Author Topic: Filming the Battle of Britain 1968  (Read 9256 times)

meremodeller

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Filming the Battle of Britain 1968
« on: May 05, 2020, 11:54:14 AM »
So, finally got round to my next project for my Battle of Britain film collection.  This time it's a small diorama based on one of the very few photographs I have managed to find of the actual filming.
I thought a good starting point would be the ICM kit as this not only contains the 1/48th Spitfire IX but also a collection of figures and stands and steps.
The only real concern would be the 3 blade propeller and a bit of scratch building for the cameras etc.
Find out how it wasn't quite so straightforward in my next post!

zak

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Re: Filming the Battle of Britain 1968
« Reply #1 on: May 05, 2020, 12:43:00 PM »
Looking forward to this.
Grumpy by name and nature

chriswil42

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Re: Filming the Battle of Britain 1968
« Reply #2 on: May 05, 2020, 01:48:26 PM »
This will be different.
Chris

Kiteman

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Re: Filming the Battle of Britain 1968
« Reply #3 on: May 05, 2020, 04:20:30 PM »
....very different, i want to see this one!

MSea

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Re: Filming the Battle of Britain 1968
« Reply #4 on: May 05, 2020, 07:39:33 PM »
Knowing you Bill - will it have any young ladies in it ?????
MSea

chriswil42

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Re: Filming the Battle of Britain 1968
« Reply #5 on: May 06, 2020, 09:04:47 AM »
...with tin hats?
Chris

zak

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Re: Filming the Battle of Britain 1968
« Reply #6 on: May 06, 2020, 10:29:00 AM »
...with tin hats?
...and that may be all!
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meremodeller

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Re: Filming the Battle of Britain 1968
« Reply #7 on: May 06, 2020, 03:22:56 PM »
Having decided upon this diorama the next step was to identify the actual Spitfire in the shot. It turns out this aircraft is MH434 a Mark Ixc late and quite a well known Warbird before the making of the film. This means that the ICM wings are not strictly correct for this aircraft so apart from the 3 Blade Prop which was always going to be something that would make it different but also I would need to modify the wings. Now it just happens that I had a set of the correct Hasegawa wings in my spares so with a bit of chopping and fettling these were adjusted to fit. Note how the rear fairing has been removed from the ICM Kit and then this is used to match up the fuselage of the same kit.
Whilst the fuselage is being detailed I made up the pilot figure to represent Sqn Ldr Skipper, played by Robert Shaw. This is a mix of parts from various kits so that the correct pose can be made to fit the kit.
I'll come back to the figures later in the build, (calm down Msea!)

zak

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Re: Filming the Battle of Britain 1968
« Reply #8 on: May 06, 2020, 03:48:36 PM »
Robert Shaw looks a bit uncomfortable.
Great stuff Bill.
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MSea

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Re: Filming the Battle of Britain 1968
« Reply #9 on: May 06, 2020, 05:21:29 PM »
And you lot have a lot of to me, about doing that to a zombie shark --!!!!!!!!
MSea

Bigkev

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Re: Filming the Battle of Britain 1968
« Reply #10 on: May 06, 2020, 08:25:01 PM »
Robert Shaw looks a bit uncomfortable.
Great stuff Bill.

Hi Bill,
Great stuff,
And 'I just happened to have a spare set of Hasegawa wings' to use in the build...…..
As to 'Robert Shaw' if somebody stuck a large piece of wood into my rear, I would look uncomfortable too.
Cheers,
Bigkev

PS. This is an educational build for me, not only building wise, but the actual film, its portrayal, and those items used. Brilliant!!
I hope my next is always better

cph64

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Re: Filming the Battle of Britain 1968
« Reply #11 on: May 07, 2020, 08:22:56 AM »
I have an Aircraft Illustrated Extra from August 1969 which has a 10 page spread on the making of the film. Whilst it has various photos the nearest it shows to your build is AI-H taking off with a bomb exploding nearby. Looking forward to seeing the completed build.

meremodeller

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Re: Filming the Battle of Britain 1968
« Reply #12 on: May 07, 2020, 11:31:15 AM »
Moving On.  The rear fillet is now in place and I have made progress 'Robert Shaw'.
Note the cannon and M/G ports and the blisters filled from the back with plasticard to prevent shrinkage.
Having watched the film, frame by frame (yes, it is sad!) I am aware there are further detail changes that will have to be made.
Undercarriage will have to come from the Eduard IX kit, fortunately there are lots of spares in that kit when you have build it from the box.
It looks as though the wing to fuselage is going to be fun. You would have thought there would be no problem, they are both Spitfire kits!
In answer to my quote 'spare Hasegawa wings', some time ago Hobbycraft were selling off Revell boxings of the Hasegawa Mk IX kit and I bought 3 for less than a tenner. Useful for spares apart from the fuselage.

meremodeller

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Re: Filming the Battle of Britain 1968
« Reply #13 on: May 07, 2020, 11:43:09 AM »
Hi CPH64, I have that magazine and the shot of AI.H taking off with bombs exploding nearby follows as part of that scene, there is some clever editing involved which makes it appear that AI.I taxies out and joins in with Squadron scramble.

meremodeller

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Re: Filming the Battle of Britain 1968
« Reply #14 on: May 08, 2020, 09:29:22 AM »
Yesterday the joining of the wings to fuselage was finally achieved. Now some panel lines have to be reinstated.
I also completed the painting of 'Sqn Ldr Skipper' aka Robert Shaw. Sorry to say it really doesn't look a bit like him!