Disappointed that no 4d's annouced for 04?

Speaking of expert opinions:

BATWING FAN SFA said:
Exactly,the reason why no coasters (let alone any 4D's) have been announced yet this year is because hardly any parks will be building new coasters in the US market next year.

A quick search on RCDB shows 8 of the 23 new coasters that have been announced so far are in the US. That's more than a third. I'm still trying to figure out why you claim that 'no coasters have been announced yet this year' (a total of 29 have been announced if you include relocated coasters), and how you figure that hardly any of them will be in the US. Also, keep in mind that it's only the end of August. There's a LOT more time between now and next season.

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-Mike B.
Son of Hulk
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*** This post was edited by Vater 8/31/2003 2:52:57 AM ***

Six Flags isn't adding coasters to it's parks this year. Paramount has made their annoucements. Cedar Fair made most of their annoucements. Which basically only leaves Busch. If a 4D is built I highly doubt that it will be in this country. the economy the way it is I wouldn't expect one anywhere else at least for a few more years. Let's hope that a deal will be made at the IAAPP this year.

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Does the World need another vanilla cola?

4 D are gone! Get over it! X will be the only one built in the next 5 years! So don't hold your breath!
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http://coastertrackrecord.tripod.com/

4D's heck i could give a #$% about any type of coaster. Just give me a good woodie and I'm happy. If I make it to KW next yr and if CLP is open, thats all the coaster I need, and then CP's steel and the 3 woodies at SFWOA are just a bonus.

I sure hope that a 4D coaster is built around the east coaster area I really want to ride one, but the chances of me going to SFMM are slim since I live right next to KW.

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Kennywood Team Member Since July 2003
Phantom Fright Nights Fridays & Saturdays
September 12 - October 25

Cedar "Counter" Point said:
Arrow and S&S are a joint venture. S&S hasn't dissolved Arrow. The layouts on their site are much more efficient.It's been rumored that Arrow has motified the 4d vehicles to make them lighter weight. Also rumored that the new design doesn't have the third and fourth running rails.
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It's all about Coleman Spas
*** This post was edited by Cedar "Counter" Point 8/30/2003 4:18:00 PM ***

Without the extra rails, what's rumored to enable seat rotation?

Magic!!

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tambo

Maybe telekinetics? 8^)

Could lim technology drive rotation? I imagine that would be incredibly expensive even if possible.

Exactly, Dale. That 3rd and 4th rail are what drive the rotation. Removing that would require a totally new design for the seat rotation (perhaps with a motor and a computer, but that's just getting even more complicated for no reason.)

X is a fun ride, when it's running, but I can certainly understand why parks aren't lining up to build the second.

Personally I'd rather see some park take the Virginia Reel or ArrowBATic design ;)

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--Greg, aka Oat Boy
My page
"The safety word is 'banana'." -- Family Guy

Cedar "Counter" Point said:
Six Flags isn't adding coasters to it's parks this year.

When did Six Flags announce that they weren't adding coasters this year?

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-Rob
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

At the same time all of the other parks announced no coasters... ;) Sorry, couldn't resist.

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I'm a loser.

Ahh, okay... I must have been sleeping that week!

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-Rob (completely out of it, so it seems)
A.C.E. member since 1990
Posting @ Coasterbuzz since 2000
E.C.C. member since 2002

It's not a rumor that the 3rd and 4th rails are gone. S&S had a piece of concept art at IAAPA last year, that was also printed in First Drop. The trains are short now, like only 12 people if I remember correctly. Instead of the third and fourth rails, there is a simliar "rail" on top of the track ties, between the running rails. If I remember correctly, the boarding will be done conveyor-belt style, to try to bump up capacity.

Despite all these potential improvements, I'm still not surprised another one hasn't been built!

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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson
*** This post was edited by Peabody 9/19/2003 4:29:13 PM ***

It's true. Why wouldn't you like it? You like terrible maintenence, dismal capacity, and lost of downtime? :)

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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

IMO, the reason why they were never built aside from X, was that up until Xcellerator, they were the "new thing", and if the bugs were out before Xcellerator went up, many more would have gone up. But now the hydrolich (sp) coasters are the "new thing", so thats what the parks want right now.

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Did you know that 3 out of 4 people make up 75% of the world's total population?- Light travels faster than sound; that's why some people appear bright before they speak.-"Did you know that the hole's only natural enemy is the pile?" -Bart Simpson

I would love to see a new design on the 4D. If this about S&S ripping the initial design up and changing a few things such as one rail for seat movement (probably less mechanically complex?) and a lighter train, perhaps we shall see one soon. All they need is a buyer for the new prototype, before that though, they need consumer response to a fun ride revisited so to speak. Maybe Six Flags will allow them to modify X and make it a little more...what's the word...I lost my train of thought.

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Guy 1: Why does it smell that way?
Guy 2: What, the roasted corn?
Guy1: No, the drinking water. -As hear in Rapids Camp Crossing

Peabody said:
the boarding will be done conveyor-belt style
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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson
*** This post was edited by Peabody 9/19/2003 4:29:13 PM ***

I can see it now, "Moving conveyor please watch your step, moving conveyor please watch your step..." They would probably use the same recording as Ultra Twister at SFAW.
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Arrow, even the straight parts of our coasters hurt.

This may come across as stupid, but what is conveyor belt style boarding? Is this a new thing, or has it been used elsewhere? Maybe it's all fake and I didn't notice the sarcasm? ;) Any info is appreciated.

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I'm a loser.

That's what I thought too! :)

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- "I used to be in the audio/visual club, but I was kicked out because of my views on Vietnam........and I was stealing projectors" - Homer Simpson

MarimbaGuy87 said:
This may come across as stupid, but what is conveyor belt style boarding? Is this a new thing, or has it been used elsewhere? Maybe it's all fake and I didn't notice the sarcasm? ;) Any info is appreciated.

Think River Raft ride. Where the actual boats keep moving in that circular loading platform while the to-be passengers struggle to board it before it leaves with their party.

Yeup, needless to say it won't happen with this new 4D rider loading concept that member tried to oh-so get us to believe. It's a safety hazard, especially on something as toss-and-tumble as a 4D coaster.