It looks great but it is going to look grubby very quickly, as do all the rides due to the location. You could sort of get away with the grime of the original track to a certain point, because there was no detailing. It was just colours sort of fading into one another. So a bit of grime did not loose the effect so much and did not stand out as much.
This however, as great as it looks, has very distinctive and clear lines as in the actual veins. So the grime will be far more noticeable and will stand out much more.
As much as a love it, I feel a design that would not stand out like a sore thumb once a bit of grime hits it, would have been more suited. This is going to look terrible very quickly, unless they stay ontop of it. Which is not going to happen.
I wonder if ConsignAG will be doing the control system upgrade. They are a common choice with B&M, they are responsible for the computer systems on some of Alton's B&M's.
The track won't take long to put in, even when you consider the difficult terrain. The Smiler took about 9 to 10 weeks to build the track all in all. Once the footers were in. That is excluding the two months stoppage. Rita was just over 4 months from going vertical in the mid December 2004 to opening April 1st 2005, including all commissioning and installations and sign offs of the complex systems. I would have thought most of the footers will be sorted now, they have been at that for a good 4 months.
If they keep the rate they are going now, track will be finished July to August time. It won't open until next year though I do not think. They will use the extra time to get everything right and for any unforseen issues. Plus, they need their new headliner for next year. Even though it could be ready, I do not think they will let it be ready.
.
