Featured at Ring°Werk are a variety of multimedia attractions, exhibitions and dining/retail experiences, including the Ring°Racer rollercoaster; Grüne Hölle multimedia theatre; 24hr Race in 4D; Motor Mania dark ride; Truck Grand Prix simulator attraction, and Nürbus Eifel Tour, a simulator-based tour through the Eifel Forest. Finally, Test°Center is an interactive exhibition revealing the secrets of the car industry.
Tasked with design and project managing were specialist visitor attraction consultants, Design Vision, who in turn contracted DJW as the AV project manager and systems integrator on behalf of the client. DJW were responsible for the design, build and programming of the AV systems site-wide, while Paradigm were again tasked with handling some of the specialist engineering, notably fabricating the projection and screen rig supporting the Christie HD projectors in the Nürbus immersive 'cave' and a Pepper's Ghost illusion in one of the pit boxes.
Paradigm AV managing director, Paul Wood, confirmed that this was the first major project to be delivered by the company's new Simulation, Reality & 3D Division.
"We identified that configuring fully-immersive environments on a large scale - using large-format mirror rigs in more demanding ways - was an area of expertise that we wanted to pursue further, by setting up a dedicated division. Aside from the advanced technology involved in building simulation and 3D/4D environments - precision engineering and close project management are vital."
The Nürbus ride also proved highly challenging for Paradigm AV. The company installed a cave around a motion base to create an immersive simulation ride in a CGI tour bus around the Nordschleife track, using their 2.5m wide Easy Erect twin foil mirror rigs.
The screen configuration had to be designed to cover the simulation theatre, and take the best advantage possible of the projection that could be achieved in the limited space. Paul Wood says that by mounting the projectors flat, and fitting the Christie HD projectors with 1.2:1 lens, the lamps run for longer and take advantage of better optics.
Nürbus involves guests entering a replica 1950's bus, which is mounted on to a motion platform. The projected images surround them on both sides and above, in a ride around the track. The rear of the bus has no projection, and acts as the entrance / exit to the ride.
The Pepper's Ghost feature is viewed through a peephole at the 'mechanic' talking about how he's fixing the car in what looks like a 1930's heritage garage, on a loop. This is created using a Christie DS305W projector, a rear projection surface and peppers ghost hardware (from Paradigm AV). Content is looping and served with accompanying background audio from an Alcorn McBride SD video store.
Explained Paul Wood, "It's a side-on version, which is unusual, but it fits in the space better. We engineered additional edge correction and advised where the vertical image should be seen, because positioning was crucial. However, the biggest challenge was keeping the raw material cost in budget."
(Jim Evans)
