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[The Smiler] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation
ThemeParkJack
TS Member
Re: Secret Weapon 7 Discussion Continued
A bit off topic from were the advertisements are concerned. I visited the track yesterday. I was actually quite shocked how much there were. Also i heard that there was a few trucks coming in the next few days with more track Heres some pictures from my visit. Theres more track than what i took. I thought that these was the most interesting. If you like i will upload a few more? There ya go!
A bit off topic from were the advertisements are concerned. I visited the track yesterday. I was actually quite shocked how much there were. Also i heard that there was a few trucks coming in the next few days with more track Heres some pictures from my visit. Theres more track than what i took. I thought that these was the most interesting. If you like i will upload a few more? There ya go!




TheMan
TS Member
Re: Secret Weapon 7 Discussion Continued
Great, if a bit worrying lol, pictures Jack, personal thanks for those as I cannot check out the TT pictures!
Muchos Gracious!
Can I ask, what other major rides in Alton use kicker wheels - do they all? I've never really paid too much notice, and wonder why they're in use here. I know SW6 does for the noise abatement.
This is probably very common knowledge on here. Thanks peeps
Great, if a bit worrying lol, pictures Jack, personal thanks for those as I cannot check out the TT pictures!
Muchos Gracious!
Can I ask, what other major rides in Alton use kicker wheels - do they all? I've never really paid too much notice, and wonder why they're in use here. I know SW6 does for the noise abatement.
This is probably very common knowledge on here. Thanks peeps
Ian
TS Team
Re: Secret Weapon 7 Discussion Continued
Every coaster at Alton uses them at some point (Unless you want to count The Beastie
). It's easier than putting the ride station and brakes on a slope. Th13teen is the only one with a kicker lift though, simply as it's quieter and apparently cheaper to run.
(If you want to be pedantic though, B&M seems to refer to them as "feeders". But as far as I'm concerned it's all the same idea
)
Every coaster at Alton uses them at some point (Unless you want to count The Beastie
(If you want to be pedantic though, B&M seems to refer to them as "feeders". But as far as I'm concerned it's all the same idea
DiogoJ42
TS Member
Re: Secret Weapon 7 Discussion Continued
Not every coaster uses them. Woodies, for example, or Arrow coasters such as Vampire, simply have the station and brake run on a slope. Of course, this means that Vampire often gets stuck on the brake run if the train is lightly loaded, and needs a push to get it going again
(a flaw that never happened with the old heavier trains).
Not every coaster uses them. Woodies, for example, or Arrow coasters such as Vampire, simply have the station and brake run on a slope. Of course, this means that Vampire often gets stuck on the brake run if the train is lightly loaded, and needs a push to get it going again
Josh
TS Member
Re: Secret Weapon 7 Discussion Continued
I never realised that Vampire's station and brake run were on a slope
you learn something new every day... 
DiogoJ42 said:Not every coaster uses them. Woodies, for example, or Arrow coasters such as Vampire, simply have the station and brake run on a slope. Of course, this means that Vampire often gets stuck on the brake run if the train is lightly loaded, and needs a push to get it going again(a flaw that never happened with the old heavier trains).
I never realised that Vampire's station and brake run were on a slope
TheMan
TS Member
Re: Secret Weapon 7 Discussion Continued
Wow interesting stuff coming out there about kicker wheels!
So it wasn't quite as simple answer as I thought. Never realised Vampy sloped either, certainly doesn't appear to without having exactly looked for it.
Thanks
Wow interesting stuff coming out there about kicker wheels!
So it wasn't quite as simple answer as I thought. Never realised Vampy sloped either, certainly doesn't appear to without having exactly looked for it.
Thanks
DiogoJ42
TS Member
Re: Secret Weapon 7 Discussion Continued
You can see the slope of Vampire's station track quite clearly from the ramp as you enter the station. The lack of kickers is why it has to stop about three times before the train parks correctly. The aging computer says
"OK, let the train in... YIKES! It's too fast! quick, apply the brakes! ... OK, release them and let it roll forwards again..."
This cycle repeats several times :
To attempt to stay on topic...
Someone mentioned a while back the idea of using kicker wheels to maintain a constant speed through a barrel roll. To me that seems like a bad idea, as if there was a power failure or E stop the train could get stopped upside down.
While I know this has been done before...
I somehow doubt it would be allowed in this day and age.
You can see the slope of Vampire's station track quite clearly from the ramp as you enter the station. The lack of kickers is why it has to stop about three times before the train parks correctly. The aging computer says
"OK, let the train in... YIKES! It's too fast! quick, apply the brakes! ... OK, release them and let it roll forwards again..."
This cycle repeats several times :
To attempt to stay on topic...
Someone mentioned a while back the idea of using kicker wheels to maintain a constant speed through a barrel roll. To me that seems like a bad idea, as if there was a power failure or E stop the train could get stopped upside down.
While I know this has been done before...

I somehow doubt it would be allowed in this day and age.
BigAl
TS Member
Re: Secret Weapon 7 Discussion Continued
If the barrel-rolls were going downwards and the shuttles/trains were merely controlled with friction/kicker wheels then if the ride did E-stop, would it not be possible to have some kind of manual release to allow the train/shuttle to roll to the end and come to a stop the right way up?
DiogoJ42 said:You can see the slope of Vampire's station track quite clearly from the ramp as you enter the station. The lack of kickers is why it has to stop about three times before the train parks correctly. The aging computer says
"OK, let the train in... YIKES! It's too fast! quick, apply the brakes! ... OK, release them and let it roll forwards again..."
This cycle repeats several times :
To attempt to stay on topic...
Someone mentioned a while back the idea of using kicker wheels to maintain a constant speed through a barrel roll. To me that seems like a bad idea, as if there was a power failure or E stop the train could get stopped upside down.
While I know this has been done before...
![]()
I somehow doubt it would be allowed in this day and age.
If the barrel-rolls were going downwards and the shuttles/trains were merely controlled with friction/kicker wheels then if the ride did E-stop, would it not be possible to have some kind of manual release to allow the train/shuttle to roll to the end and come to a stop the right way up?
DiogoJ42
TS Member
Re: Secret Weapon 7 Discussion Continued
I think that depends on how the motor > wheel drive train is geared.BigAl said:If the barrel-rolls were going downwards and the shuttles/trains were merely controlled with friction/kicker wheels then if the ride did E-stop, would it not be possible to have some kind of manual release to allow the train/shuttle to roll to the end and come to a stop the right way up?
BigAl
TS Member
Re: Secret Weapon 7 Discussion Continued
I'm sure there'd be some coaster engineer out there that either has or could try it some day!
Also, it's a shame they don't sort Vampire out with something to guide the trains into the station so that they can get a decent throughput by being able to use all three trains again, but that's for another topic (possibly the Chessington one?
)
DiogoJ42 said:I think that depends on how the motor > wheel drive train is geared.BigAl said:If the barrel-rolls were going downwards and the shuttles/trains were merely controlled with friction/kicker wheels then if the ride did E-stop, would it not be possible to have some kind of manual release to allow the train/shuttle to roll to the end and come to a stop the right way up?
I'm sure there'd be some coaster engineer out there that either has or could try it some day!
Also, it's a shame they don't sort Vampire out with something to guide the trains into the station so that they can get a decent throughput by being able to use all three trains again, but that's for another topic (possibly the Chessington one?
John
TS Member
Re: Secret Weapon 7 Discussion Continued
Why would you need kicker wheels anyway? If you build the track at a very slight gradient the trains will be travelling at a roughly constant speed - just look at the 4 rolls on Colossus.
As for the posters in Leeds, I was there on Saturday so must have just missed them
. I like the idea of the face splitting open to let you through the barrier, almost as if it's consuming you.
Why would you need kicker wheels anyway? If you build the track at a very slight gradient the trains will be travelling at a roughly constant speed - just look at the 4 rolls on Colossus.
As for the posters in Leeds, I was there on Saturday so must have just missed them
BigAl
TS Member
Re: Secret Weapon 7 Discussion Continued

If you're after a constant speed for a theatrical effect that's much slower? Probably pointless though as it probably wouldn't be fun!John said:Why would you need kicker wheels anyway? If you build the track at a very slight gradient the trains will be travelling at a roughly constant speed - just look at the 4 rolls on Colossus.
Ian
TS Team
Re: Secret Weapon 7 Discussion Continued
If you want it to go that slow I'd worry about comfort
The risk with taking inversions too slowly is the fact that the vehicle could stall on its own. You could put kickers in place to combat that, but then you have the power risk as others have said.
The way I see it no rolls should be that slow unless they use a vest style OTSR. Otherwise it could be rather uncomfortable.
If you want it to go that slow I'd worry about comfort
The risk with taking inversions too slowly is the fact that the vehicle could stall on its own. You could put kickers in place to combat that, but then you have the power risk as others have said.
The way I see it no rolls should be that slow unless they use a vest style OTSR. Otherwise it could be rather uncomfortable.
Re: Secret Weapon 7 Discussion Continued
*loud cough* Gforce *cough*
not sure what the safety system is on G force, but that is able to get stuck upside down if the ride system stopped, So I can't see why kicker wheels in a barrel roll wouldn't be allowed, I think it's a silly idea though and would cause much more hassle then it's worth if they don't have an appropriate fail safe.
DiogoJ42 said:I somehow doubt it would be allowed in this day and age.
*loud cough* Gforce *cough*
not sure what the safety system is on G force, but that is able to get stuck upside down if the ride system stopped, So I can't see why kicker wheels in a barrel roll wouldn't be allowed, I think it's a silly idea though and would cause much more hassle then it's worth if they don't have an appropriate fail safe.
Re: [SW7] Construction Updates and Ride Speculation
You can't have kicker wheels on a barrel roll easy due to the articulation of the trains, the park that the wheels push on will be at an odd angle to the track. You'll only find them on straight or shallowly bank pieces of track. It's the same reason you'll never find trim brakes on twisted pieces of track.
The drops pretty decent though so I wouldn't worry about stalling.
You can't have kicker wheels on a barrel roll easy due to the articulation of the trains, the park that the wheels push on will be at an odd angle to the track. You'll only find them on straight or shallowly bank pieces of track. It's the same reason you'll never find trim brakes on twisted pieces of track.
The drops pretty decent though so I wouldn't worry about stalling.