Hey Guys and Gals,
I am a student at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. I am pursuing a Bach of Science in Industrial Design. For my Graduation project I am looking into designing a roller coaster theme. Can any of you help me out with some of the basic mechanics and terminology I will need to know to understand some of the things I have been reading here. I do have a theme in mind, I just really want to know the do's and donts. If you have time to leave your two cents it will be greatly appreciated .

Basics of a coaster layout that are easiest to theme:
Station
Pre-lift area
Lift
Midcourse Brake
Final Brakes

Themed parts around inversions like inline twists, barrel rolls, and loops can also be a little easier.

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ThrillNetwork Moderator
The user formerly known as WildeFyre
UOIT Mechanical Engineering Student

What theme are you going to shoot for? Might I suggest a mine theme and use something similar to Mystery Mine?

Or maybe a launched coaster themed to an explosion out of some barn or something. You could have a preshow room, something like Furious Baco...

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What is the difference between a pretzel loop and a vertical loop? I looked at some images and they look the same to me. As for my theme I was thinking of designing a Iron Man Theme Coaster for Universal. Might even have a Avengers theme. I am designing the train, and atmosphere. I haven't started yet... just getting idea's. I was thinking of making it like the Superman Ride in Six Flags Georgia. I liked the idea of feeling like your flying.

Pretzel loop... ok, image a flying coaster.... The train starts at the top (people looking down), train loops under itself (people looking up) and then loops back up (people looking down)...

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Are you sure you're looking at pics of Pretzel Loops and Vertical Loops?
They look nothing alike.
Superman - Ultimate Flight (Six Flags Great Adventure)
Pretzel Loop

Kraken (SeaWorld Orlando)
Vertical Loop

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ThrillNetwork Moderator
The user formerly known as WildeFyre
UOIT Mechanical Engineering Student

Hmm, i'm not sure what site you looked on for a pretzel loop but they don't look the same :P Basically a pretzel loop is when you enter an inversion from above at a relatively horizontal postion, the inversion then dives downwards towards the floor and back under, or slightly to the side, of where you entered. You then rise up in the same motion and way you did for when entering the element and you again end up in a horizontal postion above the lower part of the inversion.

Yeah, an Iron Man theme sounds really good. You could design the coaster around the section of the film where there is an F1 Raptor dogfight against Iron Man!

Ya I was going to incorporate that in it... lol =0). Thanks for the pics they help out a lot more

Does anyone have any elevation drawings on the basic train(Cart)?

That inversion you were talking about is called a Batwing. Is this element what you were talking about?

Montu (Busch Gardens Africa)

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Here is an idea:

Station: Subway station themed

cars: subway like, but with extreme detail of looking like the top half of subway is ripped off.

ride: train pulls forward and turns around corner and launches up out of the ground as if the track had ripped right out of the ground to the top, a switch track, and then down backwards into a giant enclused, pitch black building with lots of inversions. The very top of the track would looked ripped apart, and the ground around the track would look as if the track was ripped out from below.

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A pretzel loop is very new and featured only on the B&M flyers in the last 8 years. That's like 0.01% of all loops out there because they are so new and brand exclusive so I wouldn't let that throw you off at all. Loops are just about all Vertical Loops. The pretzel loop on a hanging flying train enters at the top of the loop and dives to the bottom. On a regular vertical loop trains enter from the bottom of the loop and reach the top. Even the inverted Batman the Ride coaster does this.

The Subway themed mentioned was somewhat used on the Dark Knight. If you could design a new Dark Knight coaster I bet you'll be much loved.

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Thrillnetwork Moderator - Sophomore Original sn: CHILLERLC1
2008 & 2009 TN Coaster Draft Champion
You knew I wanted the other repeat too

well the dark knight Idea is one idea. I was thinking to incorporate some type of clear cover over the rider's head. Not only would it save some one like fabio from getting hit by a bird, but I was thinking of trying to have some type of interactive hub on the inside of the screen as if you where in the Iron man suite. I know it's out there, but I am just designing the train and atmosphere really. not the entire track.... at least not yet. lol maybe i'll have to later.
Ps what does B & M stand for?

^ B&M stands for Bolliger & Mabillard, two giants in the roller coaster industry. Just part of some roller coaster lingo.

Check out this glossary for some clear explanations about a lot of terms you'll see on this board.

Also, some small blueprints are found here for some ideas on some drawn up plans that actually went into production. You'd be hard pressed to find the actual detailed elevations, although when Batman was announced, they did release some. I'll try to find them.

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ThrillNetwork Editor (past tense: lectricShark)
Never forget justice is what love looks like in public. -- OXFAM

Pretty much thats what the Dark Knight coasters are...

Thanks! if you can find them that would be sweet

James R Have you found any detailed elevations? the one's from the link are very hard to see.

Hey Speed628:

Sorry, I didn't come across any of them, but I did find this link Check out the two pictures near the bottom of the press release.

ETA: I found some more and official renderings as well. Hope they help!

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ThrillNetwork Editor (past tense: lectricShark)
Never forget justice is what love looks like in public. -- OXFAM

no problem things like these are helping me out a lot too.

Hey guys by any chance does anyone have any pictures of the chairs and restraints? I am actually thinking of making a weekend to go up to universal and get some detailed picks of the chair in front of the hulk.