Lightning Rod: Launched RMC Coming to Dollywood!

SO HI...
Where did you see said tweet??!?!?!

While it isn't a firsthand source, it sounds plausible.

Oh. Shet.
If this ends up true... I'm there!

Hope that they won't break their words.

Well, I assume it won't be opening this weekend because we haven't heard anything from the park yet . Hopefully next weekend...

Yeah I'm still going on Monday (first time). I'll take pics

[Coasterkidmwm]

Lol if this was intamin you'd all be pissy. The denial is so great.

^Yep. If it was B&M it would be forceless. And the ride would be poop if it was built at CP. Coaster Enthusiast logic never fails to make no sense.

Well that's not entertaining in the least.

^^^If this was Intamin I would be acting the same: in that I would have completely expected this to happen.

[Dirk_Ermen]

Coasterkidmwm wrote:

Lol if this was intamin you'd all be pissy. The denial is so great.

I totally agree on you there

Austin wrote:

Quite funny how the person who made this video was really pissed off by Lightning Rod's delay, so he's comparing himself to Hitler. lol

Found this pic and it was funny.

Dirk_Ermen wrote:

Coasterkidmwm wrote:

Lol if this was intamin you'd all be pissy. The denial is so great.

I totally agree on you there

Until it actually opened. Then it would instantly be everyone's new #1

[Dirk_Ermen]

Manic Monte wrote:

Until it actually opened. Then it would instantly be everyone's new #1

Until next year, when the hype has settled and legit opinions come in.

[slosprint]

Can someone remind me why we're launching a wood coaster?

[Coasterkidmwm]

Dirk_Ermen wrote:

Manic Monte wrote:

Until it actually opened. Then it would instantly be everyone's new #1

Until next year, when the hype has settled and legit opinions come in.

Harsh lol. All they need to do is add supports randomly a season or two after it opens and it'll be full on Intamin.

[mkingy]

slosprint wrote:

Can someone remind me why we're launching a wood coaster?

Lift hills are so 00's

slosprint wrote:

Can someone remind me why we're launching a wood coaster?

Because a lot of people would rather watch a wooden coaster launch than see Cedar Point gently move another awful B&M roller coaster.

[Coasterkidmwm]

GerstlCrazy wrote:

slosprint wrote:

Can someone remind me why we're launching a wood coaster?

Because a lot of people would rather watch a wooden coaster launch than see Cedar Point gently move another awful B&M roller coaster.

Lol someone's mad their home park doesn't have a B&M and has a FailCI and a Morgan instead.

[Paradox]

Coasterkidmwm wrote:

GerstlCrazy wrote:

slosprint wrote:

Can someone remind me why we're launching a wood coaster?

Because a lot of people would rather watch a wooden coaster launch than see Cedar Point gently move another awful B&M roller coaster.

Lol someone's mad their home park doesn't have a B&M and has a FailCI and a Morgan instead.

#ValleyfairRelocatedSLC2017

[slosprint]

GerstlCrazy wrote:

slosprint wrote:

Can someone remind me why we're launching a wood coaster?

Because a lot of people would rather watch a wooden coaster launch than see Cedar Point gently move another awful B&M roller coaster.

Brace yourself, opinions ahead.

As a disclaimer, the only RMC I have ridden is WC, but from what I've heard it's in the top 3 so I'm gonna base most of this off that.

I'd take B&M over RMC any day. That said I'd also take CCI over B&M so take that how you will. I will admit that I've been disappointed with B&M's latest projects; and wish they'd do more compact rides like their older inverts, or a modernized Kumba; but RMC's entire lineup is a gimmick. They make wooden coasters do A, B, and C; but in the end what you get is just a ride which does A, B and C but has none of the aspects of a true wooden coaster aside from maybe pacing. The amount to which every section of WC was calculated to make it feel extra out-of-control has the exact opposite effect, especially in the area of laterals. I would point to the outside banked airtime hill which actually ends up eliminating all lateral Gs, and would have been more exciting if it just wasn't banked at all. There is no reason to be afraid of laterals if the ride uses a lap bar; they are only uncomfortable in OTSRs. In addition the ride uses gradual transitions from positive to negative vertical and lateral forces and vice versa, whereas wooden coasters by the nature of their construction often just change from positive to negative instantly. I would argue that this is the most important difference in making something feel out of control vs in control; everything else aside.

My point here isn't that RMC makes bad rides; far from it; it's that their whole shtick is "look what this wooden (or steel hybrid) coaster can do", and they end up making something which can do those things but leaves behind all the great aspects a wooden coaster has to offer. With B&M what you see is what you get; perfectly engineered masterpieces which require little to no maintenance, ride like a dream, and age beautifully. I guess my main question is not what does a wooden coaster get from a launch; but what does Lightning Rod get from being a wooden coaster? If you slapped steel tube supports and some triangular metal track on would it behave any differently than it does now (other than working properly LOL)? Somehow I doubt it.

Your argument against their designs seems to be founded on the assumption that their goal is to make wooden coasters that perform like traditional wooden coasters, which is not the case at all.

Additionally, I wouldn't base such a mindset off of just Wicked Cyclone.

[Coasterkidmwm]

If this ride opens around June 15th it'll tie Falcon's Fury in delays lol.

slosprint wrote:

RMC's entire lineup is a gimmick.

You do realize that most of RMC's coasters, including the one you rode, are at Six Flags parks, who just adore gimmicks. The non-Six Flags RMCs are considerably less gimmicky and rely more on simply making an amazing coaster. The only non-Six Flags RMC I have been on is Storm Chaser and only the first drop can be deemed gimmicky.

Additionally, I don't understand why you would expect RMC to build their coasters in a way where they feel like traditional wooden coasters. There are already manufacturers who do that perfectly, so RMC wants to differentiate themselves from that.