paiging_jen Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 ^And lose any reference to Texas....never! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CCI Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I have some serious doubts about this, but then again it's six flags. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bolliger&Mabillard Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 ^^Okay then, how 'bout Texanstien? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Josh Linn Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 So I guess I'll say it. If they ended up needing steel supports anyway, why didn't they just tear it completely down and build a steel coaster? They could have designed the layout the same way with steel supports. Now it's just starting to look silly, cheap, and almost even like a hack job. I'm sure the ride will still be fun, no matter how ridiculous steel supports holding up wooden supports holding up steel track looks. I'm assuming they saved a good deal of money by keeping the original structure and adding a few steel supports as opposed to tearing the whole thing down and building from the ground up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skycoastin Steve Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 ^Hence why one of the words I used to describe it was cheap. Spend the money and do it right rather than having it end up looking like it was built out of Knex. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kennywood_racer Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Wow....just Wow. SoB's loop was steel, so this doesn't bother me ride wise, but It looks like a quick fix. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJeXeL Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 ^^What he said. Although I am excited to "get the credit." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nrs2420 Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Hmmm, my GCI woodie has some steel ledgers. Cheap piece of crap. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skycoastin Steve Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 ^Somehow I knew someone was going to mention ledgers on a traditional woodie. Spare me. There's a huge difference in a steel crossbeam as part of the structure, and large steel column supports being added post-test runs to hold up the structure because it wasn't sound enough. Like I said before, it's steel supports holding wooden supports holding steel track. Might as well have gone with all steel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nrs2420 Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 To me it's not a big deal. It's definitely a wooden structure overall. Plus all that wooden structure makes it look that much more awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
traincrossin Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 ^Somehow I knew someone was going to mention ledgers on a traditional woodie. Spare me. There's a huge difference in a steel crossbeam as part of the structure, and large steel column supports being added post-test runs to hold up the structure because it wasn't sound enough. How do you know they were added because the structure wasn't sound enough? I would have guessed that they were planning to add them in the first place but weren't needed during test runs because it was an empty train. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skycoastin Steve Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 ^I might believe that if anyone can come up with a previous project that involved testing trains before the planned ride structure was finished. I realize that supports get added/modified all the time (Xcelerator, WT, MF come to mind immediately), but why would they test the trains before the structure was finished? Basically, that would mean that they knew the structure wasn't sound and sent the trains anyway. Seems a bit reckless to me. As I said before, the ride is presumably still going to be good, and it really doesn't matter what's holding the ride up in the long run. Still doesn't make it look any less cheap or bush league. The back yard roller coaster works and stands on its own, but that doesn't make it impressive. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samisthabomb Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 They probably just put steel supports up for that turn, considering it's the most overbanked. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
alpengeist04 Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I think they added the steel supports, so us enthusiast have something to bitch about. I mean talk about till the ride opens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skycoastin Steve Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 ^I'm really not bitching, I've said twice already it won't affect the ride. I just think it's hilarious in a point and laugh at how dumb it looks kind of way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ArizonaGuy Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Basically, that would mean that they knew the structure wasn't sound and sent the trains anyway. Seems a bit reckless to me. *insert sarcasm* Oh yeh man....that's EXACTLY what they did!!! *end sarcasm* The only way for them to know what works as planned and what doesn't is to do the test runs....that's why they're called test runs. If something isn't going according to plan, *poof* MODIFICATIONS!!! Doesn't matter what it looks like, just ride the damn coaster when it opens and be happy!!! It's not like people are going to be coming off the riding saying "you know..i really liked the layout and first drop, but those steel support beams on the side of that overbanked turn were SUCH a turn off and totally ruined my ride experience." Anyways...nothing personal against anyone here but just a little tired of the "I know more than the designers" attitudes. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skycoastin Steve Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 ^That's all well and good, BUT, I still said the ride would probably be good. And I still think it looks cheap and hilarious. And seriously, if they thought there was any chance of structural failure (even 0.1%), do you really think they would have risked sending a train through it? I know there's been a definite "wait and see" aspect with a lot of this ride, but I would be completely and utterly stunned if that were the case. Do bridge builders send traffic over a bridge before its structure is done? Hell, maybe it was all part of their grandiose plan for the ride. Maybe they wanted to see if it would fall over, thereby wasting over a year of work. Maybe Intamin should launch a train through Cheetah Hunt before all the supports are up, see if the track can hold itself up. Why not? They're only test runs! The silver lining is they figured out the problem before putting any people on it. Still looks cheap and hilarious, in a point and laugh at how dumb it looks kind of way. It'll be a few years before I can get out to Arlington to ride Frankencoaster, hopefully it's still standing by then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jynx242 Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 ^ Knew this was coming . Steve - I think people that haven't chatted with you as much here (or in person for that matter) don't get your sense of humor. I totally get what you are saying and kind of agree. I don't think it looks cheap as much as it looks WTF? I'm still totally psyched to ride it. Perhaps they left the wooden structure up primarily for the visual aspect of the ride. There is a tremendous difference between flying around and between a few steel support poles, and flying and swooping through all of the lumber. Not really sure - just throwing it out there. David Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ryskate95 Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 ^^The steel supports were added before they started testing. If you look at pictures from when they tested the ride with two cars, the steel supports were already there. I just joined so I can't post links but go look at the pictures on SFOT's facebook and you'll see they've been there for awhile. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nrs2420 Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I believe this is the photo that shows the supports Edit http://www.facebook.com/sixflagsovertexas#!/photo.php?fbid=10150123876140991&set=a.415802370990.210303.65853440990 You can see the supports go over the track leading to MCBR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
coasterfreak101 Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 According to their Facebook, they just replaced the old tension wires on that turn with the new steel beams. I guess that makes sense. It looks tacky as all get-out, but it makes sense why they'd do it. I'm on Steve's boat. I think this thing looks amazing and I'm dying to ride it, but between the old wood / new wood and now the added steel supports, it just looks so cheap for something that cost as much money as a brand-new ride. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeT Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 They saved the name, they saved some money...and this will probably lead to one of the most awesome Ride Experiences the World has EVER seen. Even if they will begin to stabilize the steel supports with a wooden structure...whatever...me, personally, I just have too much Respect to criticise anything about it before I rode it. A Ride Experience can be soooo good so that the looks of it are absolutely irrelevant...And IMHO this is or let*s say could be the case here ! Cheers...GeorgeT Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Skycoastin Steve Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 ^^The steel supports were added before they started testing. If you look at pictures from when they tested the ride with two cars, the steel supports were already there. I just joined so I can't post links but go look at the pictures on SFOT's facebook and you'll see they've been there for awhile. Well if that's the case then yes, everything I said before now is thrown out. I'm glad that it was already built like that, so at least we know this wasn't an "oh crap, it's not strong enough so let's throw up some steel columns" situation. However, it still looks silly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SharkTums Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 I haven't been following this project in awhile, but I kind of agree the steel and wood supports totally look 'awkward'. Don't really care about how it looks as long as it rides well, but come on, it does look odd! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samisthabomb Posted February 9, 2011 Share Posted February 9, 2011 Screamin' Squirrels look odd but they ride gr... oh wait... Anyways, I'm with Elissa. As odd as this ride looks, if it gives a good ride I'll be happy! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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