Doug
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Konichiwa! About a month ago, I went to Japan with my Aikido dojo (What is Aikido? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aikido) to train, sight-see, and otherwise create assorted mayhem. We trained in Iwama, the birthplace of Aikido, then toured Tokyo and trained there. After a week and a half, the rest of the gang left for Narita Airport while Ben (a dojo friend) and I stayed after for a week. We checked out more of Tokyo, went to Osaka to tour and battle monkeys, and, oh yeah, rode some roller coasters. So, I decided to do a TR and share some of the more memorable moments of my trip with you. The majority of the pictures are not coaster related, but I think you’ll still enjoy the journey through Japan. As this is my first TR, I welcome any sort of compliments/criticisms/or suggestions. Enjoy! -Doug Ben and I walked to a waterfall in Mino to find some furry friends. This one was struggling to get into that soda. I stood far a way and used the zoom because, frankly, I just don’t trust monkeys! Thanks for joining me on my TR! All tremble at the world’s largest ferris wheel. Osaka. Me stepping over a mountain in Osaka. Yes, that square underneath my feet is officially designated as a mountain. The sign behind says so. Of course, I can’t leap tall mountains without my trusty Chu-Hi (tasty alcoholic beverage available in street side vending machines around Japan). Super fast shinkansen (bullet train) to Osaka. The shiny lights of Shinjuki (Tokyo). Coming through the center-less ferris wheel. TD interacting with the surrounding environment. Still, who can say no to an Intamin Mega Coaster? Besides, it was empty. I rode 12 times in a row in under an hour. Why did I stop? Because the ride broke down. Great first drop, but then a tad boring afterwards. It doesn’t have the constant speed that MF has. Thunder Dolphin threading through a building. More theme park fun! This time, it’s La Qua, at Tokyo Dome. Or you could go really un-PC and order this. No, I didn’t eat either. Yakitori is just fine with me, thank you very much. Tasty equestrian delights at a Shibuya (Tokyo) eatery. If you have to put on rain gear, then why bother going on the water ride?!? One more Fujiyama shot. Yeah, it’s rough. But, it has lap bars, which is better on rough than OTSRs. And the airtime! Our last ride was in the back, and we spent half the time out of our seats. Lovely! Fujiyama. I was expecting to be really disappointed with this thing (hey, it’s Togo). But, I was pleasantly surprised. I really liked this ride. Eejanaika and the ferris wheel, with Dodonpa partially visible behind. Dodonpa was ok. Great launch, but a little rough, turn was kinda lame, but the hill was nutty (if not a little rough). Evil first drop. I didn’t tell Ben about the whole seat rotation thing. So, when that first drop hit, he grabbed the restraints with all his might. I love removing people from their comfort zones. Yes, more pictures. What can I say, I love 4th Dimensional coasters. I found Eejanaika to be more exciting than X, but rougher (though that could be because I never got to try it in the front). I fear that X will be a letdown after experiencing the full-full. This part was quite smooth and wonderfully disorienting. There she is, in all her glory. It wasn’t running when we first got there. But, after our second ride on Fujiyama, she was up and ready to traumatize. …to gate crash Fuji-Q Highland and ride Eejanaika, of course! The usually busy Tokyo station absolutely empty. How does one see it this empty? By arriving there at 5am. Why would one wake up at such a horrid hour? Well… An absolutely delectable dinner of sukiyaki: meat and vegetables cooked in a mixture of soy sauce, sugar, and water, then dipped in beaten egg. An absolutely sublime culinary experience. And, you get to cook it yourself too! The rest of the Reno people have left, now Ben and I enjoy some tea in our ryokan (a traditional Japanese inn) while wearing yukatas (robes). Sweet. My friend posing for me in front of temple gates. Feeding the deer in Nara. There are over 1200 deer roaming this park, none afraid of humans, all looking for “deer cookies” (which vendors sell to tourists). I know, it’s hard to see. This is the best shot I could get. This was on the toilet paper dispenser. Instructions on how to, well… Ready for bed in a traditional Japanese style room, Kyoto. Actually, this was quite a comfortable way to sleep. Good for your back, too! Me and the Reno crowd after a typical grueling keiko at Hombu dojo in Tokyo (notice how our uniforms are drenched in sweat…hard training in a hot, humid, not air conditioned dojo does to you). The Japanese man front and center is the grandson of O’Sensei, the founder of Aikido. Taken at a gift shop while touring Mt. Fuji. For only a few thousand yen, you too can own Mt. Fuji air. Yep, this is how they do it here (luckily, they’re not all like this). Oh, the humanity! Since it wouldn’t be a proper TPR TR without food, some very tasty miso soup in Tokyo. It was actually quite good, once you get past the crustacean seasonings. Me in the actual dojo after keiko. Me attempting to throw shurikens at a target (the operative word here is attempt). Weapons practice in the woods. Aiki shrine in Iwama, the birthplace of Aikido. It is now 5:30am (we arrived the previous night…ugh!), and we are all up for the first keiko (practice) of the day.
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Hello TPRers, I have 2 questions for those knowledgeable in SFDK, and one about a TR I'm thinking of doing. First, I plan on going to Six Flags Discovery Kingdom on Friday, August 10. What kind of crowds can I expect then? Also, since I will be going alone, would anyone be interested in meeting up with me for some coaster silliness? My second coaster is to ask whether you all would like to see a Japan TR from me. I went to Japan a few weeks ago on a trip with my Aikido dojo to train and tour the country. During that time, I went to LaQua and Fuji-Q Highland. I have some great pictures, and was thinking of doing a Japan TR. However, half (or less than half) of the pictures would be coaster shots, while the rest would be all sorts of pictures (non coaster/theme park related) from my trip. Would you all be interested in seeing a TR on that trip, even though it's not entirely coasters? If so, then I will happily post a fun TR. Thanks for your feedback, Doug
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Another thing I have noticed about Raptor is that it is very sensitive to temperature. My first time riding it (last September), it was cold out. I rode it in the front and, after the Zero-G Roll, it was surprisingly rough. The next time I rode it was a few weeks ago. It was warm out, and I rode it in the very back. Surprisingly, it was FAR smoother in the back on a warm day than in the front on a cold day. The entry into the final brake run was rough in the back on the warm day. However, it wasn't all that bad in the front on the cold day. In any event, even if it is bad, it's not hard to deal with. Like others have said, all you have to do is brace yourself. I didn't even have my head pressed against the headrest, just being braced and ready for it was enough.
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Hi all, A couple of days ago, I tested for the next rank up in Aikido. This particular test was a rather big deal because, upon passing, you are considered one of the "upper" ranked students. You become "sempai", which means "assistant instructor" (essentially, I can now be called on in class to help beginners and what-not). Best of all, I now get to wear a nifty piece of clothing called a "hakama" when I train. This is a big deal for all who test for this rank, because, well, truthfully, we think it looks cool. So, I figured I would share some pictures of me in my brand new hakama. Enjoy! -Doug Me doing my best to look intimidating, though it's debatable whether I succeeded Finally, I earned "the skirt" (as many of us affectionately call it)!
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I would say go to Millennium Force first, especially if you are getting early entry (you can do some good marathon-ing on that ride in the first hour). That gets among the longest lines in the park. Also, it is my favorite coaster. I could ride that thing all day, eschewing all the other coasters, and it wouldn't be a wasted day. That said, after Millie, hit up any other rides you in whatever order you please. Just make sure to keep an eye on TTD. When you see them launching test trains, try to stick to rides near TTD. The second you see a train with people launched, run straight to it. Hope this helps.
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CoasterDynamix Models
scooterdoug replied to scooterdoug's topic in Roller Coaster Games, Models, and Other Randomness
Thanks again for the nice comments. Now, to answer questions about building difficulty. Yes, Vekoma Fan Boy, this kit is indeed callous inducing. However, you numb up to it rather quickly. As for difficulty of design, it's easy and difficult. It's sort of like No Limits in the fact that it's easy to figure out how to build the darned thing. However, making it look smooth and realistic, as opposed to sloppy and crooked , is difficult. One could throw a model together rather quickly, but it probably won't look all that good. If you want it to look slick and smooth, like the real thing, then that takes time and patience. But, either way, building those things is tons of fun. Time just disappears when you are building. I mean, I'll sit down to tweak a Zero-G Roll a little bit, and before I know it, 3 hours have passed. Very addictive. -Doug -
CoasterDynamix Models
scooterdoug replied to scooterdoug's topic in Roller Coaster Games, Models, and Other Randomness
Thank you for the kind words. Matthew, I own one Dragon kit (which has a 4 foot lift hill, 10 sections of track, and enough bases and supports to make a rather sprawling layout) and 2 small expansion packs (which contain 2 track sections each and an appropriate number of bases and supports). Once my wife and I move into a larger house, I would like to buy a Scorpion set (which is a little more than half the size of a Dragon) and make some really insane models. Thanks again for the compliments. -Doug -
Hello all, I have been a CoasterDynamix junkie for a couple years now, but I have never uploaded any pictures to this website. So, I thought I would share my 3 most recent designs with you all. I hope you enjoy the pictures. Any comments/compliments/criticisms are warmly appreciated. So, onto the pictures. This is my (somewhat altered) interpretation of Batman: TDK. Next up is one that I am the most proud of, a model called "Jiyuwaza". Jiyuwaza is a term used in Aikido, which means "freestyle". Basically, someone comes at you with a variety of attacks, and you respond, improvisationally, with whatever techniques come to mind. This model kinda flows like Aikido does, hence the name. Finally, here is the latest model which I finished just last week. I haven't thought of a name for it, so any suggestions are welcome Thanks for the opportunity to share my work/fun/obsession (if you ask my wife) with you all. -Doug
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medusa v.s Scream
scooterdoug replied to anush10's topic in Theme Parks, Roller Coasters, & Donkeys!
I have been on Scream and Medusa @ SFDK. Personally, I think Medusa is by far the superior coaster. That said, I still enjoy Scream!, you simply have to approach it with a strategy. That annoying vibration seems to develop later on in the day as the weather/track/wheels heat up. The vibration starts at the bottom of the first drop, then extends to the bottom between the vertical loop and dive loop. Later on, it extends to the bottom between the dive loop and zero-g roll, etc. However, if you ride it in the morning, before things get a chance to heat up, then it delivers a fantastic, glass smooth B&M experience. Once that vibration starts to develop, however, I stay away. Only in the AM! -
What Was the Last Beer You Drank?
scooterdoug replied to robbalvey's topic in Random, Random, Random
Thanks for the nice comments on my model, Bubba83. I have yet to post any pictures of my models on this site. I think I will do that tomorrow, as it's way late and I'm dead tired now. And, yeah, pick up that beer the next time you head to Trader Joe's. Really good stuff. Also, if they have it, try the Lambic. Frambois (rasberry) is my favorite. It's a Belgian import that tastes like rasberry soda. Very refreshing on a hot day. This advice goes to all the beer lovers here. It's definitely somethig different. Alas, they do not carry it at my local Trader Joe's -
What Was the Last Beer You Drank?
scooterdoug replied to robbalvey's topic in Random, Random, Random
Well, it's high time I jumped into the beer fray. As I firmly believe that the Belgians make the best beer in the world (yep, I'm standing by that statement), one of my favorites is Trader Joe's Vintage Ale. It's the closest thing to a genuine Belgian beer that I have found thus far. I decided to take the picture with my latest CoasterDynamix model in the background, lest we forget what website we are on. Trader Joe's Vintage Ale, 9% Alc./Vol.