[The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation

Re: Secret Weapon 7 Discussion Continued

For me, this apparent delay has been a series of unfortunate events that have happened to the project.

1) When they announced the ride, Alton said that they would be closing Enterprise and Submission to allow for construction. There was a big uproar, negative feedback on Facebook and even non enthusiasts were up in arms about it. This is the first problem in my eyes. They should have bitten the bullet and kept them closed. Moving heavy machinery in and out of a site which the public have access too, is no easy thing to do. The whole bottom half of X-Sector should have been closed off.

2) Construction started and if you remember a series of incidents happened that could be described as unfortunate. The power cuts etc. All these would have had to have been investigated.

3) Remember when they were digging and broke through the water / drain pipe and huge amounts of water were being lost into the hole... Remember photos like this....



This seemed to go on for ages.

These are the key issues to me.

TG Cruise have worked on Merlins large construction projects for a while now, like Swarm, Atlantis at Legoland and even Thirteen at Alton, so they are very aware of how Merlin work. All what has happened is a series of unfortunate events which has put the handover at risk.

Its only because of the internet / people snooping that we are aware of any problems. When Oblivion was constructed they were still working on opening day, but no one was any wiser.

For me, it opens when it opens. If Alton came out and said mid April I would be fine with it, because if it was ready before then, it would be soft opened. They even did this with Nemesis. The rides official opening date was a couple of weeks into the main season, although it was open on opening day (in a slightly unfinished state)

Secret Weapon 7 Discussion Continued

As soon as the circuit is complete (despite recent pictures we all know how quickly it can go up), pre-fabricated buildings and theming can be put up within a short space of time.

Landscaping had already been done, mostly, and turf will be done quickly if needed. However, floor tile/brick work and queuelines can be a pain, but the more people they get in the better eh?

I have confidence that this will be done in time but only just. I don't think we'll see a 'limited ride' when it opens but I think the area will seem very new (as in fresh dirt, maybe some areas not paved etc.) I know until more pictures arise we cannot comment too much, just speculate but I hope that this time next month, with 5 weeks to go we have a complete ride that has begun testing.

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The subs and Ents remaining open had nothing to do with the delay, they didn't even attempt to bring heavy mech to the site until September and the diggers had bags of room prior to that. No one here had a problem with them closing subs and Ents mid-way through season but they never needed to, that was purely a cost cutting exercise.

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I saw them moving track from the car park to the site this morning and the Gerstlauer van was with them, so I'm hoping that the track will start to fly up now that Gerst are back from their Xmas/new year break

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That's good news, I still don't want them to rush things though. If they can get a complete package up for the 16th then great but I would rather they delay if they can't.

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I drive past two construction sites every day when I go to work and it's amazing how quickly offices/workshops can fly up. Basically you can always throw more men at things to help them along. I'm still confident it'll be open on time.

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If the foundations and all the footers were in place I would tend to agree - but looking at the ariel photo it didnt look like this was the case, particularly at the top end near the toilet block...

Secret Weapon 7 Discussion Continued

I wouldn't be surprised if Gerst's 'unusual' footers played a part in any delays... Am I right in thinking that supports are set into the concrete as opposed to simply being bolted to them?

If the weather has been too wet or too cold for concrete to set then presumably they would face big issues with getting the ride supports in situ?


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Re: Secret Weapon 7 Discussion Continued

Scott said:

I wouldn't be surprised if Gerst's 'unusual' footers played a part in any delays... Am I right in thinking that supports are set into the concrete as opposed to simply being bolted to them?

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That's correct, but they aren't all that unusual really. It's just an easier and cheaper way to do it. Maurer do it for a lot of their rides. Spinball is done that way. It's easier for putting supports into paving, as you have no bolts or anything to cover. You get a flat piece of concrete as an end result which is very easy to pave over

A lot of companies are using the concrete pipe stratergy for making footers these days. Even B&M! Have you seen The Swarms?

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Ian said:

A lot of companies are using the concrete pipe stratergy for making footers these days. Even B&M! Have you seen The Swarms?

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Are they? I am rather clueless when it comes to things like this but these looks bolted down to me?





I could be completely wrong mind and this could be how they are done or could be a combination of the two methods. Just thought I'd raise the question!

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I have to say, they do appear bolted down to me lol!

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I think Ian is on about the hollow circular concrete pre-casts that are used. They are placed in the ground and then additional concrete is poured into the template cast. Saves all of the rebar work.

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Ah fair enough! As I said I have no idea how coaster footers work really, and just noted that there were bolts on the photos of The Swarm's so thought I'd ask!

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To throw something else into the mix. I'm not sure 100% how this works, but if someone working on the site sustained an injury which was reportable under H&S laws then that may have required some form of investigation by H&S which resulted in works coming to a halt for a time.

The incident may not have been severe enough to get picked up by any local newspapers as broken bones and dislocations are classed as reportable injuries.Or even something like a crane malfunction can be reportable.

Of course I am speculating and have no source that any of this has happened, just putting it forward as a possible reason why there may be delays which are unforseable and not really something to blame anyone for (unless there was negligence).

I am sure over the next few days we will see the usual "Whilst undergoing routine excavations we uncovered the mass grave of a herd of bison .........." which then form part of the theme.

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Maybe there is something wrong with the trains? If they are a new design, they could be causing problems for Gerst?

Not sure how that would affect track construction, unless the project lead was needed in Germany to oversee the car problems?

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My friend's uncle's cousin's auntie's dog's friend's owner said it will be open in 2013 so panic over.

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TheMan said:

but boy is the hardware the most important thing to me!

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In response to that, can I just say that theming is vitally important on some rides. Raptor at Gardaland being a prime example. It's the best Wing Coaster because of all the amazing close calls. This will be similar due to the theming elements. Riding it without it being complete is like driving a car with the doors off. Sure, it works, and it's fun, but it's a bit pointless if you don't get the full product and experience.

Re: Secret Weapon 7 Discussion Continued

Jared said:

TheMan said:

but boy is the hardware the most important thing to me!

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In response to that, can I just say that theming is vitally important on some rides. Raptor at Gardaland being a prime example. It's the best Wing Coaster because of all the amazing close calls. This will be similar due to the theming elements. Riding it without it being complete is like driving a car with the doors off. Sure, it works, and it's fun, but it's a bit pointless if you don't get the full product and experience.

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Couldn't agree more, Jared. Sure, the layout we saw on the plans looks very impressive, but it won't be anywhere near as good if it doesn't have the theming on it. I'm sure this is why, if the ride is indeed delayed, Towers are probably going to wait until it's all finished before opening it to the general public so they can get the best experience possible.

Secret Weapon 7 Discussion Continued

To further that, for me Black Mamba is just a bit better than Nemesis, but I believe if you were to strip out the theming, Nemesis would be the better coaster as the layout is more unusual and interesting (although neither Coaster would be anywhere near as good) the better landscaping and theming on Black Mamba takes it from a decent Coaster to an amazing Coaster.

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So, the point made above is, Nemesis is a better coaster ultimately, but the theming means some prefer Black Mamba?

I love a well themed coaster, as much as anyone else on here does, and it can make a poor ride half decent - but you will never beat full on, fantastic hardware thrills.

For example. If you had to chose between an inferior coaster, with Oblivions giant hole, or Oblivion, minus the hole - what would you take?

I would take Oblivion, minus the tunnel. It does however depend largely on the coaster at hand I believe, and the experience the hardware delivers.

That Eurofighter looks tight, compact, and intense and should not rely to heavily on the theme to create the thrills. In fact, I'd go as far to say, those of you expecting the theme to create the thrills, have lost the plot.

This is a compact, twisty, potentially fantastic thrill machine, whose Theme in this manner should create the sense of atmosphere. I will be shocked, if the theme on this is critical to the actual experience of the ride itself.

The main building, close internal track proximity, inversions and intensity is all geared to that layout. Just as Oblivions tunnel is, and the pit in Nemesis.

Nothing will convince me, that the theme in this case, is for anything other than atmospherics and back story - which I applaud, but don't believe once the main structures are up (yes, including the Arcadia like spider), that the ride will rely on theming anything like the way Black Mamba is supposed to (not ridden it, just addressing a point at hand).