The Six Flags Magic Mountain (SFMM) Discussion Thread

[coastermoosh]

I agree with you. Sure, it would be interesting, but there would be a bit of whiplash involved with it. While I don't think it needs a completely brand new launch system, I do think they can remake the LIMs so that they're more power effecient but are even more powerful.

 

Just an FYI, Superman The Escape doesn't use LIM technology for the launch, it uses LSMs.

[Tmcdllr]

How exactly would a backward launch put more strain on the car? The LSMs brake pretty hard but the car seems fine, turning it backwards would not make much difference. Since the car travels forward and back I'm pretty sure it can handle a launch going forward or turned around backward.

[Six Flags Enthuseast]

I agree with you. Sure, it would be interesting, but there would be a bit of whiplash involved with it. While I don't think it needs a completely brand new launch system, I do think they can remake the LIMs so that they're more power effecient but are even more powerful.

 

Just an FYI, Superman The Escape doesn't use LIM technology for the launch, it uses LSMs.

Ok, my bad.

 

^Maybe it doesn't put strain on the car, but it does put a bit on the restraints and people, as both are built to accept forces in the other direction.

[Crazy4Coasters!]

May I just voice my opinion here and say that this whole "Backwards Superman" sounds quite stupid?

 

I mean, maybe I'm just old fashioned here, but I would've seen no problem with a nice new launch system, some new effects, and a nice little relaunch pizazz. This sounds like whiplash city, especially considering how fast Superman takes off out of the Fortress of Solitude. Seriously, I think some of you might be underestimating its launch here. If this is what's happening to the ride, I doubt I'd ever ride it again (or at least the reversed side).

I agree with you. Sure, it would be interesting, but there would be a bit of whiplash involved with it. While I don't think it needs a completely brand new launch system, I do think they can remake the LSMs so that they're more power effecient but are even more powerful.

 

I really don't think a backward launch is practical, as it puts more strain on the people and restraints. Along with that, there would be a lot of aerodynamic problems because of the shape of the vehicle, as well as weight issues, as the vehicle appears to be rear heavy. Don't take this as fact, but it's just my observation. That's why they'd need to design a brand new vehicle in order to launch backwards, and I'm not sure if that's practical for SFMM.

 

Just to restate what *I* think is possible, I think they might:

 

Repaint the ride: not necessarily one side Bizarro, one side Superman, but just a repaint to make it look good.

Rehab the vehicles: Replace trim pieces (foam, rubber, padding, etc.), repaint, maybe even get rid of that huge front to allow front riders more exposure to the wind.

Retheme/refurb station: Repaint, add new stuff, redo queue, pretty much just make it new.

Increase launch speed: Refurb or even replace existing LSMs to increase effeciency while decreasing power usage, thus allowing higher launch speed to be attained.

Add theming: Maybe extend tunnel slightly, add theme elements near launch track to better theme the ride.

Decrease noise: Maybe it's just me, but S:TE is WAY too loud! If they found some way to decrease the noise even slightly, I think it may be a good investment.

Add special effects: Any themed soundtrack, fires, explosions, ice effects, water effects, etc. would make the ride more SFMMy.

Increase capacity: Faster ride cycle, quicker loading/unloading procedure, quicker checks, etc. would increase the rides very low capacity.

 

Maybe it's just me, but once again, adding backward facing cars just doesn't seem like a practical idea.

 

 

If I recalled correctly the sign in front of Superman does not state "Something "PRACTICAL" is happening at Superman: The Escape." I mean what's so hard about accepting the possibility of accepting a backwards launch? Seriously I hope most of you know now that the Tower of Terror ride is going to launch BACKWARDS now! If you guys are bringing up problems that might arise if Superman:TE were to launch backwards don't you think they would be taking notes on the T.O.T. I think most of us are not mechanical engineers and I'm pretty darn sure they already looked into all of the "problems" mention here and others that we haven't even thought up. My gut feeling is that Superman:TE will launch backwards and I just hope what's happening to T.O.T. is a sign of things to come for Superman:TE... So please just sit back and enjoy the show, I think we'll all be pleasantly surprised.

[6flagsbrad]

Has anyone heard any new news about the colossus referburation? What company will most likely replace the Morgan trains?

[coastermoosh]

There is no news about a Colossus renovation. At this point it's all just rumor and conjecture (much like the other 1,000+ pages in this thread, lol).

[robbalvey]

Of course it is. Robb has been hinting that something very similar will happen to Superman, and people refuse to believe even him.

People are f**king retarded.

[Crazy4Coasters!]

Robb what are you doing here? I told you to enjoy your trip!

[Tmcdllr]

Of course it is. Robb has been hinting that something very similar will happen to Superman, and people refuse to believe even him.

People are f**king retarded.

 

LOL!!!!

 

Are you allowed to use that term now? I thought if you were talking about people like that you had to say something like they are "slow" or mentally challenged. But f-ing retarded is damn funny.

[MagicMountainMan]

Haha Robb is just pissed that nobody ever listens to him even though he's one of the few that could actually be considered a credible source...

 

But seriously if the park wants to launch Superman backwards then they will, and in a safe/comfortable manner. It's not like they will just be able to flip the car and launch it backwards and call it a day. My guess is that there will be a lot of tinkering with the launch to make it less jarring at the very beginning. But then again, is Superman really more jarring than Xcelerator's break run? I mean there is a reason why it gained its nickname SuperVAN.

[mightbeawannabe]

Haha Robb is just pissed that nobody ever listens to him even though he's one of the few that could actually be considered a credible source...

 

Uhh...Elissa? There are other people on these boards that could know even more about it, but they're not supposed to give it all away. I know that some parks and companies actually do read these boards, if not participate.

[MagicMountainMan]

Key phrase in my post, one of the few...

 

I do agree with you though that there are people on these boards who probably know exactly what's going on. For all I know they are probably just sitting back and laughing at this whole conversation!

[Tmcdllr]

Of course they are.....

 

..."hey look they think we are going to run Superman backwards, that will never happen, morons!"

 

And they laugh and they laugh. Meanwhile, one of them just finishes an online chat with an engineer at Intamin, you know, the one that speaks pretty good english, where they were finalizing the details of running it backwards. He catches a glimps of some of the posts in this thread and chuckles, he thinks to himself..."if they only knew".

[DBJ]

I'm looking forward to seeing new ride videos from Australia of TOT. Should be late September? Will be a nice preview of what to expect. And also get some ride reviews too of what the backwards launch is like.

[stricklandCC]

I didn't think I was going to chime in on this backwards debate. However, at WCB when the question "CAN Superman run Backwards?" was asked , Tim specifically replied, in a seemingly tight-lipped manner: YES. So there we have it, the logistics and engineering are confirmed, and the debate can now progress into whether they WILL run Superman backwards, not if they CAN. Although, if you were at the Q&A at WCB that day, reading between the lines wasn't difficult.

[Tmcdllr]

Anything interesting going on at the mountain next week? I will be going probably Monday and Tuesday.

[Top Thrill Dragster]

I didn't think I was going to chime in on this backwards debate. However, at WCB when the question "CAN Superman run Backwards?" was asked , Tim specifically replied, in a seemingly tight-lipped manner: YES. So there we have it, the logistics and engineering are confirmed, and the debate can now progress into whether they WILL run Superman backwards, not if they CAN. Although, if you were at the Q&A at WCB that day, reading between the lines wasn't difficult.

 

 

I could be wrong, but thats not how I remember it. If I recall correctly Tim didn't answer the question, he moved on to the next question.

[fatdaddy]

The problem is that even with knowing that there will be a backward launch, it still leaves so many questions. Being as they said it won't be Bizzaro, if it's Superman going backwards, do they change the name to Superman the Retreat?

[stricklandCC]

^^ Almost,but he did mutter a definitive "yes" before quickly moving on to the next question.

[ebl]

^^ Actually, with "Superman---The Retreat," the cars would still face forward, but would be launched into the brakes behind the station.

 

Eric

[stricklandCC]

^ Love it! further more, remove the E-brakes, just to see what happens.

[Tmcdllr]

Anything interesting going on at the mountain next week? I will be going probably Monday and Tuesday.

 

Ok well I guess not.

[stricklandCC]

^ As for interesting, there is Tatsu, arguably one of the best flyers out there, and Viper, nearly the end of its breed. Not to mention X2 and the many other iconic coasters there. See: http://www.rcdb.com/4532.htm. I thought the Superman revamp was "interesting" considering the options. As far as special events, you could always check their events page at:www.sixflags.com/magicMountain/events/CalendarEvents.aspx

[Tmcdllr]

Thanks.

[Hurricane]

I will just say this, Dreamworld has been looking at reversing the Tower of Terror since EARLY 2008. Rumors were circulating between staff at the park at that time when I worked there. So I would say there has been some quite extensive research done on this project if it had been getting spoken about for over 2 years. All I will say is that I expect it to be rather interesting to say the least to ride the Tower of Terror backwards. And yes as far as I am aware, Dreamworld and SFMM have been in communication quite a bit in regards to the 2 rides.