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What are the chances of RMC creating a launched woodie?


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I heard rumors that RMC is trying to make a launched woodie for the future, how would this work?? How fast do they expect a woodie to go in a small amount of time? Imagine a RMC King Da Ka Clone but as a woodie.. I would definitely ride that.

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how would this work??

Probably relatively similar to LSM launched steel coasters. I'm sure some of the mechanics are different with the different track structure, but I don't think it will be too complicated. It's more of just a foreign concept for a wooden coaster to be launched that makes people think it's so "out there."

How fast do they expect a woodie to go in a small amount of time?

Umm... How should we know the specifics before the announcement?

Imagine a RMC King Da Ka Clone but as a woodie.. I would definitely ride that.

Yeah... I don't see it. Maybe they'll build it at La Ronde

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I heard rumors that RMC is trying to make a launched woodie for the future, how would this work?? How fast do they expect a woodie to go in a small amount of time? Imagine a RMC King Da Ka Clone but as a woodie.. I would definitely ride that.

 

1.) How would it work? I really have no idea, but I imagine it would be some kind of LSM or LIM launch system. I don't really see RMC doing a hydraulic launch... But that's just me.

 

2.) How fast do they expect a woodie to go in a small amount of time? I would assume that a wooden launched coaster would accelerate just like a steel launched coaster. As for how fast in a small amount of time... I think that would depend on what the layout looks like after the launch. I also think it would depend on what the park was wanting. If it were a park like Dollywood I don't really see them getting a 0-80mph in 2.2 seconds coaster. But I could see a park like Cedar Point getting a 0-80mph in 2.2 seconds coaster. I think the launch speed is really something the park and RMC would sit down and work out together.

 

3.) RMC... Wood... Kingda Ka??? Moving on.

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I heard rumors that RMC is trying to make a launched woodie for the future, how would this work?? How fast do they expect a woodie to go in a small amount of time? Imagine a RMC King Da Ka Clone but as a woodie.. I would definitely ride that.

 

1.) How would it work? I really have no idea, but I imagine it would be some kind of LSM or LIM launch system. I don't really see RMC doing a hydraulic launch... But that's just me.

 

2.) How fast do they expect a woodie to go in a small amount of time? I would assume that a wooden launched coaster would accelerate just like a steel launched coaster. As for how fast in a small amount of time... I think that would depend on what the layout looks like after the launch. I also think it would depend on what the park was wanting. If it were a park like Dollywood I don't really see them getting a 0-80mph in 2.2 seconds coaster. But I could see a park like Cedar Point getting a 0-80mph in 2.2 seconds coaster. I think the launch speed is really something the park and RMC would sit down and work out together.

 

3.) RMC... Wood... Kingda Ka??? Moving on.

 

1) The launch would be LSM motors, because hydraulics would be too expensive and unreliable. LSMs are more efficient than LIMs, as they do not need an additional braking system and can produce more powerful launches. A basic explanation of how LSMs work is that a magnet is mounted underneath the trains. When the train passes over an electromagnet (the white fins), the fin is turned on and reverses the polarity which repels the train. A control system turns each fin on at a certain point to ensure the train keeps going faster. If the electricity turns off, the fin acts as a brake and the magnets attract.

 

2) It depends on the layout of the coaster. If Dollywood is going for a terrain layout, the launch won't need to be as fast. If there is a big first hill involved, the launch will need to be faster. Thunderbird uses LSMs and goes 0-60 in 3.5 seconds. Its first inversion is 140 ft. However, it uses heavier trains, and they have more drag as the wings pick up wind resistance. This coaster could launch that speed a little bit quicker. It is just a question if the wooden structure can hold after years of repeated stress. It should, but it cannot be a super, crazy launch.

 

Also, track formation will be a discussion. I-box track would make the most sense, as it is the strongest track style. But that would make it a steel coaster. Topper track is pure wood, but it would need to hold the stress of a launch. To make it smoother, the park could "cheat" and plop some polyurethane wheels on there (ala Goliath).

 

3) I don't think a strata woodie ever happens. The larger you build, the more the structure becomes a problem. Not an issue with steel, but wood would be kind of sketchy. It would be a huge hassle with inspections and maintenance, as it would be hard to check every single beam, and the tall structure would not last as long. Maybe a small launching coaster with a top hat, but anything over 250 ft would be insanity,

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^Honestly, that would be a nightmare. Compressed air launches work a lot like the hydraulic launches. Remember how many problems did Hypersonic had again?

 

On the flipside, it's been around 15 years since Hypersonic was developed, and it is a technology that has proven to be extremely reliable in other ride applications (such as S&S drop towers). With another 15 years of research and development, it wouldn't surprise me to see a company like RMC build a reliable air compressed launch.

 

Still, I'm betting on LSM.

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^Honestly, that would be a nightmare. Compressed air launches work a lot like the hydraulic launches. Remember how many problems did Hypersonic had again?

 

On the flipside, it's been around 15 years since Hypersonic was developed, and it is a technology that has proven to be extremely reliable in other ride applications (such as S&S drop towers). With another 15 years of research and development, it wouldn't surprise me to see a company like RMC build a reliable air compressed launch.

 

Still, I'm betting on LSM.

 

Plus with compressed air, you get a lot quicker of an acceleration and that could affect the structure of the ride. Jolting the beams like that from a resting position would take its toll over time. I bet against it anyways. Look at what happened to Ring Racer. It never officially opened due to its issues, explosions, etc.

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From what I know, hydraulic launch is very reliable. Intamin's system is more due to the other moving parts.

 

LSM makes the most sense to me, if the heat of the fins won't cause any problem on the wood.

 

Ask Dollywood, I'm sure they could answer all your questions. #ShotRod

 

Am I the only one who thinks that ShotRod sounds pornographic!?!?!?

 

Well this is the park with a coaster called Thunderhead. The name still makes me chuckle 10+ years later.

Now you're making Mystery Mine and Tennessee Tornado sound dirty as well.

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Think of launching a coaster as braking in reverse. Same loads, same everything, just the opposite direction.

 

There isn't anything about what Rocky Mountain has been doing that has somehow made it possible to launch a wooden coaster. It's been possible since it was possible to launch steel coasters. Rocky Mountain may be favored to do it first, though, because of their layouts and not their track. A park that would want a Rocky Mountain layout over that of a traditional wood coaster may tend to also want a launch.

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I can with 100% certainty say that RMC will construct a launch coaster within the next 100 years.

 

From what I know, hydraulic launch is very reliable. Intamin's system is more due to the other moving parts

 

The hydraulic launch is very reliable, when they break down it is almost always due to software problems with the computer system.

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^There are also thousands of sensors on the ride. One of the ride ops of TTD told me that a sensor or two gets knocked out of place once in a while and that will stop the ride from operating momentarily until they fix it. It's just that these coasters are so complex and everything needs to go right in order for it to work.

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