Update: August 29

They've barely begun to make a dent in what they have at the staging area.

Based on my experience at Kings Dominion, with 3 LIM powered coasters, I would think the initial LIM launch would be from a level or slightly elevated launch track (5-10 degree track elevation).

With a normal lift angle, (25-30 degrees? - an knowledgeable person could confirm this), I would think the train would have to have some momentum going up a launch section of track, at that degree, for the LIMs to accelerate the train up and over the hill. I could see this used for boosting the train's existing speed up a steep angle like that, but not for an initial launch.

Maybe Intamin has come up with some way to hold the train in place on the hill until the LIMs kick in. In any case, Maverick would have to have some "Honking" big LIMs and juice to pull that off!

That's sorta why I was wondering if the initial launch is actually the one on the bottom.

Tim how come you havnt given me some credit about the LIM/LSM MCL and LIM Lift?.......if I remember correctly, I was the one who swayed you to the idea in the first place.;)

We sure have done some fine detective work these past months, havnt we?:)

*** Edited 8/30/2006 10:34:24 PM UTC by TTD 120mph***

i'm not sure at all about this launched lift hill stuff... from what we are all seeing, this lay out seems quite feasible with a normal LIM/LSM launch and a mid course launch.

Then explain this: http://pointbuzz.com/Gallery.aspx?i=5348 :)

*** Edited 8/30/2006 10:51:46 PM UTC by TTD 120mph***

While I totally agree there is going to be some sort of lift (there are stairs and railings in the staging area - not to mention outriggers to attach said stairs), I'm not totally sold now on the LIM/LSM idea. Well, I guess I should rephrase that. The mounting plates on the Project 2007 track doesn't match that of California Screamin' or Wicked Twister. So, if they are indeed LIM/LSMs, they're mounted differently.

Whatever gets mounted to these plates is in the center only.

The plates look very similar to WT's to me.
http://www.pointbuzz.com/Gallery.aspx?i=819 (upper right)

I don't care what kind of launch this is (well, I do, but at the moment that isn't on my mind), but I can easily say that I know what direction the train will be traveling over the "launch." That airtime hill is a bit taller then the "corkscrew," which is a bit taller then the zero-G roll, so we can logically say, based on this picture:

http://pointbuzz.com/Gallery.aspx?i=5372[url][url]

That after the zero-G roll, it will make a turn into the launch, and then based on Cedar Point's webcam, here:

http://www.cedarpoint.com/public/fun/webcams/webcam.cfm?chip=3

That the launch will then either make an upward turn over the water (most likely IMO), or a bank into that Rita-style helix.

*** Edited 8/31/2006 12:58:07 AM UTC by midnight sun***

Hey guys.. I just got back from the point. Im uploading then sending the Pics to Walt as we speak. Just to let you know, all the peices on the straight have those panels, and they caped the end with a highly banked turn going towards the Swan Pond. More at 11 :)

Gomez - are you talkin about the brakes?

No, you can see the mounts on the track right in front of the brake. It looks similar to the track we have been seeing.

if the straight away is a mid-course launch, do you guys think the train will first slow down then launch, or come into the straight away at whatever speed then get a push and just leave faster?
or what would you prefer(sp)? *** Edited 8/31/2006 1:58:47 AM UTC by milleniumforcerocks***

Theoretically it could be done either way if it were done with LIMs.

Gomez - Look REALLY close at the WT pic. There are holes all over the "flange" part. In the middle, on the outside, etc... But, the holes on the P07 track are ONLY down the center. You can see the bolts on the LIM piece of WT too - they're on the outside - closest to the rail. They're not the same piece at all. The flange is shaped the same, but that's it.

ok, the pics have been sent to walt, now we play the waiting game

Interesting stuff for sure... Now I KNOW I haven't pored through every detail of every post in the last few months, but here's my 2c. Sorry if I'm repeating anything already said.

Looking at what's out there, I would hazard a guess that the "We're going in a different direction" hint that T&T put out probably refers to LENGTH of the ride...i.e CP is going for a "longest" ride instead of their usual "tallest" - the different direction being "horizontal" instead of "vertical". This would also tie in with the very early start the park made on construction. There may not be a record-breaking amount of track lying around in the staging area right now, but there are at least 6 months more of construction time ahead of us. This is part of the park where construction can continue without disturbing daily operations at all; any other section of this ride will be over current park turf, and construction will have to wait for the off season.

It also seems to me that the straight-away section would need to be some kind of launch...there is no way it is a MCBR, since any train stopping there would not be able to make the rest of the course (this is one of the lowest points on the track so far). There can be no reason to have that section as "just a part of the ride", so I would be surprised to see anything other than a launch there - unless they have a tunnel/themeing or something, but even then...to make it that straight would be weird.

Finally, looking at the photos and the clearances around the track, I doubt we are going to be seeing a wing/wind walker here. And I hate to say it, but with inversions I imagine that we are looking at OTSR's and not lap-bars....grrrr

My 2c.

I think OTSRs are all but confirmed.

halltd said:
Gomez - Look REALLY close at the WT pic. There are holes all over the "flange" part. In the middle, on the outside, etc... But, the holes on the P07 track are ONLY down the center. You can see the bolts on the LIM piece of WT too - they're on the outside - closest to the rail. They're not the same piece at all. The flange is shaped the same, but that's it.

On WT, there are three fins on the train. The more fins you have, the more surface area you have going through the LIM. WT Acceleration is very fast, in a fairly short length of track. As we have already seen on the new ride, the LIM section is fairly long and it is probably safe to assume that the other LIM section will be long as well. This would give the train more time to gain speed while using less energy. Therfore, needing only one fin instead of two or three. And that would be reflected in the mounting holes being closer together. If that makes sense...

Is there any reason why that can't be the end of the coaster?

Also there is no reason to think that just because there are 2 sets of footers above this supposed "launch section" that that has to be the station. It could be a higher turn and needs the second pair of footers for support.

*** Edited 8/31/2006 4:06:57 AM UTC by SFGA=toilet***