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Heide Park Colossos retracking (2019)

Ireeb

Mega Poster
Please let us not forget they're only having to do this because they didn't take care of their coaster properly.
From what I understood Intamin promised a much longer durability, but the wood didn't keep up to that. Maybe Heide Park could have contolled it better, but if what I heard is correct, it's also partly Intamins fault.
Also, I think that guy just said "it's the first time we do this" to stress that it is a challenge. It's not like they're putting it on large posters and making doing with that. At least not yet.
 
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Hixee

Flojector
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
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From what I understood Intamin promised a much longer durability, but the wood didn't keep up to that. Maybe Heide Park could have contolled it better, but of what I heard is correct, it's also partly Intamins fault.
Indeed, but that's still not good enough. On both parties. Intamin have provided an inferior material, and Merlin didn't look after it properly.

Heide's in house maintenance should have been doing enough inspections to identify this problem long before it got to this stage. It would then have been a conversation with Intamin's specialists to try and resolve it. There are tens (hundreds?) of wooden coasters operating in all sorts of climates around the globe that haven't had issues like this.
 

Ireeb

Mega Poster
There are tens (hundreds?) of wooden coasters operating in all sorts of climates around the globe that haven't had issues like this.
But Colossus was also a "prototype", which made it harder to estimate how the material will behave. Obviously, this could and should have been prevented, but there is much more behind it than "they just didn't look after it". It uses different materials than most other wooden coasters, so you can't just compare it to classic wooden coasters which are based on a century old formula. Colossus was a prototype and it seems like it wasn't really ready.
Like all roller coasters in Germany, this must have been checked by TÜV. And TÜV is really thorough. If they didn't see it coming, you can't expect Heide Park to see it coming.
While I am not a big fan of Heide Park or Merlin, I just don't believe that they would neglect one of their main attractions like that. I think even Merlin knows that something like this costs a whole lot of money, if they knew this could happen, they would probably have a tried to avoid it.
 

Ireeb

Mega Poster
Also, how about we change the thread title to something like "Heide Park Colossus Retracking (2019)" the current title is a bit outdated and not really relevant anymore :p
 

Thekingin64

Strata Poster
Also, how about we change the thread title to something like "Heide Park Colossus Retracking (2019)" the current title is a bit outdated and not really relevant anymore :p
Had been meaning to change it myself but never got round to it, Thanks @Pokemaniac for changing it for me.

Glad something is finally happening with this project though. Whether the track will be 100% the same or not, a good coaster will still come out of this. (ps. never actually ridden Colossus but looked good off POVs and reports)
 

spicy

Giga Poster
I agree this isn't new - but when does it become a new cred? When there is a significant change in the layout? Was Son of Beast a new cred when the loop was removed? :)
 

Hixee

Flojector
Staff member
Administrator
Moderator
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I agree this isn't new - but when does it become a new cred? When there is a significant change in the layout? Was Son of Beast a new cred when the loop was removed? :)
CanOfWorms.jpg
 

CSLKennyNI

Giga Poster
New update videos about the production of about 300 new unique ledgers for Colossos. The company making them, Holzbau Cordes, was also involved in building Colossos in the first place.


CoasterFriends.de user Timonator took recently some pictures showing progress on site. The lifthill and first drop track has been stripped away. And the mysterious steel structure at the end is currently being themed - wire frame work being sprayed with concrete. No confirmation whether it is Universal Rocks or not.
9530878d1534108731-2019-neuheit-wiedereroeffnung-colossos-komplettes-retracking-heide-park-6243767472_img_8007.jpg

9530879d1534108781-2019-neuheit-wiedereroeffnung-colossos-komplettes-retracking-heide-park-6243767472_img_8050.jpg

9530880d1534108809-2019-neuheit-wiedereroeffnung-colossos-komplettes-retracking-heide-park-6243767472_img_8063.jpg


On the same forum user Fabs posted a picture showing the first new track has been installed on the lifthill.
9530881d1534109422-2019-neuheit-wiedereroeffnung-colossos-komplettes-retracking-heide-park-6777a159-cedb-41d4-9c75-e458d67d6ed6.jpg


This picture taken yesterday shows some completed new theming poking up over the fence. Looks like a tree.
39274606_1033888586771630_6198885925624217600_n.jpg

Source:
 

Bert2theSpark

Mega Poster
I wouldn't be surprised if it is Universal Rocks as they were responsible for sculpting the Wicker Man structure as well as the rockwork down by the station of the ride and Heide's additions is designed by MMM North who are responsible for WM.
 

Robert.W

Roller Poster
Nothing confirmed, but a trademark has been registered for "Colossos Kampf Der Giganten" by law firm Lane IP, who have worked with Merlin on various other occasions. The below visual was also included.

CJ4JX4FZVCC523YA2TMALSKFLGLBN3FXHMEOCLXA7NUWL5EMPVRUY65WSWK6UAWVRLCYOU5WSHJ62


The trademarked name, which translates to "Colossos Battle of the Giants" in English could suggest that the new theming feature currently being constructed near Colossos could be the figure of a giant perhaps.

Source: https://euipo.europa.eu/eSearch/#details/trademarks/017942580
 

SilverArrow

Certified Ride Geek
I wonder whether they delayed fixing the coaster until now so they could tie in the branding with Wicker Man a la Oblivion and Nemesis.

Not a fan of the idea of multiple coasters with the same brand (if that is even what this is) but also long as they fix it as it's good I don't really care.
 

CSLKennyNI

Giga Poster
It looks rather Wicker Man doesn't it...
@davidm called it back in April!
Foundations are for the giant Wicker Man statue - they are all the rage these days! ;)

Well the theming element will probably be a large wooden tree like giant then. Given the burning font of the logo I wouldn't be surprised if this also has fire effects as well... (is creativity dead at Merlin?)

Real shame if it is rethemed, considering it was only just themed in 2016 with a nice new Azetc style queue and station refurb, and a new logo. Considering the coaster closed July 2016 that lasted about half a season. What a wasted investment that was then...
Colossos_01.png
 

shawnoc

Mega Poster
Has the Six Flags branding team infiltrated Merlin.
This is really lame, another similar brand where theming effects won’t work after the press day.
At least we will be able to guess what theme any new Woodie Merlin build will be.

I am pleased however that they are reopening Collossos, it would have been criminal to have lost this coaster.
 
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