Malibu Maniac [NL]

[DBru]

Well, due to lack of positive comments on Steel Eagle, I have started a new coaster to enter the Intamin Micro-Hyper contest with.

 

Malibu Maniac is set on a sandy beach area with lots of water and palm trees. The first half is an insane, air-filled journey over the tropical water, while the second half is a ground-hugging, twisting adventure back to the station!

 

Please download and tell me what you think so I can make improvements before the contest!

 

(Note: the coaster is at its maximum height and velocity)

Malibu Maniac.nltrack

Version 1

Malibu Maniac-080315143950000.bmp

First drop!

Malibu Maniac2.nltrack

Version 2

Malibu Maniac3.nltrack

Version 3

Malibu Maniac4.nltrack

Version 4[.3]

[DBru]

No comments or suggestions?

[the ghost]

looks pretty good. But i dont do NL but I like it and would totally ride it.

[DBru]

Okay, I've made a second version of the ride with more banking and a new turnaround to increase the speed for the 2nd half. Plus, the ending has been altered.

 

Please pick which one you honestly think is best, and leave comments and suggestions for that version!

 

Thanks!

[DBru]

No one has any opinion?

 

I'm the only vote so far... lol

[haux]

I'll bite.

 

This is for Version 1

 

As with the previous rides of yours I've rated, this one falls in the same category. It's lackluster. The turns are way too banked for the speed the train goes through them. That big turn before the S-curves is taken too slowly, so the riders will be leaning rather than pressed into the seats.

 

The first drop is interesting, but I don't like it.

 

The airtime on the first two hills after the big drop is pretty good, but after that, it falters.

 

As usual, your supports still need work. The custom supports on the lift hill are all right, but the rest of the support work looks like it was thrown together without a second glance. There are some track sections that have large unsupported gaps. Look at your turnaround. That could benefit from a little more support work.

 

The ride starts off OK but ends poorly. Oh, wow. S-curves? Blah. The two turns at the end of Storm Runner work because they're taken at high speed. Yours are taken slowly and just don't add to the experience. Instead, I think, "The designer didn't know how to end the ride, and he was obviously not taking his time."

 

Don't put brakes in curved sections. The block before the station is fine, but if you make it just tires, it'll be more realistic.

 

Lastly, run more than one train.

 

This is for Version 2

 

See above, plus: this isn't as good as Version 1. The airtime on each hill leaves a lot to be imagined. That's really it.

[DBru]

I could speed up the end with a booster on the double-up, but I'm afraid you'd complain even more if I did that... lol

 

How do you suggest I end it? (And keep in mind, I don't have too much speed to work with...)

[haux]

Hmm. I think you could try moving the station so the end brakes would be nearer to the boring finale. Make the beginning section before the brake a bit longer. Maybe add an airtime hill or some low turns. I'm not too sure on that.

 

Maybe put in a small double-up. The turnaround hill seems to kill a lot of the speed. If you made it smaller and lower, the remainder of the ride might be a bit better.

 

But the ending is pretty long, so I can't think of any way to really work around it.

[Steffen_Dk]

Version 1: The first half was pretty good and the whole coaster was mainly smooth. But I didn't like the part after the turnaround thing. Not that the layout was boring, but there wasn't enough speed through the twisty turns.

 

Version 2: I liked this more, there was more speed in the turnaround, but as in version 1, the last part was too slow. But again the coaster was smooth.

 

Version 3: Hmmm. Almost the same as the other versions apart from the ending, which I think was a bit tame.

 

 

Overall I think that version 2 is the best, but you have to work on the ending; concerning the speed and not the layout.

[dr.gumbo]

Far to slow for my liking (V3), I personally liked 'Steel eagle' but its up to you which one you chose to up in the contest.

[DBru]

^Well, I kind of like Steel Eagle too, I thought it was smooth, air-filled, and had a fun layout. But I got ZERO positive feedback, so... hence, Malibu Maniac!

 

Would it upset you ll if I lowered the terrain and ended the ride with a bam, but added a lift hill to get it back to the station?

 

Or I could add I second lift, making the first half on water and the second on land?

[DBru]

Okay, I added version 4. This has a totally different ending, with WAY more speed! I altered the terrain so it could travel further down hill. Please check it out and tell me which one you prefer now.

 

Thanks!

[DBru]

No comments on version 4?

[haux]

Version 4 is the best of the bunch, but it's still got some issues. It's really just got speed problems. The airtime isn't that good on any hills but the first camelback.

 

But if it was taken at a faster speed (somehow), it'd be decent. The only other problems I saw were that overbanked turn at the end and the first set of brakes.

 

The overbanked turn is taken too slowly to be banked that high. Maybe 60 degrees would be better.

 

As for the brakes, the first set shouldn't have tires in it. The underside of the train will rub the first few tires raw because it'll come into the brakes at a higher speed. It should just be brakes, and gravity should get the train out of it.

[DBru]

Okay Haux, I updated the Version 4, instead of making a version 5 because I just fixed the banking, brakes, and did a little support work. I honestly think it will make you happy... or not? lol

 

 

What do you think?

[haux]

As for the brakes, the first set shouldn't have tires in it. The underside of the train will rub the first few tires raw because it'll come into the brakes at a higher speed. It should just be brakes, and gravity should get the train out of it.

I'm quoting myself because you didn't listen.

 

Gravity should get the train out of the brakes. I E-stopped the train in that first set of brakes, and it didn't move. Angle them downward. Move the beginning of the brakes up a tiny bit, make them straight (push "I"), and that should do it.

 

Add another train. I guess that's all I've got. There's nothing you can really do to save this ride. It's still bland. But you're getting better.

[DBru]

Okay, version 4 has been updated one last time. It's probably as good as its going to get, so if you have any more suggestions please let me know, or this will be what I enter in the contest.

 

Thanks!