I have now implemented a functional hydraulic launch piece, although it is far from fully featured. It automatically calculates the right acceleration to use based on the length of the launch but only when the coaster is first tested - currently, changing the speed setting has no effect unless you close and reopen the ride. I also want the anti rollback brake fins to be functional, and the blocks to work properly (currently, the block is cleared as soon as the train leaves the station which is not right, it should only clear when it's over the top hat), none of which is implemented yet.

The length of the catch car braking zone is currently hardcoded and I think that'll have to change, at two tiles it's too short for every other layout in my test park. A fixed 3 tiles isn't too bad an option for most designs at the sizes that are common in game - but for large rides built at realistic scale, and especially the strata I have been testing, longer is needed. Having a braking zone that is shorter than it should be also lowers the overall acceleration and I don't want the launch to look slow, especially when the LSM boosters in game are overpowered.

I might be biased because I want to make a 10x10 and that's impossible unless the catch car braking zone can be as small as 1 tile (because the longest launch that would fit is 3 tiles total). This really shouldn't affect the final decision, since it's not realistic to build one that small ... but I kind of want it to work anyway.