Roller Coaster History Timeline Added to Construction Fence

Raptor maybe the first of the B&Ms sporting a two tone colored track, well over 20 years ago.

And didn't Raptor also have silver rails?

Nope.

It had unpainted rails.

The seagulls are constantly painting Raptor in a multi-color feast for the senses. I've seen some silver in there.

So if I am not mistaken the only coaster left to go up on the wall is Rougarou, but considering the fact that they have been putting two up each time they added some, I would assume they are also going to do some sort of concluding sign, which I am guessing will include (besides the wall) our first major teaser. And maybe a salmon color scheme.

If it's going to be any color, it'll be brown and or silver. That salmon track is not for a dive coaster. However, the brown track is for a dive coaster. Of course, that's still assuming that the park is indeed getting a dive coaster next year.

I have no doubt that something significant is coming and the likelihood of it being a dive coaster is almost certain. Just playing devils advocate here.

p.s.- Just to be clear, my point (regarding two tone track) was with regards to how Fury is the only B&M with the second color being featured on the bottom and support. I wouldn't be much of a coaster enthusiast if I didn't know about the B&Ms that already have 2 tone track. :)

I'm starting to wonder if that brown is a primer before they put on the final color coat. Maybe adding black or purple later?

That brown has to be the finished product but I'd be willing to bet the gray on the supports is just a primer and they still need finish painted

I'm pretty sure that's not the process down there at Clermont Steel Fabricators.

Just wishful thinking I guess. I don't necessarily dislike the color, as I will wait until a) We find out if it even is the coaster that may be coming to CP and b) We see what it looks like completed and not in a low quality picture taken at the plant.

Still, I think black with purple trimming would be a better color.

They wouldn't let a primed piece sit out in the weather. It would be primed, then painted in the order that they have to paint them. Considering how heavy each piece is, priming a couple pieces, pushing them aside, and priming other pieces just doesn't seem like good organization. If a piece is not ready for paint, they simply don't prime it at all......as evident by the picture below. My guess is that in order to facilitate more room, once a track section or support(s) is welded, they move it outside in groups. Then, when the time comes (aka, when the schedule dictates it), they bring the pieces in (a few at a time), prime them, paint them, then set them outside to await shipment. It honestly depends on how they schedule things. I'm sure there are some rides that go strait to paint after being welded.

And with how big these rides are, there's some serious scheduling going on to make sure things get done on time and in order. The biggest thing I've ever painted was
this Comerica Bank sign and that was an exhausting job. I have the utmost respect for those painters and the insane amount of painting that they do every day.

That being said, those gray supports are their final color

Wait a minute. Those pieces of track do not have the silver bottom. Now why is that? I'm confused.

The pieces of track in that pic have yet to be painted. I'm sure they don't use stainless steel to manufacture track (could be wrong) so they will rust a little while exposed to the weather before being painted.

My money is on carbon steel.

I hope they don't rust that quickly and easily. These coasters sit out in the elements for years.

Bare steel will rust quite quickly on the surface. But it's not as bad as you think. All of the visible stuff you see is easily sanded out with no damage to the integrity of the steel. It would take a long time for those pieces to be rendered unusable.

Maybe I'm wrong I guess but that dull gray on the supports just doesn't look quite done and it matches the ends of the track pieces that they leave primed only...

Also ironically enough TTD 120 I actually set that support steel the Comerica Bank sign attaches to. Small World!

They purposely leave the track pieces exposed to the weather for a time to allow oxidation to occur and remove loose scale and other impurities from the manufacturing process. The steel used for the track and supports will indeed rust nearly immediately after being exposed to oxygen and moisture, thus the need for it to be painted.

The paint isn't just there to look cool, or for people to complain that it doesn't fit a theme. The painting process primary job is to protect the steel underneath it from oxidation.

It does look like a different shade. One possibility is that is the supports for the red track. Though I'm not entirely sure those aren't indeed just primed. My point above is simply a guess about how they might manage/organize. There could very well be a primer they use for that steel that can withstand outside conditions floor extended periods of time. My painting experience is with aluminum and the primer I use can't get wet. Without a clear picture of those supports, we can't say for sure.