Mantis and Raptor: They're Looking Rough....

It seems like Arrow coasters paint doesn't fade as fast as B&M or Intamin. It it just the type of paint used? Magnum was painted 4-5 years ago and it looks much better than Raptor that was painted just a year or two earlier.

yeah your right i think i rather see it with bird poop on it then a thousand little spikes.

Dragster could also use a paint job. Will they continue to paint the rest of millenium this off season

I heard somewhere after the season opened, that Millennium Force would get more of a paint job when the regular daily operation ends sometime early September. I think that was reported from the on-point blog the day before Cedar Point opened for the season. I'll have to look for the link.

Honestly, raptor needs a new paint job. Think about it, it's right in the front of the park. It's one of the first things you see.

Raptor needs paint and Dragster could use some freshening up. MF looks AWESOME, the parts that were repainted, can't wait to see it all done next season.

I agree with Raptor. At the very least, it could use a nice power wash. All those birds do a number to it.

The paint that is now being used on most rides/coasters is an automotive-type paint that is resistant to fading.

When Mantis, Raptor and Magnum were all re-painted recently, the new paint was used.

Raptor does not need a paint job and neither does Mantis. The two rides that need it the most are MF and TTD, and it appears those are being taken care of (I assume TTD is next).

The ride experience is the same. Now if I could just find more charm somewhere...

I suspect what Raptor mainly needs is a good power-washing.

^^The ride that needs it the most is Giant Wheel. Badly faded paint job, not to mention the pathetic number of working lights.

Does anyone know the last time Magnum got a paint job? It still looks great.

They should just paint raptor all white ad tuen they won't have to worry bout the birds.

SSL488 said:

They should just paint raptor all white ad tuen they won't have to worry bout the birds.

ROTFLOL!

They'd have to change the name to Pooptor.

SSL488 said:
Does anyone know the last time Magnum got a paint job? It still looks great.

They should just paint raptor all white ad tuen they won't have to worry bout the birds.

Magnum got a paint job in 2005-2006. From the CP trend, the Arrow Dynamics roller coasters get a paint job every 18-20 years. Those rides seem to keep the paint pretty well, with little fading.

If CP painted Raptor white, there would be disgusting brown spots on it. All Raptor needs is a heavy power-wash.

Why don't they just use the same type of paint on the other coasters as they do on the Arrow? Or does each type of coaster need a different type of paint so it doesn't interfere with the wheels or anything?

The manufacturer most likely uses a different paint than CP uses to repaint the ride.

So let me get this straight, the ride manufacturer is the one who re paints the rides? Not Cedar Point?

Look at it like this: just like LED lights are now replacing old lamps, there is better paint out there now than there was before.

Manufacturers ship their coaster track already painted. Unfortunately, the quality of paint used on many coasters was not what it is today.

Now, companies are hired to come in and paint the coasters with the proper paint that resists fading.

There is no set frequency of how many years pass before these things get a paint job. It's mainly a budget issue - something many people don't understand. A paint job is not cheap!

SSL488 said:
So let me get this straight, the ride manufacturer is the one who re paints the rides? Not Cedar Point?

Just like Guide Wheel said, manufacturers have the ride painted and ready to go, but the park hires a company to repaint a ride.

Oh I know how expensive paint jobs are.. It was going to cost me about $500 to get two stripes painted on my car.

I cant imagine how much a roller coaster would cost to paint.