Project 2025/Caldera: Rapterra (Launched B&M Wing Coaster)

[CoasterSkinny]

Check Thunderbird, which is far older than this, and you see almost no "jitter" of this sort. The fact that its on multiple sections of straight track is concerning IMO.

It's not an encouraging sign. I know of very few launch coasters that feature that kind of movement, B&M or otherwise. The wing seating will also make it quite obvious I'm afraid, riding off center of the track, Coasters launching on center of track - maybe not so much of a feeling. One's thighs/legs will feel such movements and interpret that as a change in axial movement, similar to a car going down unsmoothed pavement.

Man I hope its nothing too.

All of this would be so incredibly disappointing. KD has not received a major, ground-up steel coaster since 2010. While I don't think it will be another 15 years until their next large-scale coaster, this ride really needs to be a slam dunk (especially as Volcano's replacement). I'm choosing to stay positive about this and wait and see how the coaster looks/rides in March.

 

[MrBradferd]

Of course it's on probably the worst track too. If they were to replace it, that launch sections would all have to be disconnected and shit

 

[Crunchewy]

Maybe wait and see what it feels like on-ride before losing it here?

 

[MysticClay]

At the end of the day it’s a vest restraint B&M, sure thoosies may piss their pants at the slightest rattle but what matters more for KD’s future is if this is a hit with the gp, which I think it will. The gp love racer 75 and dominator and they do not give smooth rides, so if they do a good job with theming I think it will be a good crowd pleaser, and honestly depending on how well they do the theming it could be something nearly equivalent or possibly more popular than volcano (and it won’t go down every 30 minutes too)

 

[ironicgwazi]

As soon as that video dropped and I watched that clip of the launch I just knew this thread was gonna be littered with thoosies that definitely have engineering degrees, lmao. No straight section of track is ever going to be perfectly straight, especially an elongated and elevated launch section without direct lateral bracing. The stabilization and zoom of the camera, along with an empty train, definitely exaggerate the effect as well. There will probably be some slight shake/movement especially with a winged train but I promise it won’t kill you or give you a concussion and/or internal bleeding.

Looks like we’re getting a POV tomorrow!

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Or not KD kinda misled with the wording there lol. I’m sure we’ll see one soon though

 

[Mattatee]

Watch any coaster off-ride launch footage. They all have some sort of lateral and/or vertical movement. I would be more worried if it was completely stiff and had no give. The launch is one of the highest stressed parts of the track. The rapid application of G-force is what causes this. B&M Track, that off-ride angle and the train model exacerbate the issue to the naked eye. I'll let the experts make sure it isn't an issue before we all gather our pitchforks. If It is painful to ride and shakes you like a box of Lego's than you might be on to something but until then I am in no way worried. *Signed a thoosie with a Civil Engineering Degree.*

 

[Fiender]

I'm definitely in the "ride it and see" camp, but I've also ridden Iron Menace (which was rougher than a new steel coaster ever should be) and Emperor (where the wing seats rattled my skull like a maraca). Lots of newer B&Ms overseas are also reportedly more uncomfortable than the company's older projects (the Lego wing, new nemesis, Jumanji)

All of this doomsaying? It's not coming from nowhere.

 

[RollyCoaster]

B&M Wing Coasters and dive coasters tend to be less smooth when empty IMO

 

[netdvn]

Griffon and Sheikra are both smooth even with empty trains.

 

[RollyCoaster]

Those are great! Mostly referring to Iron Menace, Dr. Diabolical, Emperor, and even Valravn. Just my opinion of course, but I’ve gotten to ride them all with different seating dynamics and found them more shakey when empty. Yukon rides more like Griffon and Sheikra.

At the end of the day, B&M builds a different ride these days than they used to. The older B&M Dive Coasters like Griffon and Sheikra ride better than coasters almost 20 years newer of the same ride model.

B&M’s wing coasters seem to be more volatile in regard to bounciness. I’m hoping we don’t have anything to worry about with Rapterra as Thunderbird (same ride type with a launch) tends to get rave reviews about its smoothness/intensity.

 

[netdvn]

Iron Menace wasn't terrible but I did find Emperor to be really rough in the outside seats. In contrast, I found Oblivion to be pretty smooth (about on par with Griffon and Sheikra in terms of smoothness). I recall Yukon to have a bit of roughness but I sat in an outside seat each time I rode it.

I've ridden Thunderbird and Mandrill Mayhem in terms of launched wing coasters, but I found Mandrill to be rougher than Thunderbird. I remember X-Flight had a bit of shake but Wild Eagle is fairly smooth.

 

[ironicgwazi]

GateKeeper definitely has a bit of a bounce/shake in the valleys in the back half of the train. Thunderbird has a very mild shuffle on the launch but is glass smooth the rest of the layout. This will probably be somewhere in between if I had to guess, which will still not be nearly enough to detract from what should still be a great ride.

 

[themeparktribune]

I'm definitely in the "ride it and see" camp, but I've also ridden Iron Menace (which was rougher than a new steel coaster ever should be) and Emperor (where the wing seats rattled my skull like a maraca). Lots of newer B&Ms overseas are also reportedly more uncomfortable than the company's older projects (the Lego wing, new nemesis, Jumanji)

All of this doomsaying? It's not coming from nowhere.

No one has ridden it yet, so yes, the doomsaying is coming from nowhere.

 

[the_pantsmith]

Being cautious and slightly worried is justified, being preemptively angry at KD and B&M is a bit much. There's a middle ground that has plenty of space for all of us if we wanna consider things with any nuance at all.

 

[SLC Headache]

If this rattles far worse than BGW's new B&M, KD will have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

 

[ironicgwazi]

If this rattles far worse than BGW's new B&M, KD will have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory.

I mean…no, not really? No one is going to dub the ride a success or flop based on if the ride has a slight shuffle/rattle except over-analytical thoosies. 95% of the general public won’t care either as long as it is not physically painful ride, which it won’t be. I’d be willing to bet Rapterra will be the most popular ride in the park and give KD a great ROI, as will Big Bad Wolf for BGW.

 

[Derpy Thoosie]

Looks like some theming is starting to go up!!!

 

[MusicEnlightens]

Looks like some theming is starting to go up!!!

I'm normally pretty good at visually pinpointing where things are, but I can't figure out where this is exactly. Is this the drop between the wingover and the dive loop? If so the queue is pretty close to there, although a small structure like this didn't appear in any renderings. Should create a nice near-miss element that wasn't expected, nonetheless.

 

[Derpy Thoosie]

I'm normally pretty good at visually pinpointing where things are, but I can't figure out where this is exactly. Is this the drop between the wingover and the dive loop? If so the queue is pretty close to there, although a small structure like this didn't appear in any renderings. Should create a nice near-miss element that wasn't expected, nonetheless.

It looks like it’s right next to the the airtime hill & raptor roll. Could be like a Queue House with theming, or something that is part of the ride

 

[guy305]

Whatever it is, it looks like a near-miss!