CONFIRMED! B&M for WOF in 2006

That storm tonight came in in a hurry. It was nice and then BOOM it went crazy. Some of the counties in KS really got clobbered there north of the metro area on Rt 36.

Just got back from WoF, was there untill about 8 PM, and didn't notice any storms, there was lightning in the area when we left.

Overall I think Patriot was a decent coaster, it was a bit too short imo, and wasted a lot of potential energy at the end in the long brake run. I sat in the back left, and the front left the two times I rode it. The airtime hill gives you a nice pop of air which was refreshing after reading some reports that it was just bland. It's sad to say as this is one of my first newer B&M's that they run really bumpy. It's like the wheel assembly is kinked up or something, constantly rattling. Patriot had this problem throughout the whole ride, not just at the bottom of a drop or in certain spots, so I'm not sure it's the steel fabrication as someone mentioned earlier. It looked like there was a bit of space between some of the upstop wheels, perhaps the spring mechanisms arn't worn in that hug each wheel assembly to the track? Hmm...

Another thing I noticed is where is the bottom crossbeam that connects all of the coaster seats in a car? I guess it's missing off of Silver Bullet also ( http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/coasters/pictures/silverbullet/silverbullet7.shtml ) Wonder why B&M decided to do this? Eh, kinda weird that the screw holes were still there. *** Edited 4/16/2006 5:12:56 AM UTC by Geewhzz***

It sounds like the ride could be better, I had high hopes since it has a Talonesque layout. The B&M vibration problem is puzzling to me. As I mentioned in a topic on Goliath, it's present on Hydra and Batman: The Dark Knight, but I didn't notice it at all on Silver Bullet. It seems like a wheel assembly situation, but I'm no engineer. It's weird because the old B&M's don't seem to show it.

Also, it seems like it would have been better if they had put in a another flat spin or helix before the brakes, I am not wild about the final transition. That aside, I have not ridden the ride and would love to. Although it may not be topping any one's list, it should be a great addition to the park and I'm sure it's a lot of fun.

*** Edited 4/16/2006 5:27:28 AM UTC by Willh51*** *** Edited 4/16/2006 5:28:39 AM UTC by Willh51***

From my first time visiting the park, it seems like a great attraction for this specific park. I guess I've just been too spoiled visiting Cedar Point 10 times each summer.

Another thing I forgot to point out was how quiet it was. It was weird, it just didn't feel B&M like. I assume they filled the track with sand, but why? There didn't seem to be any residential areas around....is Silver Bullet the same way? It didn't bother me, it was just weird.

The ride grows on you, that is the important thing to remember about this ride. Don't go in expecting Talon, go in expecting Patriot. They are two very different rides. It is a very good ride and the later in the day you ride it, the better the ride is -- especially if it has been a rather warm day.

So for people who have ridden Talon and Patriot, care to make a head to head comparison for those who have only ridden Talon?

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Geewhzz said:

Another thing I noticed is where is the bottom crossbeam that connects all of the coaster seats in a car? I guess it's missing off of Silver Bullet also ( http://www.ultimaterollercoaster.com/coasters/pictures/silverbullet/silverbullet7.shtml ) Wonder why B&M decided to do this? Eh, kinda weird that the screw holes were still there.quote]

I think along the lines of Alpie's zero-car, nobody knows the real answer. I would be interested to know which inverts have the bar and which don't, though.

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I'm just curious why the station looks like a German/Swiss ski chalet. Don't get me wrong, it looks like a very nice station, but it just doesn't match the patriotic theme in my opinion.

Wasn't it lifted right out of Silver Bullet?

^When I went to Solace this year and rode SB for the first time, my thought was, "Hey, the station looks just like the one they buit for Patriot."

It is one of the nicer coaster stations out there. I was kind of surprised they didn't paint it white or red or blue or some combination there of.

EDIT: I was referring to Patriot when I mentioned the red, white, blue... *** Edited 4/16/2006 11:38:17 PM UTC by Acoustic Viscosity***

It is "frontier" looking and actually looks similar to Timber Wolf's station.

matt., If you had asked me last week I would have said Talon hands down, but after this past weekend I would say that they are both pretty close. I like both for different reasons. One has something that the other doesn't and vice versa.