Alton Towers 2018 - Wicker Man: GCI Wooden [mild spoilers]

[Paradox]

Chinese knock off launched wooden coaster.

SW8 will certainly be RMC, it will be launching, and it will have three inversions. Also, it will be the second launching wooden coaster from RMC, you guys should hear an announcement on the first one in 3 months...

Where's this coming from exactly? All that sounds pretty ridiculously unlikely.

[Coasterkidmwm]

So it'll be Rita with rolls instead of S hills and different supports?

^^I have a reliable source at AT, I won't say more. But you can just wait until Dollywood announces later this year.

^Matt, it will be slightly more interesting than that, 14 moments of airtime!

I was told that these stats that were leaked on TowersTimes are nearly correct, so take that as you will:

Alton Towers 2017
Max Height: 20 m (I believe this means from lowest to highest point, not highest section of the structure)
Launch Velocity: 68 kmph
Launch Angle: 20 degrees
Max Velocity: 80 kmph (I am not sure what part of the layout this speed is reached, possibly following the first drop from the launch?)
Total Length: 885 m
Inversions: 2
"Barrel Roll"
"Zero G Roll"
Total Ride Time: 90 sec
Capacity: 1080 pph
Other interesting features:
Elements include: "Wave Turn" "120 degree Overbank" "S turns" "Corkscrew Float" (twisty airtime hill, doesn't invert)
2 tunnels underneath pathways. (One after the wave turn and near the station, the other further along the layout on the other side of the station.)
14 moments of airtime.

^ I've got pretty high hopes for that coaster in plan!

[mkingy]

Thanks for the information Chickenbowl - It doesn't seem totally out of the water so I'm willing to play along. Any idea on when official announcements might appear?

[JAMMY]

Well The Smiler plans were received by the council around September time but knowing how the groundwork completely messed up, you'd hope that Towers apply for planning permission earlier with this project, maybe late June time. Fingers crossed.

[gouldy]

I wonder how much of a back foot this has now taken?

[mkingy]

Game over. Again.

[JAMMY]

In my opinion, I don't think SW8 development will have been impacted all that much to be honest. The team that deals with resort developments will not *really* have been caught up in the whole incident. Mainly as they are based in London at Merlin Studios. There may be slight delays due to other priorities and such but the park will know that they cannot really afford for future developments to be put aside, these will be what tempt people back after the incident after all (even though I suspect this incident will have minimal effect on attendance as it is). I'm certain we'll see still SW8 plans emerge late this year, hopefully not as last minute as The Smiler, the groundwork troubles should have given them a kick up the a*** hopefully into not leaving things to the last minute.

On a side note, maybe the incident will change the GP's opinion on woodies? Who knows!

[gouldy]

Put up in the park, by the soon to be dismantled Flume ride.

im so excited to get something decent!

[gouldy]

Standing-still-on-a-wooden-platform the ride VR. World's first VR wooden, rider propelled roller coaster. You heard it here first.

[Coasterkidmwm]

I'd normally be tempted to predict a wingrider since Heide and Thorpe Park got one, but the hole they'd have to dig the make the ride not awful would be way too much. The trains are too wide to rely on the ride being zippy with quick transitions like Nemesis.

I am really hoping for a Pirate themed /Steampunk RMC lol, I could possibly see slightish retheme of Mutiny Bay, Maybe a ride utilising the lake as the home of some kind of sea creature. But i really am hoping for RMC , I think it could work wonders in that area, I just hope if it is we get a Zero-G-Stall =]

[mkingy]

Man I'd love an RMC too but I'm not convinced this is the location for it. I'd probably put my money on a water ride to replace the flume, maybe intamin Chipias style ride.

SW8 should mean SWooping 8 Figure. 8 Figure High Speed Coaster designed for hardcore fans!

[Dirk_Ermen]

Launched GG woodie. Bring it on.

[gouldy]

It looks as if it's going to be pirate themed. Based on the signage. The SW8 is coming we've already seen is themed like a tatty old sail, and while I was at the park today, I also noticed these signs...




Also, seeing as there's no thread for it, here are some photos of what has happened to Nemesis so far during the Towers Loving Care scheme.

[Coasterkidmwm]

Interesting use of the "housing project red" primer color lol.

[mkingy]

The undetailed parts looks a bit odd

GPs would think that Nemesis looks rusty lol!

[Coasterkidmwm]

mkingy wrote:

The undetailed parts looks a bit odd

They definitely stand out lol.

Hope that GPs will never pay attention to the rusty-looking (Just painted so!) Nemesis track!