Funfairs and Transportable Rides

Thought I would start a thread talking about some funfair related stuff since I know a few others who would probably want somewhere to talk about this sort of thing

Showmen mannings/thursten debuted their new XXL from KMG at winter wonderland this year, and it looks and rides stunningly. There's so much going on with the lights, its a marvel to watch

Marvel to ride, too. Significant step up from the XXL last year, even if it was just because it's running a longer cycle.

Apparently Speed was too much of a "baby ride" for KMG. I was kinda expecting the XXL to go all the way around 360 degrees like this one:

Here's a sketchy-looking carnival ride I rode last summer that could be considered a waste of time had I known exactly what it did beforehand. I think of it more as a "getting drunk simulator" than an actual ride.

Soko posted on December 24th, 2017

Apparently Speed was too much of a "baby ride" for KMG. I was kinda expecting the XXL to go all the way around 360 degrees like this one: (video)

I think I prefer the normal XXL over the KMG Infinity model, mainly because the cycles on infinity have to be toned down, and can only go upsidown once due to TUV restrictions. Imagine what Infinity would be like without the restrictions though...

Here are my favorite that I've ridden.

Apollo 13 (one of the most intense things I have ever experienced):

KMG Infinity (really great hangtime and forces at the bottom):

Voodoo Jumper (really fun and weird ride and great lighting program too):

^ Did you ever had a ride on a Mondial Capriolo? I think the Fabbri Booster is a gentle transportation ride compared to these. ;-)

One thing that fascinates me about some mostly modern transportable rides is how quickly these can be assembled almost automatically, like the KMG XXL. The whole assemble process can be seen in that cool time lapse video

yeah the build times are crazy for these rides. the one that impressed me the most is easily hangover the tower. They can put up an 85m tall tower without needing a large crane, just two small ones attached to the trailers. Plus, it can be done in hours

Funtime really knew how to make the construction super efficient

bestdani posted on December 24th, 2017

^ Did you ever had a ride on a Mondial Capriolo? I think the Fabbri Booster is a gentle transportation ride compared to these. ;-)

No Apollo is the only booster I've done but I've heard it's one of the best.

Oh yeah, a Capriolo is one intense ride. Irode it only once, but the upside-down rotation is as intense as it's visually thrilling. If I remember correctly, it's above -3g. The seat and harness is also way more confortable than a Fabbri Booster (while those are okayish).

bestdani posted on December 24th, 2017
One thing that fascinates me about some mostly modern transportable rides is how quickly these can be assembled almost automatically

KMG are really good for that. It's mesmerizing how it's done largely without cranes, and how everything get squeezed on a (or a bunch of) truck trailer.

Apollo 13 is a custom booster right though? It's definitely a different ride experience to the normal boosters we get in the UK.

The XXL disappointed me at Winter Wonderland (in comparison to the Infinity I rode in Germany). Still a great ride though. Aside from what Paradox mentioned as we both rode at the same time I love a good Huss Breakdance.

It's a Fabbri Giant Booster (or Booster Max 2.0) that is 55 meters tall instead of the usual 40, and has gondolas of eight instead of four. But otherwise I don't think this particular model is custom.

mkingy posted on December 25th, 2017
I love a good Huss Breakdance.

Which one? There are lots of Huss breakers. For instance: We have the original Dreher Vespermann BD No.1 in our town every year. Then there's the No.2 with an additional cross (and therefore 8 more passengers) and a wider platform. No.3 is mostly used in parks and has a cone shaped platform instead of an inclined one.

RE: Capriolo's

I went on one that was in london (Darren Matthew's Airmaxx) , It didn't really impress me much and I much favoured the Mondial Furioso I had been on at winter wonderland half a year before (specifically Van Reken's No Limit). Its basically a smaller version of the Capriolo, but I found it to be way more snappy and intense

KingRCT3 posted on December 25th, 2017

Oh yeah, a Capriolo is one intense ride. Irode it only once, but the upside-down rotation is as intense as it's visually thrilling. If I remember correctly, it's above -3g.

Geez, that's more than Skyrush. How do you not experience red-outs? Or do you? If someone made a custom train in NL2 that had those same type of restraint would a -3 G's airtime hill be fine?

Delay posted on December 25th, 2017

Which one? There are lots of Huss breakers. For instance: We have the original Dreher Vespermann BD No.1 in our town every year. Then there's the No.2 with an additional cross (and therefore 8 more passengers) and a wider platform. No.3 is mostly used in parks and has a cone shaped platform instead of an inclined one.

I've ridden Bonner's nr2 and 2 nr1's (Lagerin's Bayern Breaker and Welte's both in the UK) - then a few park models which as expected aren't nearly as good. The nr2 was probably my favourite but it was in Germany so that might be the reason.

Soko posted on December 25th, 2017
Geez, that's more than Skyrush. How do you not experience red-outs? Or do you? If someone made a custom train in NL2 that had those same type of restraint would a -3 G's airtime hill be fine?

No you don't - at least I didn't.

I think there it's fine because of two factors:

• Orientation. It's not a -3g airtime where the change is actually 4g from a stand-still postition, but a +2g positive added to the gravity. That's a personnal theory, but I think it matters as our internal ear can tell the difference. I noticed that for instance on heartline roll. You got 1 lateral g, but it doesn't feel the same as 1 lateral g on a hairpine turn on a wild mouse.
• Lead in and out. It's a smooth transition from 1g to the maximum, while an airtime hill is more sudden.

That being said, I had multiple attemps at doing such an element on a coaster. If you want a loop, you'd have to have a control over the speed, but otherwise an inverted corkscrew might be fine.

Oh wow.

The #1 spot actually looks dangerous and I've seen a TPR video on that one.

LMAO, there are plenty of Tagada there in Europe.

As for the number two, Flyman, it's back to a regular Star Flyer this year at La foire du Trône (it's currently there). But I rode it last year in the flying postition... My oh my it's indeed one of the most terrifying experience I've had. First of all, you're held by two thin steel cables and it's just scary. But also, you have nothing to grab once up there, even your suit is rather "flat". Granted I spent most of my time hands up on roller coasters and such, but still...
When the whole thing slows down, it sends you swinging forward a bit and it's really an out-of-control feeling to be linked to two thin steel cables wiggling and nowhere to put your hands on.

Unrelated but on topic, this Facebook page, Sad Maschinenbau Gmbh, is filled with videos of fairground rides shot in a factory environment, AKA without external noises or music. It's excellent for hearing the sounds of the machines... or steal them if you're making a simulation.

it´s really sad that the tüv had to restrict operations on infinity. back in 2016 when i first rode it, they had it inverting twice (full rotation) but without unlocking the seats, allowing them to swing. the year after though it unfortunatly changed. since then it goes around only once but unlocks the seat in the end. in my opinion the cycle feels a lot shorter compared to the first time i rode it but there´s not much i/we could do about it..

it´s absolutely great, never experienced as much hangtime or such strong forces

As far as I know from visiting the ride at the premiere in Pforzheim and riding it several times later in 2016 as well as this interesting interview from 2016 (second 155) this had always been implemented by design, it's also claimed that the gondola unlocking just needed some time to work properly. It was also already unlocked at the premiere fairground already but the gondola swinging needed some time to go "easier" with lower friction, which is also the case for the smaller inversions. And like almost any funfair ride the ride cycle is controlled by the operator "by hand" and not preprogrammed (although with all the computers controlling / restricting the controls on these modern rides there's not so much difference).

I will be riding my very first KMG 118 foot tall booster ride this Tuesday!

Oh Ok so There's A Mondial shake opening at Tivoli gardens in a few days so that's hella cool. Also I was at the Berlin Spring Festival in Tegel last month and they had a Tagada. I didn't get around to ride it but some of my friends did and apparently 2 drunk ladies fell off and hang onto the railing. And if that wasn't enough they also had a booster there which recently had a big accident with a gondola falling off. Another friend who travelled to the fair too recognized the staff and everything.

It could be this one coming to Tivoli Gardens: http://mondialrides.com/used/all/shake

I'd love to see those as permanent versions in theme parks. They're so much fun

But I guess hardly so much fun when operated like typical permanent versions (no full speed, boring automatic programs) in theme parks compared to traveling funfair versions.