SOB - the last of its kind?

From all that I've read, the "plug-n-play" technology really IS nothing more than using laminated beams instead of conventional framing lumber *for the running boards* (that is, the lumber that the steel plates sit on/around).

They *wood* tend to be more resistant to the forces of nature, and those applied by the very nature of those (horrible) trains going at speeds of about 80mph, but I don't think it's anything "magical". The trackwork would still need to be removed in order for the lam-beams to be replaced, but it *should* be less frequently....offset of course by the added expense of the beams...

Bottom line (IMO, as always)....Sonny is a bad LAYOUT, and other materials might HELP, but could not "fix" the problems caused by the layout...

edit: RavenTTD....there are currently no Intamin P-n-P woodies in the US....SFGAm's American Eagle is indeed Intamin, but was built long before this "new technology"...(hehe, nothing NEW about it, except for it being transferred from construction of buildings to construction of coasters).... *** Edited 4/13/2004 7:57:44 PM UTC by rollergator***

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Draegs said:
I'd be curious to know how many carpenters walk that ride every morning. I'm sure that, in terms of what ride mechanics have to deal with, there isn't much more work to SOB than any other larger coaster. But the time and labor required from the carpentry department must be rediculous!

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It takes four people four hours to inspect SOB every morning.

Chuck,

Add me to the "I like SOB" column. I rode it for the first time in 2002 and found it to be no rougher than Papa, and I rode in the front and back. It's not a coaster I hold my hands up on, but it's also no MS by any stretch of the imagination, IMHO.

It's also not nearly as old as Mean Streak is ;)

My rides on SOB were horrid but I can still say one good thing about SOB: it was better than Hercules! ;)

mOOSH [you knew that was coming, Dante]

How is SOB compared to Mean Steak @ CP?

I've been on MS and have seen it accused of battery on these forums, but my visit so far to CP was in 2001 and I rode MS about 5 times in a row with no problems and I would ride it 5 more times.

I have a hard time getting a consensus opinion about wooden coasters here because it seems like everyone has a unique experience either good or bad.

The first year SFStl The Boss opened I swore I would never ride it again after I was battered pretty bad. This past year I went with family and they really wanted to ride it and so I gave it another shot and ended up riding it about 10 times that day.

So as with SOB, can anyone say they've had multiple bad experiences year after year? I've never been to PKI and I'm interested in trying SOB for myself. I need to try and get there this summer. Beast and Delirium have been on my "to-do" list anyway.

Here's my 2 cents on the ride. Son Of Beast has a great layout, but the way the trains are made, and the track it just ruins the ride, the 2 helices and the drops should be outstanding, but end up being lackluster. Oh well, just like Ken Griffey Jr. in Cincinnati, it was a 20 million dollar waste.

That's the problem, Greg. We all have different threshholds on roughness. IMHO the only true indicator of a "general consensus" would be Mitch's poll.

Seibert constantly hints that SOB will get smoother and smoother as time goes on. He aslo referred to it as a experiment for new concepts.

link

That may help you out determining how the track is assembled. If that link doesn't work, go to the U.S. Patent Search and search for Stengel, Wener. *** Edited 4/15/2004 1:28:20 AM UTC by Jeff***

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VolcanoTBC said:
Peabody,

As far as I understand, the track on the new Intamin "plug-and-play" mega-woodies use a bunch of thin layers of wood "glued" together with some kind of heat-resistant adhesive. It's not one single piece of wood, but rather several (many more than 7) layers glued together.

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Thats right, but the layers are glued together to form a big wooden block. The tracks are then cut out of the block by computerised cutting machines. This results in a far greater accuracy than a conventional wooden track. The track is not fabricated on-site but at a carpenter who has the required machinery.

If a piece of track is faulty, you just order "track 23, left" and that particular track segment will be cut out with the exact same measurements as the original.

The "big wooden block" still consists of several thinner layers of wood glued together.

"Seibert constantly hints that SOB will get smoother and smoother as time goes on. He aslo referred to it as a experiment for new concepts."

With all due respect to Jeffrey, who I like and respect a great deal, he is in PKI's public relations department. How else would you expect him to talk about SOB?

Wow guys, those last few posts explained a lot. Thanks.

SOB had alot of work done to it in the offseason. Basically the 1st helix was totally redone. This off season I suspect the next helix will get it.

It took 6 years to get Flight of Fear right so maybe SOB is on the 6 year plan also?

IMO I think SOB is one of the best woodies out there.Yea it might be a little rough but look at Beast.Its almost as rough and there both my top 2 woodies.I mean when your on a wooden coaster over 200ft tall that is pretty awsome.i just think its a pretty good coaster.

Ya don't say......

An unbiased opinion, eh P? ;)

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Jeff said:
In all fairness, SOB isn't that horrible, at least not anymore. I'm still not a big fan of the trains, but it's better than it was.

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I don't mind the the ride either in terms of its forces and such. The problem is when you are over 6ft tall, you can't get comfortable in the trains and your knees pay for it.

Of course I am guessing you are under 6ft Jeff. :)

^ That is my bottom line. I could deal with the roughness, but not when your knees hit. I would rather have a jackhammer taken to my kneecaps.

Does anyone know if seat 1:1 has anymore room than the rest of the seats?