ebl Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 With all of the possible problems with electronics, I can see why Intamin took a step "backwards" and returned to a mechanical cable launch on its rocket coasters. As Tmcdllr pointed out a ways back, if in fact the new cars are significantly lighter in weight, that could play a role in getting the speed back up without burning out electrical components. Eric Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tmcdllr Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 (edited) Lighter cars and a faster computer that can handle rapidly switching the LSMs plus maybe a little reprogramming should increase the launch and put less stress on the electrical components. That seems to make sense. Because the car is lighter its possible to achieve a faster launch while using the same or slightly less power as the load on the electrical system should be less. The less work a motor has to do, the less current is has to draw which means it can run more efficiently and cooler and the launch system is basically just one giant motor with the stator unrolled and laid out along the track and the magnets on the car acting as the rotor I don't work for Intamin but its reasonable to assume one of the reasons they use the hydraulic cable launch is that it is much cheaper to run. Imagine if they had an LSM or LIM launch on TTD, if it could work, it would consume an enormous amount of energy on every launch. In comparison, the current launch system uses much less power and yet provides a more powerful launch. Reliability aside, the cable launch is better overall, more powerful and costs less per launch. Edited September 19, 2010 by Tmcdllr Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Top Thrill Dragster Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 No way is that 10 feet from the top. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tmcdllr Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Oooh that's spooky! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Calicoasters Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 I really like what I saw in that video! Yeah, lets make all of that happen! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aceospades1250 Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 Here's another of those Australian news stories... I love the title... http://video.au.msn.com/watch/video/theme-park-battle-heats-up/x50hxeq Action starts at 1:12 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterfreak101 Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 That didn't look any higher than before...hopefully SFMM doesn't follow suit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kf2010 Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 That didn't look any higher than before...hopefully SFMM doesn't follow suit. I agree. It looks like the car barely made it halfway up the tower. I believe Dreamworlds conversion was a quick fix over a period of a month or two, with a new car on the track and a longer tunnel. Magic Mountain's won't be ready until the Spring--hopefully they're using that time to fix the launch and to make the ride run the way it was originally intended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterfreak101 Posted September 19, 2010 Share Posted September 19, 2010 ^I was thinking that while I was at work, and I was dying to get back and say it! Dreamworld's went quick, which makes me wonder why SFMM is taking the next ten months to redo theirs - hopefully it's for the rewiring/reprogramming of the LSMs (...Superman is LSM, right?) to get a faster launch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tmcdllr Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 MM could be taking longer simply because they have two tracks to deal with instead of one, that on top of everything else they might be doing and probably painting too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Knotts Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 ^ Two tracks, plus if X2 and Terminator are any indication, this will be more of a ride "re-launch" as oppose to simply a backwards launch. SFMM will want to market the ride as a completely new experience like X2. I just hope at least one side features a tunnel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolliger&Mabillard Posted September 20, 2010 Share Posted September 20, 2010 I wonder how abouts the marketing department will handle this. X had alot of buzz behind it before the overhaul and was arguably the parks most popular coaster going into 2007. So taking a ride that was on the bottom of the totum pole in terms of popularity and seeing if it could get to the top again is going to take alot of work. Engineering and remodeling can only do so much, so I'm anxious to see how this remodel will be introduced to the average park-goer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tmcdllr Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 Wasn't Tatsu 2007 and X2 2008? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
atem122 Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 ^Tatsu was 06, and X closed down in 07, while X2 opened in 08. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tmcdllr Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 Wasn't Tatsu 2006 and X2 2008? Corrected! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Magic Alumni Posted September 21, 2010 Share Posted September 21, 2010 Here is some press video of Tower of Terror II with onride footage...looks great! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ANJLOVER14 Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 ^ 2:29 - "Oh man, that is SO much more intense than the last one!" They just turned the car around, what does he mean by "Last One"? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mr. cockblock Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 Judging from the reactions in the video, it looks like it is going to be success! I am very curious to see what SFMM does with Superman. Whatever the outcome is, I am getting really excited to ride it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tmcdllr Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 ^ 2:29 - "Oh man, that is SO much more intense than the last one!" They just turned the car around, what does he mean by "Last One"? That probably means that is is so much more intense than the cars going forward. Why were they wearing those yellow suits? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kf2010 Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 "10 feet from the top." LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guy T. Koepp Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 Why were they wearing those yellow suits? They were DEVO?! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
snoflake15 Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 Adding a tunnel plus effects would really add something to the ride. I suspect they may make do with just reversing the cars though. Wasn't the '10 foot' quote '10 foot from the brakes' by the way? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tmcdllr Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 Why were they wearing those yellow suits? They were DEVO?! LOL Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kf2010 Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 Wasn't the '10 foot' quote '10 foot from the brakes' by the way? Either way its not even close It would be AMAZING if SF added the tunnel with the lights and fog, I think the coolest part being you don't know when you're going to start going up the tower. Going back into the tunnel through the fog would be cool too! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gav Posted September 22, 2010 Share Posted September 22, 2010 I had a go at TOT2 today so I guess I can clear up some questions. -No, the backwards launch does not have any impact on your neck or any comfort issues. -In fact the backwards launch was probably the best improvement, though I think that was mostly due to the tunnel and lights. It felt like it went on forever. Hopefully SFMM will do this. -The face first drop was pretty cool, but not a massive improvement on the experience overall IMO. -In terms of how high it goes up the tower, well pretty much as high as before actually. Definitley not 3.3m (10ft) from the top. On my visit it was reaching the O in "TOWER OF TERROR" See these pics for what I mean: http://www.rcdb.com/m/1127.htm?p=3025 http://www.rcdb.com/m/1127.htm?p=3023 In plain English, about halfway between the top of the curve to vertical and the top of the tower. (Hehe, you guys measure launch heights by structural levels, we do it by the letters on the side) -The ride runs a bit quieter now. -The harnesses have a thing I've never seen before. The seatbelt buckle has a little electronic thing on it that physically prevents it being unbuckled until the main harness is released at the end of the ride. Guess its comforting to have that extra level of safety. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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