Construction Update

Tony and Tyler have gotten some new photos for us and say there is a Podcast on the way.

http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/fun/blog/index.cfm

Yay for tunnel. :)

I'm still very curious as to how they're going to "seal" the area between the lift support columns and the roof of the tunnel. Unless they use some rubber (or other flexible) material, there's going to be light intrusion into the otherwise (I think) dark tunnel.

Interesting orange cone system there used to put the sand in the supports... :)

The sand would be a big pain if they ever decide to take it out

Duct tape and an orange cone....it'll make anything work!

The foundry guys where I work use those 3,000 pound bags of sand, they sure will get a kick out of that.

Is it really that hard to believe that they will be able to seal the space between the supports and the tunnel walls without letting any sunlight in? They'll most likely just use a cut up orange cone and some duct tape. (winking smiley face)

I know its an old topic but I didnt want to start a new topic. And I know theres some people wanting an update. Anyway, there's a new update on Theme Park Review from a construction tour.

WALT!!! You're being outdone by another site!!! How dare you have a life that lets other sites beat us. You need to provide up to the second updates of the construction. I can't believe this, POINTBUZZ is being outdone.

This is a travesty.

A sham.

A mockery.

Its a...a...a traveshamockery.

<sarcasm...drip...drip>

Ok, now that I've saved everyone the time, we don't have to complain about Walt not having an update.

Keep up the good work Walt.

^ lol, and ditto.

To be fair, the update is actually from the Coaster Crew podcast. :)

Cedar Point has also updated Maverick's site with 6 new pictures. Theming has started, and the tunnel is looking good.

Nice update......and looking forward to the next PB update.;)

And something caught my eye in one of the pics.
http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v175/Dragster420/?action=view&current=mvt117.jpg
What are those white....things. I've never seen those before.

It looks like a white grid sitting on the track for some reason. I think it's just some scrap or something laying on the track.

I wonder if it has something to do with the measuring of speed.....kind of like how WT does it with the comb and light sensor, only it would be reversed in Mavericks case (if that thing is what its for) with the sensor on the train and comb on the track. Though I suppose the comb would have to be black and not white.

Oh well, it was just a guess......

*** Edited 1/10/2007 3:52:00 AM UTC by TTD 120mph***

I just wonder if those steel structure supports will stay at a diagonal angle during the construction of the tunnel. That white piece looks like a white cage for something, but I know it's not. Maybe it's some sort of electrical protection piece. I know that sounds dumb, but that's my guess. I like Adams guess butter though. *** Edited 1/10/2007 5:51:40 AM UTC by Shawn Meyer***

Wicked Twister has a linear encoder, if thats what your talking about. Maverick will likely need one too for the LSM sections. The problems is that the "comb" needs to be on the trains and the sensor needs to be on the track. Color doesn't matter since they are there just to block the beam.

The reason for these encoders is so the control system can "see" where the train is give or take a cm or two. If you know where the train is, you know where the magnets are and also know which LSM to give power to. LIMs and LSM cannot be given power when there is not a reaction plate or magnets respectively or they act as a short circuit. Do this for long enough and the motors will be destroyed due to excessive heat as well as the drives and possibly the transformer too.