Thorpe Park |"The Swarm"| B&M Wing Coaster

[Aaron]

The Swarm - B&M 'Wing-Rider', Thorpe Park 2012

I'm so glad they are theming that box support round the twist, it looks awful as it is now!


Communicating through the ether... (tapatalk)

 

[oriolat2]

Re: The Swarm - B&M 'Wing-Rider', Thorpe Park 2012

By the way, does anybody know what is the expected hourly capacity for The Swarm? I don't about Raptor but I guess it must be similar...

 

[CoasterCrazy]

Re: The Swarm - B&M 'Wing-Rider', Thorpe Park 2012

^Probably the same.

This coaster is shaping up to be great....especially the interaction between the inclined loop and the corkscrew! :--D

My only worry is that it might be too short...


And now...

With the circuit complete, work has begun on testing the clearance between the ride track, columns and theming elements. A 2D Saftey Envelope which clips to the track and mimics the space required for the vehicles (and guests arms!) is placed at key points to ensure adequate space is available

All taken from the dev diary.

 

[Lofty]

Re: The Swarm - B&M 'Wing-Rider', Thorpe Park 2012

I am so looking forward to seeing the theming go up around the ride. It's already looking promising.

 

[spicy]

The Swarm - B&M 'Wing-Rider', Thorpe Park 2012

So there isn't adequate space there then because that is clearly touching the themeing that is being constructed?

 

[Smithy]

Re: The Swarm - B&M 'Wing-Rider', Thorpe Park 2012

That slight straight bit where you're horizontal for a second looks like it might be a bit painful, not sure.

 

[SaiyanHajime]

Re: The Swarm - B&M 'Wing-Rider', Thorpe Park 2012

So there isn't adequate space there then because that is clearly touching the themeing that is being constructed?

It does look weird doesn't it... I don't think it's resting on it though, I think it's in front of. Still don't understand how it'll pass through there though. I'm sure it'll make sense, not like any of us are construction workers who understand wtf is going on anyway.

 

[Lofty]

Re: The Swarm - B&M 'Wing-Rider', Thorpe Park 2012

That slight straight bit where you're horizontal for a second looks like it might be a bit painful, not sure.

I've never heard anybody say that transition on Raptor is painful. Ever. So I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

 

[rich210uk]

Re: The Swarm - B&M 'Wing-Rider', Thorpe Park 2012

That slight straight bit where you're horizontal for a second looks like it might be a bit painful, not sure.

I've never heard anybody say that transition on Raptor is painful. Ever. So I wouldn't lose sleep over it.

Raptor was silky smooth and I don’t remember any manoeuvre being uncomfortable, the harness was a little uncomfortable in general and actually more comfortable when upside down for some reason. It seemed to get tighter and tighter as you went round.

 

[CoasterCrazy]

Re: The Swarm - B&M 'Wing-Rider', Thorpe Park 2012

^Agreed, Raptor is soooo smooth!

Personally, I found the restraints Ok, to be honest, and yes perhaps they're quite tight, but that just gives you that extra sense of security (better tight than loose eh?). They're kind of breath with you...when your chest goes up, they go up...

UPDATE:

Now that the track is complete, we are conducting the clearance testing to re-inforce all previous safety measures

Again, from the dev diary.

 

[Hixee]

Re: The Swarm - B&M 'Wing-Rider', Thorpe Park 2012

See, now that doesn't look like it's going to fit through that gap either, but the train definitely will as it's a support, not some extra piece of theming. I suspect it (and the previous picture) are just suffering from tricks of the light!

 

[nealbie]

Re: The Swarm - B&M 'Wing-Rider', Thorpe Park 2012

Based on similar gear seen on the National Geographic Channel - that'll be maximum physical reach (ie: a lanky **** like me) over the top of the train. So it's all good.

Or the second largest theme park operator in the world got it mega wrong. One or the other.

 

[kimahri]

Re: The Swarm - B&M 'Wing-Rider', Thorpe Park 2012

Brb, going to fap. Then again the lead in into that is a little weird... it's like RCT3 going from a 90 degree banked corner but upside down.

I still want to get on this on opening day D:<

 

[Hixee]

Re: The Swarm - B&M 'Wing-Rider', Thorpe Park 2012

Based on similar gear seen on the National Geographic Channel - that'll be maximum physical reach (ie: a lanky **** like me) over the top of the train. So it's all good.

No, I'm fairly sure that envelope will easily encompass "a lanky **** like you".

 

[nealbie]

Re: The Swarm - B&M 'Wing-Rider', Thorpe Park 2012

Based on similar gear seen on the National Geographic Channel - that'll be maximum physical reach (ie: a lanky **** like me) over the top of the train. So it's all good.

No, I'm fairly sure that envelope will easily encompass "a lanky **** like you".

Precisely, everyone was going on like it was just the train and TOO big. I'd had enough of the facepalming

 

[SaiyanHajime]

Re: The Swarm - B&M 'Wing-Rider', Thorpe Park 2012

Indeed, it'll be the maximum rider reach of the tallest person physically able to get on board. The actual train is way within that. It's still going to seem very, very close. The first pic does look weird though, but I think it is an illusion.

 

[Bottom_Feeder_13]

Re: The Swarm - B&M 'Wing-Rider', Thorpe Park 2012

My bet is that that isn't the actual clearance envelope, it's probably enlarged to make it seem like there is less space; another crappy marketing ploy from Merlin.

 

[FaceYourNemesis]

Re: The Swarm - B&M 'Wing-Rider', Thorpe Park 2012

See, now that doesn't look like it's going to fit through that gap either, but the train definitely will as it's a support, not some extra piece of theming. I suspect it (and the previous picture) are just suffering from tricks of the light!

If that inline twist is anything like the one on Raptor, then the trains will easily fit through the support gap

 

[Martyn B]

Re: The Swarm - B&M 'Wing-Rider', Thorpe Park 2012

I love it on Raptor how there's like an assault of near miss after near miss!

 

[dominoes]

Re: The Swarm - B&M 'Wing-Rider', Thorpe Park 2012

That thing is just about the size of the train I don't think it is the size of the hole as some people seem to.be suggesting