It’s hard to compete with the likes of ‘Lord of the Rings’, ‘The Godfather’, and ‘Star Wars’. However, this might just be one of the best trilogies of all time. Over most of the last decade we have been developing, building, and installing several aerial roundabout ride systems across the globe, and have been praised for their reliability and level of safety without inhibiting the level of fun. Working across 2 IPs beloved by families in the UK and worldwide, We’ve designed, manufactured, and maintained a trilogy of widely praised ride systems ridden by an estimated 500,000 people a year. The Quad-Star Ride System offers individual rider control up to 3.4m high and lap bars for all with full containment for riders as small as 0.9m. It is built to BSEN 1090 and can be designed with 6, 8, or 12 arms. As you’ll see in the rest of this article there are plenty of modifications that we’ve made to the aerial roundabout over the last 3 projects. We can’t be more proud of our entire team for their work on these Quad-Stars over the last few years, let’s break down the unique challenges presented with each project.

Part 1 – The Original

In 2017 Garmendale started an exciting partnership with Merlin Entertainments, designing a family ride system celebrating the children’s educational tv show ‘Go-Jetters’. Its iconic spaceship ride vehicles were individually manufactured, and finished in striking blue ensuring durability and a high quality finish. Each ride vehicle designed with a parent and child’s safety at the centre. The original quad-star, Go Jetters Vroomster Zoom Ride opened in 2017 to rave reviews and still remains one of Cbeebies Lands most popular ride systems for young thrill seekers. Each pilot takes control of their own Vroomster dictating the height flying through the air. Over the last 8 years we have been frequent visitors to Alton Towers and the Go Jetters with regular returns every winter, whether its spares delivery or annual shutdown works. These regular trips to Cbeebies land ensures longevity and consistent through-put year after year. 

Part 2 – An Interactive Twist

Our continuing working relationship with Merlin Entertainments has brought about exciting opportunities across the globe including our first ever Asian Quad-Star. Though the skeleton of the ride system remained the same as its British cousin, the IP and brief was very different, posing brand new exciting challenges for our design team. Luckily enough for us this isn’t our first time working with Lego, previously creating a fleet of electric cars and boats for the Windsor Lego resort. However, this time the quad-star ride system would be themed around Lego’s ever popular ‘Ninjago’ IP, full of colourful characters and imagination capturing vehicle design. Our team got to work quickly designing the ride vehicles before they were manufactured in FRP, bringing to life hero Kai’s transport of choice the Kai Fighter.  

Available with the quad-star ride system is an additional interactive package. Specially designed cannon interactive shooting games were equipped to each ride vehicle. Guests ride in there Kai Fighter shooting targets adorning the surrounding ride envelope. This additional element created a crowd favourite which continues to entertain guests at Legoland Japan today.

Part 3 – A True Test For Our Quality Engineering

Following the success of the first Lego Quad-Star in Japan Garmendale’s team set to work replicating the feat for China’s Shenzhen park. The most recent of the Quad-Star trilogy and potentially the project that brings us the most pride as the team were truly put through their paces. On paper the Legoland Shenzhen  project should just be a copy and paste of the Japan Quad-Star. However, the Chinese safety requirements and testing is at a much more thorough level. We pride ourselves on our attention to detail and care when it comes to anything safety, so we relished the challenge. After designing, manufacturing, testing, transporting, installing, testing again, and submitting all our documentation. Our 3rd Quad-Star passed CSEI inspection with flying colours and has just completed its first full month of operation.

I told you this trilogy is up there with Star Wars, we cannot be more proud of our team and the talent and skill displayed across these 3 projects. Thank you to the team at Merlin for their support and love for our Quad-Stars. These 3 projects are a testament to the adaptability of the team and the Quad-Star ride system. From interactive add-ons to thorough safety requirements, Garmendale can do it all.