rctneil
TS Member
Very true, yes, Novgorod is not lap bar. I guess it does make sense. I still would have loved to have had Smiler with lapbar only as those Infinity trains are sooo nice being lapbar only!
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The Smiler - General Discussion
Very true, yes, Novgorod is not lap bar. I guess it does make sense. I still would have loved to have had Smiler with lapbar only as those Infinity trains are sooo nice being lapbar only!
Secret Weapon
TS Member
I (somewhat) retract my earlier statement, as I recently saw a timelapse video of The Smiler’s construction, and it seems that The Marmaliser had dead pixels even back in 2013 - see black square in the screenshot at the bottom of this post.
I'm not sure if this has already been mentioned in this thread, but Towers Street reported on Facebook (the day before your post!) that the needle graphic was added back to The Marmaliser leg towards the end of last year:
From: https://www.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=782092344450957&id=100079505948906
)
Screenshot 20260325 223521 You Tube hosted at ImgBB
Image Screenshot 20260325 223521 You Tube hosted on ImgBB
ibb.co
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Secret Weapon
TS Member
For what it's worth, a post on Coaster Force from 2013 also speculated that perhaps AT intentionally wanted The Smiler’s restraints to look intimidating and restrictive in order to fit with the ride's dystopian aesthetic, which may have contributed towards the decision to use OTSRs (by contrast, the lap bars on Hyperia fit with the 'freedom' theme).
I'm not 100% sure whether this is accurate (as other 'scary' rides such as Thirteen and Wicker Man use lap bars), but there may be some truth to it, as Thorpe Park intentionally chose OTSRs for Space Station Zero for this reason.
Then again, the post directly beneath also incorrectly predicted that AT would never build a wooden rollercoaster, so I'd take it all with a pinch of salt !
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deathproof69
TS Member
It doesn’t ever make sense to me…surly with the accident happening over ten years ago now. You’d of thought they would try to keep the ride looking at its best. Not a mouldy, wet, green mess and the track?
The state of this ride and others is shocking. Do the general public see this? Or is it just us very nit picky enthusiasts?
The state of this ride and others is shocking. Do the general public see this? Or is it just us very nit picky enthusiasts?
Squiggs
TS Team
What's the source for that info?
Secret Weapon
TS Member
The book "Making Thorpe Park". I haven't got the book to hand (unfortunately), but I think it said that they chose* OTSRs to build up anticipation and make the riders think that it would be more intense than it actually was (it was a dark ride - similar to Black Hole - and so riders couldn't see the track ahead).
(*I can't remember for definite if it said that this was intentional or simply coincidental)
When it became an outdoor coaster (Flying Fish) and people saw that it was actually quite tame, they changed the restraints to lap bars instead.
(I will check the book when I next see it, and edit this post if I am wrong)
In hindsight, maybe they should have gone with the grotty hospital theme after all, because then they could have claimed that the mould was intentional theming!
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flyingguitar
TS Member
It could be, however restraint types aren't normally determined by the asthetics and theming of a ride, they are normally determined from a saftey point of view, I would also argue that lap bars would be far more intimidating going upside down that many times.
also the tight clerances the ride has to the theming and other supports, means it probably couldn't have had lap bars anyway
Secret Weapon
TS Member
My understanding is that you can always choose to use a restraint that is more safe than required (e.g. the unused additional belt buckles on Hyperia, or the OTSRs on Flying Fish), but never one that is less safe.
But I agree with your other point that, if anything, lap bars may have made the ride seem scarier rather than safer!
Jb85
TS Member
This really gets me too. I get things weather, especially in the environment AT is set in, but surely you build the theming using materials that, well, don’t mould.
Smaller scale but I have a patio that used to always get moss and mould over the winter. Easy fix with a simple tub of sealant from b&q. Now no moss this winter.
Jb85
TS Member
It’s really not difficult or expensive. Shows the complete lack of care really.
Steve74
TS Member
And the rental of any cherry pickers (I know Towers have some themselves but they may not reach all areas) or cranes needed for access to the difficult places probably doesn't come cheap either.
Jb85
TS Member
True
But you’d think they do it at least every other season