ZeroGravity55

Just took a look at the webcam and it looks like the rest of the supports are up! Also, looking at the train, it appears that the chassis isn't fully assembled yet. I was hoping we were going to get a look at the new assembly with the fins for the launch.

^^ To me, last years IAAPA seemed like nothing but announcements for China. This year, I haven't heard a thing about China coming out of IAAPA. What a difference a year makes. I really like what I'm seeing so far at IAAPA. I'm still a bit skeptical about the Games-U-Ride concept. Can anybody who was there and got to try out Strike-U-Up and Spin-U-Win comment on how they liked them?

^ Yeah I was agreeing with what you said. I actually didn't mean to quote just you, so I edited my post.

Actually, ZDT came to The Gravity Group with the shuttle coaster idea, so there was no stealing really going on. This really is completely different than any other shuttle coaster out there and quite simple as well. Now what's telling is the fact that GCI has announced/advertised these concepts, yet the park went to the another design firm to buy one.

Perhaps thats how HW wanted the trains to look, no? It was HW's decision on how to theme the trains. B&M built what they wanted, not what B&M wanted to build.

I don't think there is a switch track. There is. It's going to be that straight bit of track after the first drop. You just can't see it, because TGG is still using No limits 1

^

This Gravity Group coaster that was just announced, wow!

^ I was talking about the trains, not the whole project.

I believe that the lack of theming on the trains is actually part of the theming as Thunderbird is supposed to be a mystical creature. The park has been quoted saying that they consider Thunderbird the "Sasquatch of the sky", so you hear all these myths behind the creature, but nobody has actually seen it.

^ Actually, it is. S&S and US Thrill Rides are teaming together on this. I'm assuming Ride Centerline is involved as well. It looks like an Alan Schilke design. Maybe somebody can confirm this? I haven't been following this project that closely. http://www.engineeringexcitement.com/product/polercoaster/ Edit: I had to sit through and watch a video filled with pointlessness from another website at IAAPA last year and a guy from US Thrill Rides confirmed that Alan Schilke and Ride Centerline are the designers of the coaster. So the way I'm looking at it, US Thrill Rides is behind the design, engineering and buliding of the tower, S&S is manufacturing the track, trains. and supports, and Ride Centerline is designing the actual coaster. Does that sound about right?

Don't mean to keep bombarding the thread with snow pics of Thunderbird and The Voyage, but they look stunning: Here's some more from HW's Facebook and Holiwood Nights FB group page :

From HW's Twitter:

Thank you for saying this. I don't know how many times I've read this: "they did a dive loop, so they can do a vertical loop."

Looks just like Hades 360's supports set up on the inversion. Hope it isn't the same inversion on all three of the inverting woodies going into the Fantawild Parks. I kinda would like to see a little creativity even though they're probably limited in what they can do.

I think this is really going to be a great night ride. I also think that the front is going to give the best head/leg chopper effect and the back is going to give the most intense ride. I think the pull out of the zero-G roll in the back seat might be one the better moments of the ride. I guess we'll find out in about 5 months! I was in a hurry earlier and didn't get to post all the photos. It appears I missed some good ones:

Wow, a bunch of new photos from Thunderbird's micro-site:

^ Speaking of the shirt, mine arrived today. Kudos to HW for getting it shipped so quickly!

^ Oh you mean those deer carrying the "dash cam"? Actually, it appears the zero-G roll is now complete

From HW's Twitter:

^ I haven't bought one or wore one since I was a freshman in high school. This one was just too good to pass up though. There was a couple. I wasn't getting all mad about it. Just pointing out people take something like a phrase on a tee-shirt way too seriously, much like some of us probably take roller coasters and theme parks way too seriously. Took this screen shot. Zero-G roll has started to go up:

They put a picture of the shirt on Facebook and people are already making comments about how they can't believe HW would use a phrase off such a (and I'm quoting somebody off FB) "pornographic" show to advertise one of their products. People take this stuff way too seriously sometimes. I just ordered mine, no shame.

Yep, the elevated spiral is completed. From HW's Twitter:

Great TR! I've been waiting to hear something about this GG woodie. It certainly looked like it was packed of airtime. Speaking of Fjord Flying Dragon, The Gravity Group released a really good POV of it today:

Yes they have: M&V, (who builds most GG designs) has been advertising a launched shuttle coaster that looked sort of similar to the Schwarzkopf shuttle loops, minus the loop, of course. It was said it would have the longest sustained airtime moment ever. This hill is supposed to produce that moment.