Stormforce 10

[Kam]

Blimey! I knew it looked good when it was new, but this video completely exceeded my expectations!!! The amount of details, props, jokes, and the amazing Henry Freeman Animatronic. It really feels like a real place, but with a bit of British style and humour in it. I love the working radio in the queue, it really gives the ride a feeling of it actually being lived in! Never knew how good the first drop was with the darkness and the animatronic and the audio. "Are ye ready? 'Ight, 'ere you go!"

Though on the other side of the coin, it really shows how much the ride has fallen over the years. From Hery Freeman's removal, none of the animations working, paint looking worn and faded, and the lack of audio. I'd love the ride to be restored back to its former glory!

Well said
What's worse is the fact that outside of the old Henry Freeman animatronic that Farmer Studios built inside of the Cabin (who was removed in 2015 and replaced with a much cheaper sailor animatronic the following year), many of these old Stormforce 10 effects still exist, but have not been maintained for years, verging on decades now. I can't even remember the last time the Station building itself was cleaned. It's looking in a right state nowadays, and needs an exterior repaint throughout. It's a shame because Stormforce 10 is such an enjoyable,unique, fun, and distinctly British ride. I feel like someone needs to point out some of the older effects, as most of them have passed in to distant memory nowadays, so...

Stormforce 10 effects that still exist, but are broken or not in use:

• Both smoke machines are still in place as of 2024, but have not been used since the early 2000s. One set off from above pointing downwards as the boat entered, and another faces horizontally directly towards the boat turntable. Pictured below off of a relatively recent Youtube POV (credit: Your experience guide and theme park worldwide for the youtube videos) . I have highlighted both of the smoke machines in red below

(theme park worldwide)

• All the sirens/ beacon alarms are still in place . Again, they haven't worked for over 20 years at the very least. The Farmer Studios video is the only video on the internet showing them working and in use. . As you can see on the old Farmer Studios video, they used to activate when boats entered the oil rig and on to the backwards drop turntable. Here is a recent youtube screenshot where I have used green arrows to highlight all 3 of the original siren effects below
• 

One of them is positioned behind riders where the boats enter the backwards drop

(your experience guide)

• The speakers inside the oil rig are all in place and are still used (albeit for 'stay seated and hold on' warnings), but the original oil rig sound effects have not been used for many, many years. Again, you can hear what the original sound effects sounded like in the old Farmer Studios video. I believe these speaker systems are isolated to Stormforce, and are controlled by a set of amps in the ride control room. I really think it would be great for Drayton to attempt to bring back the original oil rig sound effects, playing as an ambient sound in the background whenever boats enter the oil rig. It elevates the ride above just being a flume, and more in to an experience driven themed ride.

Other effects:
-As has been pointed out, the lifeboat patrolman by the launch ramp no longer moves his arm, and the torch underneath him no longer lights up. The air compressor that feeds air towards all of Stormforce's pneumatic effects is inside the launchpad area hidden behind the curtain on the left. The piping for all of the animatronic effects is all still in place, I believe.

All of the Stormforce effects listed were sensor driven, and the effects themselves (despite being ancient) could be retrofitted / rewired/ recircuited if Drayton were willing to let an effects team in to the ride area. I really think the original Farmer Studios effects added to the ride experience. Does everyone agree?

 

[Haz]

The biggest thing i took away from riding Stormforce a long time ago was the animatronics certainly added to the ride a lot, Although i never rode the ride with the sound effects and beacons they looked brilliant always thought there was something missing in that part of the ride looks like from that video beacons and the same sounds were used in the station upon dispatch?, also is there any reason why the observation platform next to the ride entrance has been closed off for a long time too, I can only hope that a lot of this stuff can be added back.

 

[Themeparksandy1981]

The biggest thing i took away from riding Stormforce a long time ago was the animatronics certainly added to the ride a lot, Although i never rode the ride with the sound effects and beacons they looked brilliant always thought there was something missing in that part of the ride looks like from that video beacons and the same sounds were used in the station upon dispatch?, also is there any reason why the observation platform next to the ride entrance has been closed off for a long time too, I can only hope that a lot of this stuff can be added back.

I wonder if the wood is all rotten and is unsafe.

 

[Trooper Looper]

I wonder if the wood is all rotten and is unsafe.

Perhaps, but even then, I personally think there much bigger issues with the ride, such as no figures working, no Henry Freeman, no audio or music playing anywhere in the attraction apart from safety spiels. The station is in a right state too and is in desperate need to TLC. At minimum, a fresh coat of paint could do wonders.

 

[Elise]

I wouldn't be surprised if guest action had something to do with the platform closure