Alton Towers Secret Weapon 7 (SW7)

[Gerg5]

I forget which forum I read that another truck arrived today with more track pieces. And someone had mentioned rumours of the supposed "washing machine" element, or possibly the vertical lift. I have no idea if there's any truth to those claims, but it made me think to ask if the world's first could possibly be a combination of both?

A rotating vertical lift? Just wanted to hear your thoughts roodles. And thanks for the great updates!

 

[Andy]

I just have this bad feeling this will be the Gerstlauer version of Mauer Sohnes Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. Gerstlauer like Mauer is a great company when it comes to small and compact coasters but this may have been to big and complex of a project for them. I hope it's not by the way, again just a bad feeling.

 

[UK-Trigg]

Here are a few contruction shots courtesy of Alton Towers Face

 

[Andy]

Regardless of how it rides, without a doubt one of the coolest and most intimidating coasters I've seen built in a long time. Thanks for the update Roodles!

 

[sierrak5]

I just have this bad feeling this will be the Gerstlauer version of Mauer Sohnes Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. Gerstlauer like Mauer is a great company when it comes to small and compact coasters but this may have been to big and complex of a project for them. I hope it's not by the way, again just a bad feeling.

Gerstlauer went pretty big with Takabisha in Japan, and while I don't know much about how that rides, at least they have another big project behind them to "learn" from.

Takabisha (photo found on Bing images)

 

[UK-Trigg]

Great pic of Takibisha, thanks for posting.

Takibisha gets good reviews and I believe it is currently Gersts biggest coaster at 1000 meters and 7 Inversions.

The Smiler will be 1170 meters and 14+ Inversions.

I just hope it doesn't ride like Saw the ride (another Gerst), that thing is just awful. It judders terribly, so bad I can't ride without getting a headache. It needs the HRRR treatment.

 

[Andy]

Gerstlauer went pretty big with Takabisha in Japan, and while I don't know much about how that rides, at least they have another big project behind them to "learn" from.

Takabisha (photo found on Bing images)

Forgot about that one, doesn't this coaster have a launch and a lift?

 

[sierrak5]

Forgot about that one, doesn't this coaster have a launch and a lift?

Launch, lift, and world's steepest drop.

 

[Andy]

Launch, lift, and world's steepest drop.

Anyone know if its smooth or not?

 

[UK-Trigg]

I had another day on park today watching construction, the 2 main elements to go in today were the inoculator leg and the satelite mast on top of the Marmaliser. Below are pictures of these 2 elements being instaled

Bottom half of the Inoculator.

Putting the top half of the leg together

Lifting it into place

Fixing it into place

Moving the Satelite tower (top of the marmaliser)

Securing into place

Smile.Always

Overview of the marmalier, just on more leg to go now!

Marmaliser close ups

random shots

Station theming

Smiler overview shots.

 

[Felipe]

Thanks for another great update, Mark! Excellent pictures!! :thumbs:

Gotta love the pic of the guy taking his own pics from atop the Marmaliser That's the way to roll!

 

[UK-Trigg]

Thanks Felipe Glad you liked, look out for some aerial shots coming your way too. Courtesy of Towerstimes

 

[UK-Trigg]

Forgot to post this chekky shot of some of Gersts plans for The Smiler.:look:

Larger version can be found here feel free to download.

The aerial shots below were taken yesterday.

Many thanks to the guys over at http://forum.towerstimes.co.uk/ for the use of the pictures.

 

[Bubbles1]

Thanks for the pics, I really can't wait to get on this thing. I don't know, but have you seen the picture of the innoculater roodles?

I don't know which site the photo is on, but three large (as in at least 8ft long) syringes have been placed now, and it appears they will either blow air or spray water onto riders. And they appear to be A bit too close to the track for comfort. :look:


Edit: Just found the post on towersstreet, it's a few pictures down but the pictures are all very good
http://www.towersstreet.com/talk/pl...nd-ride-speculation-part-2/msg63812/#msg63812

 

[bobwadd]

Thanks for the great as always update Roodles :thumbs:

Really love the black and yellow color combo.

 

[Adz]

Today they put in the very large support for the vertical lift hill:

And work on the station theming has started, looks like we're getting some Transformers style piping.

The ride really is massive:

Photos from: http://www.towerstimes.co.uk/sw7/

 

[Andy]

I have a feeling all theming will not be complete at opening. On a side note I can't wait to see a pov and I need to know how many yak on the ride the first day

 

[UK-Trigg]

A few shots from me today,some are similar to what you have seen already today though.

Station theming continues to be installed

Innoculator theming elements

Fence work starting to take shape

Transfer track in the background

And finally, lift hill construction pics

They had to move the supports to get the top of the lift hill lined up

Next track piece, unfortunatly work stopped before this went in.

Top track piece waiting to go into place

How the lift looked by the end of the day

 

[bobwadd]

Thanks Roodles. Really love the way this is coming together. :thumbs:

 

[Felipe]

Awesome pics! :thumbs: Thanks for the updates, Adz and Roodles!