User:Sschritz/Vekoma Illusion

Overview
The Vekoma Illusion MK700 is a steel tubular roller coaster, fully enclosed within a steel building, using darkness and special effects to provide an exciting ride. Two were built, both in 1989, Chaos in Opryland (USA Tennessee), and Revolution in Bobbejaanland (Belgium).

Ride Details
The Illusion runs a single long train, with up to 40 cars stretching up to 180' long. Each car carries two people sitting inline.

The building is laid out with an inner chamber, an outer chamber, and a loading platform around the outside edge. The lift hill runs along the walls of the inner chamber, powered by rubber wheels rather than the usual chain lift. As it circles the inner chamber, the riders view special effects on the floor and ceiling. The train then goes to the pitch-black outer chamber where it gradually picks up speed through a series of turns and hills. At the very end the train passes through the inner chamber and then back to the loading platform.

Originally both models (Chaos and Revolution) had identical theming inside. There was a large round screen in the ceiling and the floor of the inner chamber onto which was projected a film showing a falling pendulum, a shattering clock, and a wormhole. There were also screens hanging over the track in certain places in the outer chamber, making it appear the train was passing through things like fire and shattering glass. During the ride, the soundtrack was "Bones on the Beach" by Michael Hoenig.

History
Originally both rides were created with the same audio-visual show. Over time this system became problematic and most of the screens were replaced with light shows and thematic elements.

Revolution had its lower screen replaced with a light show. It also has light show elements in various places in the outer chamber. The upper screen is still operational and currently features a jungle theme movie.

Chaos was fitted with a spacecraft in the main room and a dragon head in the outer chamber. Unfortunately, when Opryland was quietly shut down in 1997 the ride was dismantled and eventually scrapped.