July 29, 201411 yr comment_187827 Up until very recently, as in the last two weeks recently. Tomb had been achieving a max throughput of 450pph. That must have been the joy you witnessed.How does that compare with what it should it be getting these days? Tomb Blaster has always struck me as being a ride that gets far lower throughput than it looks like it should be capable of.
July 30, 201411 yr comment_187831 Back when I worked there during throughput challenge days, their target was 1000 people per hour.
July 30, 201411 yr comment_187839 I miss throughput challenge days.. the ones which were difficult to beat
July 31, 201411 yr comment_187917 However, I believe some interior walls/floors were removed to create the large space for the fire pit set, as there is no such space indicated on the original 5th Dimension plans. The fire pit used to be a swamp in the 5th Dimension, it was exactly the same in regards to size and space, although was a lot darker and moodier than it is today.
July 31, 201411 yr comment_187930 I think from what I've seen of the swampland scene (I never rode The 5th Dimension), the sets are all roughly at train level, rather than there being about a 10ft drop like in the Tomb fire pit. Also the epilogue scene where Zappomatic waves goodbye from his crashed rocket has a tall wide set. Such a space just does not exist in Tomb because the three-storey fire pit set takes up most of the room in that part of the building. The floor plans I posted above show black lines indicating a "hollow partition" during the downwards slope (which would be easy to remove) and the walls currently separating the epilogue scene in Tomb from the bottom of the fire pit are not shown on the plans. I could be wrong as I never knew the ride pre-90s but I'm pretty sure. Do tell about the swamp scene because I'd like to find out more!
August 1, 201411 yr comment_187943 There was a drop in the swamp scene. You looked down into a load of greenery and 'bubbling' swamp SFX. Zappomatic appeared from behind a bush and said 'still no luck ? I've almost fixed the laser blasters...' (Or something like that). There was also a sign saying 'grog was here..' I've got a ton of pics somewhere of a lights on walk through during closed season, although they're of tomb.
August 1, 201411 yr comment_187944 So is it the fact that in the epilogue corridor today, having the fire pit scene above you is the reason you can here the music playing from that bit? (the high-pitch version of the Tomb theme tune)
August 1, 201411 yr comment_187946 If you look to the right whilst going along that corridor, you can often see the fire pit scene through a missing wall panel.
August 1, 201411 yr comment_187952 Looking at the plans, it seems the swampland was n two distinct levels (whereas now there is only one open space), with one part on the upper level and one between the lower level heading towards the gorg cavern (which would have included the dropped floor). Reviewing the photos I can now see the set lower than train level, although not right down to the lower storey like today, so perhaps they were taken in the first part before heading down to the "swamp spiders". Photos published on ReRide.net... Slight perspective illusion in these photos making the set look smaller, but there is a drop as you can see where one of the trees is potted on the floor. Although the drop looks much shallower than today in this section of the ride. Here it is under show lighting: This is a different viewpoint of roughly same area, during construction of Terror Tomb. You can see the epilogue track through the missing wall at the bottom of the pit. It's visibly deeper and more open than the swampland scene in The 5th Dimension interestingly. It could be a combination of lowering the floor, removing the wall partition between levels and using forced perspective in the set design.
August 1, 201411 yr comment_187978 Well thats something I'll DEFINITELY be doing next time I embark on Tomb Blaster...taking a good look around in the fire pit scene and the epilogue corridor. Who knows if my careful eyesight will be rewarded!
August 1, 201411 yr comment_187984 The epilogue scene (one of my favourite moment in Terror Tomb) currently consists of some black walls and gaps where actual effects used to be. But have fun anyway .
September 10, 201410 yr comment_191512 Tomb Blaster showing as being unavailable today - as well as Ramases again. Not that I'm getting worried that they'll be closed for my visit this coming Tuesday you understand....
September 10, 201410 yr comment_191513 It's a week away, there is no point getting antsy about it, because if they're closed there's nothing that can be done about it... I'm sure if they reopen someone will mention it...
September 10, 201410 yr comment_191535 On other matters, isn't Tomb still on the list for revamping? (Bubbleworks included)
September 11, 201410 yr comment_191580 From bill's post mentioning how the ride sysem would logically be new-ish. Well let me put it this way, dragon falls has a fairly ancient control system of relays etc in it's own space. You could run dragon falls of an I phone (although not nearly reliable enough) Those vents which let heat/smoke out incase of evacuation can be alarming to the other operators. As Tomb is only one fag butt away from becoming a towering inferno!
September 11, 201410 yr comment_191586 As Tomb is only one fag butt away from becoming a towering inferno!Get me a cafe and a heater. Job done.
September 11, 201410 yr comment_191594 Haha excellent post there Ben ^ it always makes me laugh in a cynical way as to the way things pan out. But it could of so easily been avoided and its such a shame really... Tomb would take only about five to six minutes to become a substantial blaze.. Better keep those halogen heaters well away from our tomb blaster!
September 11, 201410 yr comment_191596 Better keep those halogen heaters well away from our tomb blaster! Only a hooligan would mis-handle halogen heaters!
September 12, 201410 yr comment_191713 It seems that Tomb is back open, but then it also says that it has a 5 minute queue (it's 10pm) so I don't completely trust it
September 17, 201410 yr comment_192176 Tomb Blaster was open on Saturday when I went to Chessington. Had 60 minute queues though, but I suspect that was due in part to Rameses Revenge being closed most of the day and Zufari was unavailable for a while as well so the nearest attractions became busier. Even the Flying Jumbos had a queue of 25 minutes!!!
September 17, 201410 yr comment_192213 As mentioned in my trip report - I went on Tomb Blaster twice with my girlfriend yesterday - first go, gun didn't work at all. 2nd go, my gun worked but the laser didn't, which made it a touch difficult! Couldn't complain too much as it was walk-on!
September 17, 201410 yr comment_192215 I got a whole ride on Tomb Blaster on Sunday without the targets on! Was a much better ride without them.Also we got an extra go because of it (but my gun didn't work anyway )
October 2, 201410 yr comment_193636 Really inconsistent music... And lots of sections and individual lights not working
October 2, 201410 yr comment_193643 It seems that Tomb escaped the touch ups they made to other rides last closed season - hope it gets some TLC this year as it so badly needs it!
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