RideAddict

I don't get this either but could it be to do with the slanted loading platform?

Who knows (and gives a toss). It can't be far off now.

Agreed. Firstly, Merlin had the Swarm in the pipeline for years, and secondly I don't think they'd base it on such a pile of poop.

Sorry to ask this, but it's opening on the 27th rather than the 20th?

Let's hope so - when I go to Chessington this week I'll check to see if that's still there. The massive ones at Alton Towers are good too.

That is the closest track picture of Inferno I've ever seen, where did you find it?

Seriously, what does Helen Flanagan look like lately?! I've seen mannequins in M&S modelling bikinis that look more lifelike!

Merlin's standards are rapidly slipping, they have been for a few years now, and it's not just at Alton Towers. When they took over in 2007 I wasn't too sure about them, but I soon started to prefer them to Tussauds. I still do but my confidence in some of their ways isn't 100%.

If they are scratched now then in a few years they probably will be by visitors!

It's weathered over the years. Mother nature also plays her part.

So it was due to end in May but will now go right through this season?

I've never seen or heard of those t-shirts, but in some ways they're a bit pointless because it doesn't exactly prove much. I dunno about the Thorpe and Chertsey area but it's certainly been warmer than 5 degrees today, although not that much, probably no more than 10.

When you look around Chessington, the ground is a patchwork quilt of years of resurfacing! Thorpe is the same in a few areas, and Alton is probably the best too. Also, I love how the Vampire seems to have taken control of The Burger Kitchen. It belongs to Transylvania, not the Vamp.

Why? It makes sense. Are Topscans made with wide spaced seats?

Haha, Stealth or old Bubbleworks scented candles, now that is an idea. You could be rich, get on Dragons Den. And waiting for that rollback. Hmm, well don't we all. But Thorpe have said there will hardly ever be a rollback anymore, due to the tweaks over the years. I'm sure it has rolled back, it's just a rarity these days. In about 2009 I was queueing and came within about 5 places of a rollback - damn! They need to accept rollbacks happen though, I know it takes a little time for the ride to reset after a rollback, but Thorpe's ride operators have never been one for extremely hard work.

All I can say is what a piddly little station Uttoxeter has for an OK-ish racecourse town!

Yeah, it sort of blends in. But then I do agree it doesn't look the best - it's certainly an improvement on last year! So temporary or permanent? I really cannot tell from that picture, but I'm guessing there is more work to be done on this. And as mentioned, I too cannot believe they've had 4 months and not sorted this!

Some great pictures of the merchandise on the Towers Nerd live page today, but this is one confusing clock!

Some interesting pictures from Towers Nerd live, but it would appear the quality of The Burger Kitchen has not set a new standard in Merlin outlets food quality, at least according to Stretchie - take a look at what he wrote: I feared this would be the case and although you can't judge from just one persons opinion (especially when you haven't been, like me ) however my verdict will be delivered as soon as I've checked out Chessington's Burger Kitchen (if the purple exterior doesn't kill me before I get in there!).

I used to hate going round the shops looking for clothes, these days just try and stop me!

I've recently got into Skechers shoes too, very comfortable and you can feel the difference.

I have recreated Colossus, Nemesis, Stealth, Tidal Wave and the Teacups in RCT3. I'll upload some pictures soon, and you'll see that I've only done the ride basics and queuelines, therefore a lot of green grass surrounds the area. Haven't gone to the hassle of trees and various objects and park benches. I have put in a lot of queueline lighting though, such as the lantern-style lights seen outside Detonator. Lighting is something I feel could be improved on but not too heavily, considering it's not often the rides operate at night.

Questions about park music: Is park music run centrally from one part of the park? Is it auto-cued or synced with trains arriving and departing, or does the ride operator hit a button? Is it played on a CD, computer, DJ-style deck or buttons integrated into the ride operators controls?

Which clothing brands do you like and buy? A few favourites for me are Hollister, Weird Fish, drunknmunky, Fat Face and Columbia. I do want to get a Jack Wolfskin jacket, but am not prepared to pay near-on £200. Also discuss your clothing styles!

I'm enjoying watching from a distance and the running commentry.