Tower of Terror Update

[Scott.]

I'd say the tower would be galvanized if it was painted the paint would peel in a year or 2 which would result in rust. So if it is galvanized there's no point in painting it it does fade slighty over time but it's better then peeling paint.

[tipsy_bella]

Thanks very much for this info Bella. Can I ask whether you think the general public (and of course all of us on here) will be impressed with this upgrade or is it going to be pretty minor in the scheme of things? I think a lot of people will be very disappointed if they don't use this opportunity to at least fix up the queue and theming

I too would be extremely disappointed if the queue doesn't get some lovin'. As far as the upgrade it is major and the public and us on here will be impressed. I'm fairly excited, I've found the TOT a little boring after riding quite a bit but the upgrade has engaged my interest again.

[Richard]

I'd say the tower would be galvanized if it was painted the paint would peel in a year or 2 which would result in rust. So if it is galvanized there's no point in painting it it does fade slighty over time but it's better then peeling paint.

I'd imagine painting it would be exactly the same in terms of procedure and lifespan as with just about any steel ride (i.e. hundreds of roller coasters) that undergoes a new paint jobs every few years.

[Gazza]

Plus, if it were galvanised wouldn't it be a metallic colour with that distinctive galvanised surface texture, not black?

[Scott.]

Industrial galv paint is different to hot dip sheet metal and small gauge tube like used on street signs and such. It's a dark grey and can be made darker or lighter. It's also not shiny and just looks like a good quality paint job. If you've seen the structural framing of industrial work sheds that's what it is.

[Gazza]

So hang on, you've said:

I'd say the tower would be galvanized if it was painted the paint would peel in a year or 2 which would result in rust. So if it is galvanized there's no point in painting it it does fade slighty over time but it's better then peeling paint.

And.

Industrial galv paint

t's also not shiny and just looks like a good quality paint job. If you've seen the structural framing of industrial work sheds that's what it is.

Is it a type of paint or isn't it? I've always understood galvanisation to be a chemical process where they use a galvanisation bath or put it in a chamber, but what you're describing just sounds like painting with a specialised product such as this. And painting is what ads068 etc suggested in the first place. Edited July 22, 2010 by Gazza

[Scott.]

Yes but it has to be sprayed on and you can't layer it, it has to be applied to bare metal so you cant put another coat over. The steel industry can't dip 10m and bigger structures in a galv bath can it? No so they found other ways to protect steel in the way galvanizing does. Anyway how do you suggest they paint the tower anyway? No cherry pickers are that tall. You want them to bring in a 2000 tonne crane with a man cage? Even if they would do that where can they sit it while they do this work. It's just not practical or necessary to paint the tower. You want new major attractions or even fixing up the current ones? Don't go pestering them to waste hundreds of thousands of dollars painting the tower.

Edited July 22, 2010 by Scott.

[Reanimated35]

Anyway how do you suggest they paint the tower anyway? No cherry pickers are that tall. You want them to bring in a 2000 tonne crane with a man cage? Even if they would do that where can they sit it while they do this work.

Absail from the top. Expensive solution: Chopper

It's just not practical or necessary to paint the tower. You want new major attractions or even fixing up the current ones? Don't go pestering them to waste hundreds of thousands of dollars painting the tower.

Yea it kind of is important, the writing on the tower looks like shit at the moment, no point doing a half-assed job

[Scott.]

How do they get to the top to absail down? Oh that's right a crane. A heli couldn't get anywhere near it I'm sure dreamworld don't want another chopper crash to their name. Is it that important that the writing look perfect all the time? It's a huge and expensive job to do.

[DaptoFunlandGuy]

I imagine they'd get to the top the same way the maintenance crews would if they needed to attend to the headgear for the winches. I'm pretty sure this, like other drop towers has a central core with ladders\stairs etc. Large attractions have been painted in the past. A quick google search reveals a painting company that contracted to paint lethal weapon a few years ago. I read the article some months back - I can't locate it now but it does happen - Sea Viper was also painted recently - a nice bright orange colour. It is huge, and expensive to paint such attractions, but it is sometimes necessary. Although I imagine it would take less time to paint the tower than it would to paint a coaster. My brother is a master painter, and his crew could knock out a single coat on the tower in 2 days. Having said that, its not just slapping a coat of paint on it - it requires preparation - which would also reduce the likelihood of peeling paint as well. The preparation would probably take about a week on something this large.

[themeparkgc]

Anyway how do you suggest they paint the tower anyway?

Attach paint brushes to the Giant Drop and run the ride as per normal?

[little lefty legend]

i do remember one day last year when i was on the train from brisbane down to the gold coast looking at the tower and seeing a chopper hovering above it dropping something onto the top of the tower (im not sure what exactly) but i do also remember seeing people on top of the tower. so my point being: 1. it would be possible to get people on top via a helicopter, by winching them down from the helicopter. however this would be rather dangerous. and 2. there must be stairs or some form of transportation going up the centre of the tower for the people to be on the top of the tower

[tahnee]

i do remember one day last year when i was on the train from brisbane down to the gold coast looking at the tower and seeing a chopper hovering above it dropping something onto the top of the tower (im not sure what exactly) but i do also remember seeing people on top of the tower. so my point being: 1. it would be possible to get people on top via a helicopter, by winching them down from the helicopter. however this would be rather dangerous. and 2. there must be stairs or some form of transportation going up the centre of the tower for the people to be on the top of the tower

There is a stairwell on the inside and the maintenance people can stand on the catch car and ride it to the top in jog mode where they climb into the winch room. From there they can climb onto the roof. The tower will not be getting a new paint job, the que line is getting a full overhaul the skull will be re painted there will be lights in the tunnel and the new car will be going backwards.

[jakeman398]

BACKWARDS!!!!!!!!!!! YAYAYAYAYAYAYAYYAYAYAYAYA I'm so happy *tear*

[lylefart]

I thought we already covered this topic? The harnesses would need to be changed aswell. Would they not? With a 4.5g launch from the queue, wouldn't it injure the riders, or shall the harnesses become over-shoulder retraints or four point harnesses?

Edited July 23, 2010 by lylefart

[themeparkgc]

I wonder if the lighting could be anything like Space Mountain (look at about 1:30):

[tipsy_bella]

Lylefart - if this rumor is indeed true about the car going backwards, (I do know but can't say anything), the new car which has already be confirmed would have a new restraint system - over the shoulder restraints - and a new seating configuration. Tahnee do you work at the park?

[Gazza]

With a 4.5g launch from the queue, wouldn't it injure the riders, or shall the harnesses become over-shoulder retraints or four point harnesses?

4.5g is the force you feel on the curve up to vertical, not the launch force. The ride is o to 160 kmh^-1 in 7 seconds right? That's a launch force of 0.64 g....There're coasters with brake runs more forceful than that. If it is being flipped in reverse then I think it is probable we would see Intamins soft OTSR, as seen on rides like Kirnu and Tornado. Edited July 23, 2010 by Gazza

[lylefart]

Sorry for the misunderstanding. Yet, even with OSR's, would it not jolt your neck during launch?

[tahnee]

Lylefart - if this rumor is indeed true about the car going backwards, (I do know but can't say anything), the new car which has already be confirmed would have a new restraint system - over the shoulder restraints - and a new seating configuration. Tahnee do you work at the park?

no i dont work at the park.

[Gazza]

Sorry for the misunderstanding. Yet, even with OSR's, would it not jolt your neck during launch?

Depends on how smoothly it begins its launch really...

[New display name]

Quick update. When I was leaving for work today I saw a helicopter lifting gear on top of the Tower. I could not get a good picture with my phone but it was interesting to see.

[themeparkgc]

Getting ready to paint??? Also it will be closed for just under a month before the September school holidays. It should be interesting to see what will happen during that time.

Tower of Terror late opening starts from 1pm until the 19th of August. The Tower of Terror will be closed after the 19th of August till the 15th of September

[New display name]

A bit of a bastard to repaint with all that grease from the Giant Drop smeared over the tower. It was also interesting to see a person uppermost of the tower. I have only ever seen them on the outside doing their morning checks of the cables but never on top.

Edited August 4, 2010 by skeetafly

[GoGoBoy]

Getting ready to paint??? Also it will be closed for just under a month before the September school holidays. It should be interesting to see what will happen during that time.

That's good news to hear that ToT will be closed for a month before the school holidays - giving them time to hopefully get some serious work done. I just couldn't see how this upgrade would be anything major without it. In my opinion the upgrade is going to need to be spectacular considering the decreasing likelihood of DW adding a major new ride this year. 6 years without a new ride (as well all know we don't count the dud that is Motocoaster) is pretty poor