Gazza

So with standup coasters, how exactly do the seats work? I know that there is like a wedge type thing between your legs, but do you actually sit on it or it it just there at a lower level where only your legs touch but not your bottom. And how do you adjust it?

I can see where you are coming from, but as they say, a picture paints a thousand words. If there was an image like this: http://www.rcdb.com/ig581.htm?picture=16 It would pretty much tell people what the ride does. But anyway, its difficult to explain many ride types. Like how would you describe a gyro swing or a topscan to a non enthusiast? If you worded it right it could convey the message. But in terms of replacing the thunderbolt, the ride would need to have a gimmick be it standup or floorless. I think that it should be on the thunderbolt site, but it it were designed well it could make good use of the space. Also, i think the rides entrance could be somewhere else, eg in Tiger island, then it could be given a kingda ka type theme which would be cool.

But that would have delayed the demolition by 9 months

Its simple really, MW in Austraila is popular without frequent ride additions and has easy competition so there is no incentive to add them often. However in Spain they are facing competition from some pretty big parks (Port Aventura for example) so they need to have the major rides. Also, because the park is European the people expect a higher standard. If our MW were to be picked up and dropped in Europe then it probably wouldn't be viewed as much more than a local park by their standards hence the need for big rides.

But why would you be seeking approval from the park to post photos in the first place? If I were a coaster site owner I would post the photos without seeking any permission, and if the park saw any problems, then they would email me. Not the other way around. The thing I dont get about this whole situation is why MW would be getting so many requests for permission anyway. Do people honestly send an email every time they start a gallery? But anyway, quite a few photos dont feature trademarks. For example, have a look at this rcdb gallery: http://www.rcdb.com/ig1122.htm None of the photos have trademarks. Many of the gallerys didnt feature tradmarks, take the WWF gallery, photos of the mountain ect didnt have trademarks. In fact, the only ones to really have trademarks are photos of the main entrances of rides or close ups of ride vehicles bearing the logo, and even in these cases you could just use the blur tool.

But really, a photo like this: http://www.rcdb.com/ig1122.htm?picture=4 wouldn't be using any trademarks etc.

on my design I dont really want to shift the rides from where they are since Luna park is very limited in space, so it needs to be used in the most effective way. Lindsay has even commented on that in the paper and wants to see if any surrounding land can be gotten hold of. The buildings for the resurrected rides are roughly the same size as the old ones (in fact the river caves is bigger). IMO its not the loaction that matters, its whats inside that counts. EDIT Ok, here is my updated version. Changes in reference to my previous version include: -Giggle Palace instead of magic dragon and the inveter. -Slight modification to the new big dipper. New area called Luna Lane a sort of kids area. The rides are Luna Flyers (airplane ride), Luna Bouncer (mini drop ride) and Luna Twirler (Mini Teacups). On the map it is the area that is chequered. -Tornado, Technical Park Typhoon. Any Questions just ask.

I agree, In my new design I will include Giggle Palace. it will be located between the scenic railway station and the ghost train. I also have an idea for a sort of kids section called "Luna lane" where some kids rides will be grouped.

LOL, i wish. This is fantasic news. It will definitley be better than what it is now.

Why Not? whats wrong with the park model? I haven't sent it in.

Yeah, I was thinking a new train with suspension could be good, but i was unsure if it would be allowed, but yes, keep the scenic railway. I was actually unsure of the location of the rotor and the river caves, so I put them where they fitted best. BTW, with the streetfighter, the park model is actually called "the typhoon" and it actualy looks really good, here is a pic, it does not at all look tacky: http://www.technicalpark.com/Major/Typhoon.htm

Ok, good feedback guys. I might replace the inverter with just a single sided ranger type ride (Eg Zamperla Hawk). Another possibility is a Technical Park Street fighter park model. Technical park actually make 24 seat version with outward facing seats, and from memory it was about 20x15m so it is pretty space efficient. As for the Zig Zag Coaster, well, space is limited and I wanted a family sort of coaster in there, and that seemed like a good choice because of its small footprint. It is actually fairly similar in size to the mad mouse at Rye/LPS/Aussie World and that ride seems popular enough, coupled with the spinning motion and the high up perch, it could be fun. Or prehaps Maurer sohne could custom make a ride of the same footprint, but with a steeper lift so the ride has steeper gradients throughout the layout and higher speed. It would be cool to have a triple lap coaster, but the ride is heratiage listed so demolition is out of the question. And anyway, the ride is fun, even if its rough. I might somehow put foward my plan if the park is sold and they plan to redevelop. I want some real constructive criticism on this so I can make a better v2.0 Also, here is an attachment for the track layout of the big dipper (NoLimits).

I actually emailed the park and they sent me the map in pdf. I was expecting a cartoon type map, but actually got a very good plan that looked pretty accurate. It even had the loactions of fire reels and coolrooms so I didn't doubt its accuracy.

Here is my Idea for an improved version of LPM. I retained all the heratiage listed rides. I used a park plan to get the exact locations of things, right down to the toilets located under the Scenic Railway. The whole park would be facelifted to get rid of the tacky look it has now and many rides would be replaced. The rides that would be removed include Oddesy AX1, G force, Pharos Curse, Metropolis, Shock Drop, Twin Dragon, Spider, Arabian Merry and the Enteprise. The new improved attraction lineup would be: 1) The Zig Zag, A maurer sohne compact spinning coaster http://www.rcdb.com/ig1551.htm?picture=9 this would be built on top of: 2) The New River caves, an indoor boat ride built just like the old one. 3)The Carousel, a classic. 4)The Ghost Train, also a classic with some refurbishment, eg painting. 5)The Twirler, A Zamperla disk'o', a good family ride, it would be red and white in colour 6)The Red Baron, relocated from across the park 7)High Flyer, a zamperla Samba Tower, a lookout point for the rest of the park. 8)Magic Dragon, the silly serpent left in its existing location, with new gardens and hedges planted around it. 9)Inverter, a chance inverter. This would be a good thrill ride 10)Scenic Railway, left just the way it is. 11)Rotor, built in the dodgems building would be the revival of an old classic. However, the ride equipment would be new. 12)Dodgems, in the present location 13)Sky Rocket, a huss Shot'n'Drop. A small footprint ride that would offer good veiws of port phillip and the rest of the park it would be surrounded by the top hat of: 14) Big Dipper, A compact intamin Accelerator built where Metropolis is, as well as along the eastern side of the park behind the dodgems building. The ride would lauch out of the station behind the dodgems building toward the beach, before entering an inside top hat. After the top hat would be an Imellmann. This would lead into an airtime hill, a vertical loop and and overbanked turn into the brakes. The park would be no more cramped than it is now, and any empty spaces in the park would become "green wedges" to give the park a bit of relaxing plant life. I already have some ideas for an improved version which I will work on during the holidays. I will try to do it in full colour and with some shuffling around of the rides (after I designed it, i thought of other arrangments that would have used the space better. Here is the file, my apoligies for the image quality. Comments??

In the brakes, isnt there a platform where you can get off though?

My Bad , looking at pics of the ride I thought that it was an old ride.

Im with you on that one huss. The thing with LPS is that at least it has plenty of nice old attractions to balance it out such as Coney Island, Tango Train, Rotor, Carousel, The Wild Mouse etc. But at LPM all there is just the Carousel, The scenic railway and a poorly maintained ghost train in terms of historic rides, the rest is just rather cheap filler. Yeah, i suppose rainbow would do ok, but probably not much better than what is already there since your average person would just think of it as "just another ride".

I dont know about a ferris wheel, It would either have to be a really big observation wheel or a "coaster wheel" like the one at DCA for it to draw people. The 4D concept isnt entirley dead, they could always just build an Intamin Ball coaster. But in terms of a coaster, id like to see a floorless or an inverted coaster. I would like a flyer, but their capacity and reliability is questionable. BTW on the topic of flyers, one is being built in China: http://www.rcdb.com/ig3141.htm?picture=1

Yeah, they lack atmosphere a bit. Another thing is that there is no plant life at all in the park, which makes it less inviting. All it is now is basically a ashphalt carpark with carnie rides set up. IMO the parks only redeeming factors is the scenic railway, carousel, Mr Moon and to a lesser extent the ghost train. Everthing else I would happily see removed. Just wondering too, does anyone know where I could find a plan/map of LPM.

Yeah, i think that Rainbow would be a step backward. The park is already full of carnie rides, it needs to move away from that if they want to stay afloat.

I have gotten that inspirational spark again and I am now in the process of doing a scale design for an improved luna park. Ill post it soon.

Yeah, I know, I know. But the are going to have to do something if they want the park to remain popular. Still, i dont think they are too limited in what they can do. They have gotten away with simulators and UFOs and they arent exactly very historical.

Well, the park is now for sale, so hopefully the new owners will do something good with it.

"It" Being??? Personally, this is what I think they should do. First of all, get rid of all the parks current rides except for the carousel, the scenic raliway and the house of horros because they are heratiage listed. So basically the whole park is a clear site. Next they should replace all the removed attractions with newer ones that sit nicley with the park. Have a look at DCA and paradise pier, it tries to achive the same thing by doing a sort of old style plesure pier, but with some newer rides in there too. They should bring back the rotor, fun house and the river caves, but do em all nice. Prehaps the river caves could have a drop at the end. The rest of the park would be a few flat rides (Park Model) A kids roller coaster, a spinning mouse coaster to replace metropolis and kids flat rides. All the rides would be given a 1930s feel with the use of nice facades, lights and signage in the style of that era. In terms of thrill rides. I was thinking along the lines of a space shot type ride. For a thrilling coaster, a possibility could be an accelerator, since it could be made fairly compact, and be of a similar style to california screamin' as a tribute to twister style woodies.

yeah, i saw that, things aint going well down at the LPM camp.