4-D Coaster

Would anybody like to see another 4-D? Alos what companies have you heard were going to make them.

-Jacob

Arrow had made the one and only, X, before they went backrupt and were bought by S&S power.

S&S hasnt been to specific about building on any Arrow ideas, let alone the 4D model.

There have been rumors going around about a possible launched version, one with smaller trains (8-10 riders perhaps), but we have yet to see anything materialize.

There are also rumors going around about B&M possibly designing a 4D coaster, but again, nothing has come up in stone yet.

Actually, MForce2K that wasn't a rumor. Arrow/S&S presented their 4D at IAAPA with concept art layouts, etc. No takers, though. I can understand 100% why no parks have ordered.

It's a shame too, because I really had a great time on X (well, 14 great times) and there's so much untapped potential for that type of ride.

It looks like Vekoma may possibly be working on their own 4D too. Just go to "Amusement Leisure", then coasters, then scroll all the way down to the Spinspan:

http://www.rays.nl/ENG.htm#.html

The new ideas for loading flyers are also interesting to say the least.

That's an interesting design for loading a new flyer. I can't imagine that the rotate and tilt method would get very good capacity, but it's worth a shot.

The website, on the other hand, is incredibly poorly designed. It's *obvious* these folks have worked for Vekoma. ;)

The "rotating" boarding for a flyer is actually licensed to/by B&M. It was posted in this forum several times. But the B&Ms will not rotate during the ride.

I really like the "lie down" boarding and can only imagine the loading times and lawsuits this design would generate.

The alternative 4-d design looks smart. I´d guess that the horizontal third-rail would allow better engineering and smoother rotation. It even could be a way to work around the Arrow copyright.

Actually S&S Arrows allready have that horisontal rail on their new 4D design.

That website is awesome. I never heard of that company before. Do they do work for others companys besides Vekoma?

"Actually, MForce2K that wasn't a rumor. Arrow/S&S presented their 4D at IAAPA with concept art layouts, etc. No takers, though. I can understand 100% why no parks have ordered."

It is amazing how people that don't work for these companies have such insight on thier pending contracts.

Adam

Its pretty close to impossible to work around Arrow's patent for their 4d coaster. It is so well worded. Good luck to anyone who can do it.

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LONNOL said:
"Actually, MForce2K that wasn't a rumor. Arrow/S&S presented their 4D at IAAPA with concept art layouts, etc. No takers, though. I can understand 100% why no parks have ordered."

It is amazing how people that don't work for these companies have such insight on thier pending contracts.

Adam

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WHen did I say that? That IAAPA presentation was in 2002. I sure haven't seen any 4Ds being built. KNow of any I don't?

I'm sure we'll see some sort of 4d come out from some manufacturer in the future, getting around patents isn't going to be THAT hard. I think B&M will be looking for a new concept sometime within the next 5 years at least. Their orders for floorless coasters have seemed to have lost somewhat of their novelty appeal so we're seeing parks buying dive machines and inverted coasters again.

There's a concept called Whichcraft that's says to be a "design study concentrated on theming the suspended coaster". It's me, or there's no theming on it ?!

I'm sure B&M would see more sales increases for the floorless if their biggest customer(SFI) would just decide to give them to some more parks.....or have they already given them to the parks they deem "worthy" yet?

Anyone get a look at some of those prototype trains based on the flying dutchman yet? one of them looked a helluva lot like the final design vekoma ultimately used,just without the recline system so getting in & out of the train would not be easy.

SF doesn't give its parks floorless coasters, SF buys its parks floorless coasters. B&M's most recent 2 floorless coasters have gone to non-SF parks (Tivoli & Dorney). They'll be fine. B&M also still has plenty of flying coasters to sell.

There was this one company that had concepts of a train with rotating seats fitted into Intamin box section track. Can't seem to find it any more as I've forgotten the name.

Drift- I've been saying that for a while that Intamin has somewhat of a head start on a 4D concept, as their box track already has the 4 corners for 4 rails. Time will tell I guess. I, for one, would love to see more 4Ds out there. X was the only coaster that I got off of and said "What the hell just happened?"... Rockets are a rush, but X was mystifying...

"When did I say that? That IAAPA presentation was in 2002. I sure haven't seen any 4Ds being built."

Sorry, I thought you meant this year.

"Know of any I don't?"

Well, yes.

Adam

Using Intamin's Track for a 4-D would be difficult. Not making the track work but the supports would be hard. Because the "Xrails" carrier would get in the way of having any horizontal supports. So the Track would have to be suspended all the time which could be a problem. But I am sure they could find a way around it.