2018: Wicker Man - General Discussion - SPOILERS! - Part One

[Craig]

Yeah, that lift hill won't stay up long without the diagonal cross braces on there

 

[CoasterCrazyChris]

I must say, looking at those photos it really seems that a woodie is a perfect fit for this area of the park.

I do hope though that the theme does not turn out to be too at odds with the themed areas around it.

I think expectations are actually so low for this ride that we may all be pleasantly surprised with this project.

 

[cactuselves]

With the latest bents looking flat as they start to turn around the first bend, I'm starting to doubt that the lift hill will be launched.

Lots of great photos though, thanks to all for the updates!

 

[Josh]

If I had to guess I would say that it will have a fairly mild launch but slow down significantly by the time it reaches the top. I doubt that they would get away with saying specifically to the planners that it will have a "silent" lift system and then go and slap a noisy chain on.

I'm pretty sure the planning documents stated it will have a 'silent magnetic lift system' which most of us took to being some sort of magnetic launch. But this could also mean it will have magnetic anti-rollback brakes like the Smiler, which means we could be seeing a traditional chain lift after all.

 

[Rob]

Indeed, I am starting to think that is exactly what was meant. We just all misinterpreted the wording! I never expected anything that would have classed as a launch though, it wasn't really plausible that it would have launched into an unbanked turnaround.

 

[jmc]

Saw the construction site for the first time at the weekend. From the lowest to the tallest point, if the ride was placed on a flat piece of land then it would be quite a substantial looking coaster in terms of height. From photos you really can't get much of a feel for just how different the ground elevations are.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JayTricky]

This thing could well be similar to Nemesis in a lot of ways. Utilises the terrain really well, a lot of it is hidden, a small drop but because of the use of terrain, it constantly gathers pace. What Nemesis has proved is that a roller-coaster doesn't need a large 'first drop' to be considered a great roller-coaster.

The sense of speed will be increased in the first tunnel, during the first drop, due to the tunnel.

Really looking forward to seeing the progress and more photos.

 

[Jb85]

Do we think there may be underground parts of track not on the plans

 

[The theme park geek]

Do we think there may be underground parts of track not on the plans

If they were gonna build underground sections they probably don't have to be on the plan anyway. Remember the actual builders and engineers could have different plans to what needs to be sent to the council.

 

[IanSR]

Do we think there may be underground parts of track nothey'the plans

I asked that too a few pages ago but thinking about it logically if they were going to do that they'd have to have dug a lot deeper and those parts would have had to have been done by now. With the foundations going in already unless there's a whole section we can't see then they're not going to dig under those foundations now.

I suspect the ride will have a section like the indoor part of the Smiler, but not a huge underground section although I'd sure love one lol

 

[BenTechy66]

who wouldn't love an indoor section! I wonder if there's a tunnel on the plans...

 

[IanSR]

Not that I remember but it's pretty clear even now the entry to the lift hill comes out a huge concrete tunnel ala Smiler style.

 

[BenTechy66]

Not that I remember but it's pretty clear even now the entry to the lift hill comes out a huge concrete tunnel ala Smiler style.

well that's what i was being sarcastic about...

 

[IanSR]

You'll have to excuse my lack of understanding, back when I first started using the internet, when it took half an hour to load a photo, we used pink or purple text to convey sarcasm

 

[BenTechy66]

You'll have to excuse my lack of understanding, back when I first started using the internet, when it took half an hour to load a photo, we used pink or purple text to convey sarcasm

Sorry didn't know that (i didn't have a new-fangled compooter back in the day)

 

[Matt.GC]

If there was an underground section, it would have been obvious weeks ago. The only cost effective, and frankly rational way of building something only a few feet underground would be to "cut and cover" (like the Oblivion hole, or underground sections of motorways in urban areas).

So far, this build is very faithful to the plans, which dissaponts me greatly.

 

[Rob]

Not that I remember but it's pretty clear even now the entry to the lift hill comes out a huge concrete tunnel ala Smiler style.

It is concrete at the moment yes. However it will be themed come opening day. Voletarium was a huge concrete building back in December and EP's new hotel at the moment is going up as a concrete shell.

If there was an underground section, it would have been obvious weeks ago. The only cost effective, and frankly rational way of building something only a few feet underground would be to "cut and cover" (like the Oblivion hole, or underground sections of motorways in urban areas).

So far, this build is very faithful to the plans, which dissaponts me greatly.

Indeed, there will be no 'hidden' underground sections as we'd have seen the tunnels being constructed by now. However if you are disappointed that it is so far faithful to the plans then you only have yourself to blame in terms of getting your hopes up that it would be different. Nothing so far has indicated that SW8 would differ from the plans apart from the usual enthusiast hype that somehow gets passed off as actual rumours.

I really do think this coaster could surprise some people and even if the ride is only average it's going to look impressive.

EDIT:

I am aware that my photos did not seem to be showing on the forum for some reason, no idea why as I uploaded and posted them in exactly the same way as my previous updates (and no it wasn't Photobucket)! I'll try and resolve the issue later today and post them again.

 

[jmc]

The plans the builders are referring to appear to be exactly the same as published.

When I was recently on park during ERT a group of men in suits were having discussions with a large set of the plans right next to a viewing window


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[Steve74]

It is concrete at the moment yes. However it will be themed come opening day. Voletarium was a huge concrete building back in December and EP's new hotel at the moment is going up as a concrete shell.


Indeed, there will be no 'hidden' underground sections as we'd have seen the tunnels being constructed by now. However if you are disappointed that it is so far faithful to the plans then you only have yourself to blame in terms of getting your hopes up that it would be different. Nothing so far has indicated that SW8 would differ from the plans apart from the usual enthusiast hype that somehow gets passed off as actual rumours.

I really do think this coaster could surprise some people and even if the ride is only average it's going to look impressive.

Speaking of how it looks, here are some photos from yesterday!

Scaffolding is now being erected around the theming object:

You can also see the some new bents have gone up leading in/out of the theming object:

Track coming out of the pre-lift indoor section:

A look up towards the top of the site:

Here you can see where the track will drop back through the lift structure:

Another look at some of the bents for the frist drop:

The top of the lift structure now complete with turnaround:

How things are looking from the Rapids queue line:

And finally a look at the station building and maintenance shed where again scaffolding is going up:

Feel free to share these photos elsewhere but please do provide credit/source back to TowersStreet.

It is concrete at the moment yes. However it will be themed come opening day. Voletarium was a huge concrete building back in December and EP's new hotel at the moment is going up as a concrete shell.


Indeed, there will be no 'hidden' underground sections as we'd have seen the tunnels being constructed by now. However if you are disappointed that it is so far faithful to the plans then you only have yourself to blame in terms of getting your hopes up that it would be different. Nothing so far has indicated that SW8 would differ from the plans apart from the usual enthusiast hype that somehow gets passed off as actual rumours.

I really do think this coaster could surprise some people and even if the ride is only average it's going to look impressive.

EDIT:

I am aware that my photos did not seem to be showing on the forum for some reason, no idea why as I uploaded and posted them in exactly the same way as my previous updates (and no it wasn't Photobucket)! I'll try and resolve the issue later today and post them again.

Bizarrely they are there when you're writing a reply quoting your post!

 

[Rob]

The problem with posting images has now been fixed, thanks Craig, so here are some photos from yesterday!

Scaffolding is now being erected around the theming object:

You can also see the some new bents have gone up leading in/out of the theming object:

Track coming out of the pre-lift indoor section:

A look up towards the top of the site:

Here you can see where the track will drop back through the lift structure:

Another look at some of the bents for the frist drop:

The top of the lift structure now complete with turnaround:

How things are looking from the Rapids queue line:

And finally a look at the station building and maintenance shed where more scaffolding is going up:

Feel free to share these photos elsewhere but please do provide credit/source back to TowersStreet.