Alton Towers Resort’s £16 million attraction, the Wicker Man, features real fire and effects created using a ProLights AlphaPIX video system and various lighting supplied by A.C. Entertainment Technologies (AC-ET).
To complement real flames on the structure and get flame-like effects even closer to the riders, the resort’s Entertainments Technical Manager, Alex Tweedie approached longstanding technology vendor, AC-ET to assist with specifying and supplying a solution.
Chris Beardwell from AC-ET’s specialist video sales division recommended the ProLights AlphaPIX 6T LED display, featuring 5,500 nits brightness level to be effective in daylight, IP65 rating, and with the 6.6mm pitch option offering the best balance between a convincing fire effect and meeting the tight budget.
AC-ET supplied the complete Video system, which also included two Novastar VX4S controllers linking the video panels to a Green Hippo Hippotizer V4 Amba media server running the flame effect content; all power and EtherCon Ethernet control cabling, which was assembled to specification and custom lengths by AC-ET’s in-house Tourflex Cabling service; as well as a second Amba server to run content in the ride pre-show area.
Peter Nesbitt in AC-ET’s specialist Lighting sales division specified luminaries to create the right atmosphere for sales opportunities when passengers exited the Wicker Man ride through a gift shop.
The lighting package included ProLights Eclipse HD LED ellipsoidals, ProLights Accent 1Q LED wash lights, City Theatrical Qolor FLEX RGBA LED light strips and ProLights Panorama IP Beam moving lights to provide effects during a media launch event.
Alton Towers Resort’s Entertainments Technical Manager, Alex Tweedie commented: “Everyone involved with the ride is really pleased with the technology solutions provided by A.C. The ProLights panels do a fantastic job of convincing visitors that the Wicker Man structure is really on fire. Along with the excellent lighting recommendations, A.C.’s product specialists have once again delivered a first class service which met our project needs perfectly.”
