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Alton Towers Bookworm Restoration

Please read your comment back and realise how many times you repeated the same thing...

I’ve got to say, this has probably been one of my favourite series he’s done, I think for the state it was in, they’ve done a fantastic job, I really like the refreshed colours, it gives it a real magical feeling, really excited to see the finished result.

I am well aware I repeated myself. I usually do. So, what exactly is your point?
 
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I'm just still marvelling at watching two men capable of doing some serious and weird DIY.
We need this lockdown to end soon


The colour red used by AT is garish and too blood like for my liking and doesn't sit well the colour of the coat.
Absolutely no human on earth ever thought this when visiting Alton Towers
 
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Spookle15 said:
I'm just still marvelling at watching two men capable of doing some serious and weird DIY.
OilyWater said:
We need this lockdown to end soon


Spookle15 said:
The colour red used by AT is garish and too blood like for my liking and doesn't sit well the colour of the coat.
OilyWater said:
Absolutely no human on earth ever thought this when visiting Alton Towers


You mean the lockdown needs to end soon to curb the tens of the thousands of deaths, the effect it's having on relationships, mental health and health in general or because someone finds it quite impressive that there are people out there with a "have a go attitude", capable of at least trying to improve what was a rotting carcass of a prop that would have originally been made by people who were paid to make such things with the correct tools and equipment?

I was going to say something about it will be nice for lockdown to end so I can watch newer TPWW videos then I remembered who I was responding to....

I never once said I have ever seen the Bookworm so your comment is already incorrect. Everything I've said is based on what is presented to me - actual footage of the Bookworm when it was in its glory days and the not so glory days and also the before and after of what Shawn is currently doing. If you don't like my opinion that's fine, but I'm not sure why you have to be so rude about what is a giant worm. If Shawn wanted to set fire to it tomorrow, he's well within his rights to do so.
 
I can't wait to see the finished product, Shawn may not be an expert at restoring scenic props but so far i think he's done a great job. I'm so happy to see the book worm restored, i remember seeing the worm at the entrance to storybook land back in 2006, i'm glad it didn't just get thrown away and has been given a new lease of life.
 
He's just posted a picture of the bookworm after it's paint job. I can't be the only one that thinks it looks absolutely awful?

https://www.facebook.com/themeparkworldwide

No, you're not. If you glance back a page or two, you can see quite a few people more than agree with you on this and I'm pretty sure when the whole thing is finished and we get to see it in full, there will be more to dislike as well.

Looking at the picture he's been using for reference, the jacket colour is different (I like the new colour to be honest, liked the old one as well, maybe he couldn't get that shade of green who knows) but the chest area to me anyway, based on the photo, I can see what he has tried to do. The original colour of the bookworm looks just peach or grey to me depending on the photo, maybe that's why he's going for this colour scheme so it's not so.... beige. Maybe it's because it's what he remembers it looking like?

Anyway...... people only seem to be drawing attention to the colour.... which can be altered.... I'm not hearing much praise about the fact he has fixed gaping holes and torn and tattered parts. I would think that's the main part of this, actually smoothing out cracks and making the bookworm look like the bookworm again.
 
Well, it's great to see it finished and the hopefully news that in the future there will be plans to at least restore some of the mechanics, though personally had the bottom of the mouth hadn't been damaged, I would've like to see there scope for the mouth to work again, though with fiberglass on it that seems to be not happening anytime soon. Shame really...

For something to mark Towers' 40th anniversary, it's a nice way to celebrate it though I know many here will argue it could've been done better, we can agree it is looking better than when it left the park though I do have two minor gripes with it. First thing I notice is the rough markings on the coat still visible which being someone like me who restores vintage locomotives to be them rubbed down to the smoothest possible finish, seeing the rough markings did somewhat trigger me (maybe that is just me?) Other thing is while I have no problem with the colour they have gone for the worm overall, I do have some reservations about the skin as I would've preferred the beige look as the new white skin does seem a little too undercoat-like IMO. Then again my gripes with the colour can be easily done if they decide to repaint in the future.

On a finally note when I showed this to my GF who may not be the biggest theme park fan but loves animals has become a fan of the bookworm and asks me why back in the '90's that Towers did make plush toys of the bookworm, which considering that back then they were going for their own IP thens rather that a outside brand like David Walliams nowadays does seem an interesting thought...

Anyway, it is good seeing the Bookworn saved from the scrapyard.
 
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What makes the paint "cheap"? Surely looks no cheaper than the DIY job he's done?

Almost all scenic artwork in theme parks around the world is airbrushed .

That's my point. The red lines don't appear to have been airbrushed, but painted using a spray can, which is cheaper. If it is airbrushed then it's not a great job. Anyway - rather than quibble about paint quality - my point is I don't like the colour scheme, but I prefer the way Shawn has executed it.

It's better than it being scrapped and Alton Towers sure did a poor job maintaining it towards the end... but I just don't get the obsession with Shawn.

It could also be argued that people are obsessed with knocking him all the time.

At the end of the day, in this case I don't see how anyone could say anything but 'good effort', considering the worm was destined for the scrap heap. And I don't think saying that, or defending his effort is obsessive behaviour.
 
I don't see how anyone could say anything but 'good effort', considering the worm was destined for the scrap heap. And I don't think saying that, or defending his effort is obsessive behaviour.
Yeah but it's not just people saying "good effort" is it? Otherwise I agree!

I really dont see anybody knocking Shawn for the sake of it, maybe here and there, but theyre clearly in the tiny minority. I see many more people online adamantly defending him from any question. It doesnt really happen here but usually elsewhere.

But still just look at this thread. I criticise part of the 'restoration' he's done and immediately people turn the conversation all about him personally and that we should all be grateful of his amazing DIY no matter what.

Several pages later the thread is still about Shawn. Few people listen to what's being said and keep repeating things like "he has every right to do what he wants", well yes of course, that's not the point of this thread. Im sorry, I personally dont think its as good a restoration as is being made out.

I think his fans mix up criticism of what hes doing with criticism of him. I bet if it was anybody else in the same situation nobody would care.
 
I think it's less people rushing to defend him and wanting to crown him King of Restorations Glory Be His Name....but trying to balance out those who have nothing good to say about his work at all (aside from "thanks we think" for saving the thing) and trying to be objective.

I think with the knowledge, skills, resources etc he has, he has done a good job. Based on what I have seen and having no other bookworm restoration to compare it to. I think he has probably done a lot better than most people would have done given the circumstances. Are there others who could have done worse? Yep. Better? Yep to that as well.

Even someone who works with these sort of items day by day could have restored it and it may not have been to everyone's liking. It's entirely possible.
 
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