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hotrodyoda

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Posts posted by hotrodyoda

  1. Shameless self plug warning.  I started off on this project as just a generic Mack Impulse.  Trying to come up with a name along the way, I decided to name it Flight Commander after the KI Flat (it's just a dope name, too).  After I had the name, I wished that something like this would take Vortex's land.  I didn't follow Vortex's terrain; nor did I try to fit it into the same plot size since it was an after thought.  Nonetheless..... Enjoy?
     

     

    • Like 3
  2. 1 minute ago, PatchesC said:

    BTW this is the longest wait time for Orion so far!!! (Since the original opening was scheduled)

    "Grandpa, what was the longest time you ever waited for a roller coaster?"  "Well, Paul, let me tell you about 2020...."

    • Haha 4
  3. 6 minutes ago, MrSourNinja said:

    I hope you're right. You would have to think they know people value the back row right? Also, until trains run at full capacity, we aren't going to get a top speed ride before the trim, :(

    While you're right, the additional mass that a fully-loaded train adds to the total mass of the train is just a small percentage.  Say, you have a fully loaded train of 32 people at 200lb each.  That's 6,400 lb on a train that when empty weighs 40k+.  It's not going to drastically change the conservation of momentum, especially with how good modern lubrication is.

  4. 2 hours ago, Marc3E said:


    I’d be so thankful if they put new trains on that thing...

    I don't know if new trains a la Full Throttle would work well.  FOF has too many abrupt changes in direction.  The way you're snugged into the seats seems fairly critical to not making those transitions more jarring on an open torso.

  5. On 6/10/2020 at 3:35 PM, Hawaiian Coasters 325 said:

    Doesn't have anything to do with Vortex, but someone made this neat from gate upgrade concept with a b&m flyer. 

    Here's the video: 

    Here's the front gate upgrade drawing:

     

    Why do I have a feeling this would mean the demise of Invertigo and/or Congo River Falls?  Pass on removing more roller coasters.

  6. 50 minutes ago, PatchesC said:

    I've only had to deal with Siemens PLC for 20+yo CNC machines. There are so many "hidden" variables that need a separate laptop connected to view it's kinda crazy. 

    Yup, precisely.  The job of connecting the two rides together was likely just a completely unnecessary headache.

     

    10 minutes ago, teenageninja said:

    Good news, they don't have to worry about it anymore, because they installed a different electrical grid.

    Huzzah!  I didn't know this.  I'm sure there were other contributing factors to making that change, but that doesn't surprise me whatsoever.

  7. Some personal background here: I'm currently a student in a Mechatronics program down in TN.  Mechatronics is basically a combination of mechanical and electrical engineering/motor control.  So, can be directly applied to amusement park rides.

    Amusement park rides are controlled by Programmable Logic Controllers.  The two biggest companies making this hardware are Siemens (German company) and Allen Bradley (American Company).  PLCs, while computers, are specifically designed for industrial settings and are streamlined directly for that use.  There's lots of different types of input/output modules that have certain wiring and programming requirements.  So, the first hurdle would potentially be, do the two rides utilize the same companies hardware?  If so, are they running the same model/level of PLC infrastructure?  Just like any other computer hardware, advances in tech are made, and those updates are not necessarily easily compatible with one another.

    Then, if you've figured out a way to get around ALL OF THAT, you'd have to bring in a company like Irvine Ondrey Engineering to come and change the fundamental programming logic of the two rides and implement a new program, which costs money.  Unfortunately raspberry pi's (which I love, and can be used in simple arduino projects to function as a mini PLC), can't just be plugged into the system and go.  That said, a simple CCTV, and a 5 minute addition to ride-op training is by far the easiest and most logical way to go.

    • Like 5
  8. 14 hours ago, SonofBaconator said:

    Nope, it'll be over 4,600 ft in length so it won't need one really and it'll speed over those hills. It bares a lot of similarities to Orion if you think about it

    I've thought about it and this statement appears to be correct.

    • Like 2
  9. Thanks, Walt! For curiosity, I timed the train from the midpoint at the top of the lift until it is on the brake-run.  ~51 or 52 seconds.  Really hoping that the ops are spectacular, this thing could eat people up with a constant 3 train op.

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