A Forum for those interest in vintage NON-military aircraft
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Fri Jul 24, 2009 11:49 pm

Looks like it should be cool.

Tue Jul 28, 2009 12:57 am

fleet16b wrote:
Jerry O'Neill wrote:Looks interesting.
I noticed immediately the digitally created aircraft in many of the shots in the trailer. Shouldn't detract from the story, it'll just bother people like me! :lol:
Jerry


We only used digital flying scenes for two a/c . The Fokker Tri-Motor and the Vega.
Why ? because there are none flying. We also made up two fullsize mock ups of them for ground scenes. They were so accurate externally that both are now in World Class Museums.


Thanks for the info, Fleet. Curious, though - how were the mockups created? Any other cool behind-the-scenes stories you can pass along?

Just my two cents - Hollywood REALLY needs to fall out of love with digital imaging. It has its place, but all in all it's still rather cartoonish. I'd prefer watching a collection of half/three quarter scale RC models. At least we'd be watching something real. If it's a question of the bottom line - I wouldn't be surprised if RC models turned out to be less expensive than the CGIs. Computer generated images ain't cheap, that's for sure.

Tue Jul 28, 2009 1:50 pm

Yes, but the producers were very close to cancel the use of the real Electra during the making in South Africa, and use a Beech 18 to figure the Lochkeed. Question of $$$

Thu Jul 30, 2009 9:16 pm

AviaS199 wrote:
fleet16b wrote:
Jerry O'Neill wrote:Looks interesting.
I noticed immediately the digitally created aircraft in many of the shots in the trailer. Shouldn't detract from the story, it'll just bother people like me! :lol:
Jerry


We only used digital flying scenes for two a/c . The Fokker Tri-Motor and the Vega.
Why ? because there are none flying. We also made up two fullsize mock ups of them for ground scenes. They were so accurate externally that both are now in World Class Museums.


Thanks for the info, Fleet. Curious, though - how were the mockups created? Any other cool behind-the-scenes stories you can pass along?

Just my two cents - Hollywood REALLY needs to fall out of love with digital imaging. It has its place, but all in all it's still rather cartoonish. I'd prefer watching a collection of half/three quarter scale RC models. At least we'd be watching something real. If it's a question of the bottom line - I wouldn't be surprised if RC models turned out to be less expensive than the CGIs. Computer generated images ain't cheap, that's for sure.


We built a full size Vega and a full size Fokker Trimotor.
Both were built based on original plans provided by the Smithsonian Inst.
While they are only mock ups, there are many real aircraft components incorporated into both. Most were supplied from my collection.
The flying scenes for these two aircraft were of course digital but the Fokker scenes in the water are real.
The Fokker was built so that it would actually be able to sit in the water. It also had two small motors that drove the props. It was able to taxi thru the water under its own power.
It was made of tube steel for the fuselage and the wing is all wood.
Actual aircraft fabric techniques were used for covering it.
The Vega fuselage and wing structures are wood and they are completely wood skinned It fooled more than one vintage a/c collector that dropped by the set. It now resides at the Paul Allen Collection.
The Fokker is in a museum in Canada.
Besides the Fokker and Vega, most of the flying scenes are actual, with actual vintage aircraft. None of the cheesey 3/4 scale type a/c like flyboys.
I have many behind the scenes stories and I took many behind the scenes photos but to be fair to the movie, I will wait until it is released before I post anything.

Wed Aug 12, 2009 8:33 pm

Interesting. I was looking at the acting credits for the film on IMDB (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1129445/fullcredits#cast) and I see no mention of anyone playing the role of Paul Mantz. Could it be that the Technical Advisor of her round-the-world flight was not important enough to be portrayed as an integral role in the film? He certainly was in real life.

Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:36 am

Here's a clip from the film:

http://content.foxsearchlight.com/videos/node/4054

:roll:

And the trailer can be found here:

http://www.foxsearchlight.com/amelia/

Thu Oct 22, 2009 10:46 am

If you see a guy in white overalls in the Powder Puff Derby scene, wedge cap, carrying a big wrench and a red rag, that's me. Walking behind the red Taperwing.

Better not blink.

The guy standing on the wing of the Staggerwing, wearing a fedora, is Mike Potter, founder of Vintage Wings of Canada.

Dave

Thu Oct 22, 2009 12:13 pm

We are headed to a special preview tonight dressed in our 1930's flying gear before it opens tomorrow in the Theatres

Thu Oct 22, 2009 1:13 pm

I saw on the website that there are some free showings, but alas, none in my area. Let us know how you like it and how my non-aviation inspired wife might like it.
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