I finally finished another project! It turns out that my real-life work was sapping any creative drive that I had, so every project that I wanted to make barely made it past writing it in my notebook. But now I have been lucky to have a break from it all, I could get back to my projects!... Only it wasn't any of the unfinished projects that I had on the list. Instead, it was revisiting a concept that I have been pondering for years. So, technically it counts for this thread? Either way, let me please introduce:
Bird of Prey - A Gerstlauer concept model
What initially started as a Mack rides concept coaster has evolved into an Infinity coaster! The aim of this was to provide a complete ride experience in as small of a footprint as possible while still containing all of the necessary practical features of the ride. This then expanded to intertwining the track around multiple tree supports to create a more unique looking structure, and each element sequence gradually built up from there over several months until it seemed too compelling to not build. As I think that this would make for a very enticing ride model for parks that don't usually have the space for a major thrill coaster.
This was also a way of practicing using Sketchup, both to use for NoLimits and for more complex buildings that I have ever attempted before, as I have 2 future projects that will be very scenery-heavy and far too ambitious for the build-shape-level scenery that I have attempted in the past. So this also served as a test by figuring out how the station could integrate with the ride!
Here is the ride compared to other compact rollercoasters, namely an SLC, Boomerang, and Reverchon Wild Mouse (Thanks to Alan Casagrande, Peak Amusements & slalom01 for the amazing reverence material!)
As for my next project... I have no idea! I have definitely dropped the Space train idea for now, as I couldn't find a good layout that fit the original mindset (every attempt that I made was shockingly boring). So I will probably bounce between the Falling Dutchman, The Archers, and one of the two new projects, of which I already have a layout and have started planning the scenery for. Now that I have a decent-enough grasp on sketchup, Falling Dutchman shouldn't take long to get out with a typical NL2 environment, so that will probably come next as I still love the concept behind that. Although, I am about to start an amazing new job that will probably take up most of my mental energy, so I will commit to a project whenever I have the time and passion to come back to it.
