Alton Towers - SW7 - "The Smiler"

construction does not seem to be moving at all really. they must be working on something big in the bottom of the pit I hope

[Coasterkidmwm]

Or they're being British Leyland

[gouldy]

Construction is moving on at the same pace, but these pictures are old. The only time we get up to date pictures is when that MI7 guy flies over AT and takes some. There is a lot of work to do on site that isn't trackwork, also, so it might even be that for a period of time a lot of groundwork is done, and then all of the trackwork flies up quite rapidly.

[Coasterkidmwm]

^Lol optimism

Pretty sure they'd work out the drainage and stuff BEFORE they put the smile loops or whatever into the trench

[gouldy]

Not sure to be honest, because they're evidently working from one end of the site to the other. The rest of the site in the last photos has still just been ramps made of earth for the vehicles to travel up and down, which is definitely not how it's going to end up.

well the towers times ROFL copter has gone out today, expect an update soon

[GRIM.657]

is that nice recreation on youtube up for download anywhere?

[gouldy]

I did look for it breifly when I first saw it, but to no avail. Hopefully one of the other guys will know...


Another Aerial update from MI7, over at Towers Times (I really hope they don't mind these being posted here). No new trackwork, yet again, but a lot more concrete and site preparedness.

[gouldy]

The major theming elements are being fabricated at Merlin Studios, some photos have been taken from the air and one of them was of the spider type thing:





So the theming is coming on, even if the trackwork is currently not


Alton Towers is open at the moment, but you can't get anywhere near this area to take photos. But some people have been taking photos from a distance, wherever they could see bits of the construction. It sounds and looks like the major supporting structure above the toilet block to support the track immediately after the 2 lifts, has started to go up. As this picture shows:





So the next MI7 aerial photos will definitely show some more vertical construction! Thank Thor!

^perhaps they need to finish some parts of the theming first to be able to go on with the trackwork

[Coasterkidmwm]

They built track in the steel box thing you dolts lol

[gouldy]

That track was put up when the other track was put up, it's been there for weeks

[Coasterkidmwm]

My bad I was wrong

[gouldy]

So it seems, in a slight deviation from the plans, this picture from Alton Tower's Twitter shows that the first main drop will now be inverted, or at the very least overbanked:





Notice the support on the far left is definitely supporting track from above, rather than below. Speculation is suggesting that this ride may break the inversion record in traditional style, after all.


I was at Alton Towers today, and tried to take some photos with my phone, but with the distance they're keeping around the construction site, you'd need a good camera with a big lens on to see anything of the construction in a photo.


EDIT: In fairness, it seems that the "speculation" about the ride breaking the inverson record, is not speculation; it is now actually almost certain.

In the picture below, it is quite apparent that after you drop to the left out of the station, you continue turning to the left and then go through a rising barrel roll (look straight down from the "m" in the word "maintain" and notice the track inverting):



Add that inversion to the newly apparent inversion on the first drop, and that already gives us a total of 10. If the other main drop is the same as the first, that would be 11. And with the surprises that this ride is throwing up, there could well still be another.


pictures taken from the TowersTimes forum

now this is what Alton needed. no gimmicks, no world firsts. just a flat out fantastic looking, riding and fantastically advertised ride.

Originally posted by gazag

now this is what Alton needed. no gimmicks, no world firsts. just a flat out fantastic looking, riding and fantastically advertised ride.

I see what you did there.

[gouldy]

So the trailer for the game has been released and it seems to confirm the inverted drop, and also that the "trick track" part of the layout near the end of the ride is now also an inversion.

[Coasterkidmwm]

Originally posted by gazag

now this is what Alton needed. no gimmicks, no world firsts. just a flat out fantastic looking, riding and fantastically advertised ride.

I see your point, but if I was to have a "gimmick" ride appear at my homepark I'd be thrilled with this over just about anything.

[gouldy]

So yep, the first drop inverts.








It also seems, from the supports, the drop after the 2nd lift also inverts. Will have to wait for the next aerial update (if it's not all censored), to be sure of that, though.

Edit: Seems like we won't have to wait too long for an aerial update; MI7 says he's just warming up...

I'm really interested in seeing an official layout for this.

[gouldy]

I'm also really interested to see an official layout! Quite when that will be, I have no idea...

Edit:

Some pictures from TowersStreet:






The aerial update is due at 8PM GMT (about an hour and a half from now). I'm quite excited to see this from the air.

So all in all from the video we can now basicaly confirm that the coaster will contain 14 track inversions! Suck it ThorpePark!

[gouldy]

Construction has really started to pick up again; both drops well on their way to completion.

[TheArchitect]

wow they really didnt want to knock that building down...

[gouldy]

Originally posted by TheArchitect

wow they really didnt want to knock that building down...

nope. Someone really high up at Merlin must have some really good memories in that toilet block, or something...

Anyway, with the changes to the layout, obvious from the latest construction and the video of the mobile game, someone has made a new NoLimits recreation, including 13 of the 14 likely inversions (the one not included being the rising barrel roll under the station):