BoB movie models

B of B models

I was only on the set at Duxford for one day ,I seem to remember some full size replica spitfires with a car starter motor driving a mock prop with just a smple seat in the cockpit.I seem to remember pushing them around into position at some stage during the day!The only flying that day was a twin seat Bouchon 109 that took up some film VIP person who was sick all over the cockpit!

HAC’s MkVb was removed from it’s gate guardian duties at Church Fenton to be used as the mould for the FSM’s.

I think there is also one of the HE111 models at Hawkinge, as well as some of the FSM used in the film.

You can just see it hanging from the ceiling top rhs of this pic http://www.kbobm.org/ops.htm
Dezz 🙂

Forum member ‘Septic’ wrote a very detailed article with some illustrations on the BoB models, after some extensive research and an interview with one of the modelmakers. Hopefully he can swing by with the info.

I’ve seen the He111/Casa model at Booker, and a Buchon model at a 1990s Christie’s auction at Duxford. There’s also some film of the models being made on the Pathe site.

There was at least one HE111 model which survived the filming. It was displayed in the Talbot square Blackpool along with some other large models as part of the switch on of the Blackpool illuminations.Not sure of the exact year but i also recall the actual moment to switch on the illuminations was triggered by the release of several photoflash flares dropped by an RAf Canberra flying just off the beach.Very Impressive flashes lighting up everywhere .

The Tigerboys in Ontario Canada, aquired a full size wooden mock-up Spitfire fuselage that was reputedly used in the BOB movie.
At present it is stored in one of their hangers.
It may get restored for display or used as a trade item one day.

It was there when I visited back in 1996!

its still there!

HE 111 large model at Booker

I remember seeing an HE 111 large model hanging from the roof of a hanger at Booker in the 1980s.
I was told it was used in the film Battle of Britain can anbybody confirm?

It is a terrible shame that they all ended up on a burning pyre in Malta at the end shooting.

Not sure if any survived though?

curlyboy

Thanks for all the info guys. for some reason I did’nt think of the exploding & crashing Spitfires.

I believe that in the early stages of planning the film some models were made including a Hurricane,Stuka and Bf110 and these were different from the models which were actually used in the film which obviously did not include a Bf110.

Colin

That’s a good point, I never thought of that.

There is an interesting 3 page article to be found in the July 1967 of Radio Models, good background detail of the construction and flying of the models.

Chumpy.

I’ve just found a link that I was looking for in my first post.

http://www.mickcharlesmodels.co.uk/history/history.html

There are some interesting shots of the models there.

However, the Rudhall books stated that the models were NOT fitted with retractable landing gear on the grounds of simplicity and weight-saving, and were instead launched from dollies that simply dropped clear once the flying speed was attained (rather like an Me163 Komet). The Hurricane near the top of the page obviously has these and is considerably larger than the models in the film.

I believe that in the early stages of planning the film some models were made including a Hurricane,Stuka and Bf110 and these were different from the models which were actually used in the film which obviously did not include a Bf110.

Colin

Also, you can see some of the model sequences reused in productions such as Piece of Cake and Dark Blue World.

I’ve just found a link that I was looking for in my first post.

http://www.mickcharlesmodels.co.uk/history/history.html

There are some interesting shots of the models there.

However, the Rudhall books stated that the models were NOT fitted with retractable landing gear on the grounds of simplicity and weight-saving, and were instead launched from dollies that simply dropped clear once the flying speed was attained (rather like an Me163 Komet). The Hurricane near the top of the page obviously has these and is considerably larger than the models in the film.

Image from www.dover-film.com

The observant among us will spot that this is actually a later-model Stuka than the ones in the actual Battle. This was because, when the film was in pre-production, there was the very real possibility of the RAF Museum’s Ju-87D being restored to flying condition, so the models were based on that.

The Robert Rudhall books on the Battle of Britain film have sections devoted to the R/C models.

From memory, they were roughly 1/8th scale (about 55″ wingspan for a Spitfire) and made using fibreglass fuselages and built-up wings. For scenes showing aircraft exploding, condoms(!) filled with explosives were rigged up inside the model and triggered remotely.

The best scene with the models is surely the attack on the radar station?? Michael Caine’s squadron comes in and decimates the attacking Stukas, for no loss, and even manages to cause two of them to collide (which was NOT in the script!).

I hadnt realised that any model Spitfire’s were considered being used (other than the the full size props) can anyone enlighten me?

There are several memorable scenes (for me anyway) in the movie where Spitfire models are used, for example the scene where Michael Caine’s character’s aircraft blows-up in mid-air and the remarkably effective scene where a burning Spitfire breaks-up and the wreckage crashes onto a beach.

It would be interesting to know more about how these models were flown, and destroyed, for the camera; for the period I think the model work was some of the best I’ve seen.

If I’m not mistaken, well known scale modeler Dave Platt was among the craftsmen who constructed the BoB movie models. If no one else can answer your questions maybe Mr. Platt would be willing to share his recollections. He can be contacted through his web site at the address below. Great pictures by the way, thanks for sharing.

Regards,
Chad Veich

www.daveplattmodels.com