BofB movie Heinkel query

Here is the East Kirkby example (pictured at the 30th Anniversary of the BoB film -replica that was also at one time owned by Colin), also the combination fuselage (owned by Colin at one time). The nose was sectioned and had original Heinkel part numbers. Rear fuz was Casa.

The fuselage used for the interior filming I am more than convinced was the former Colin Waterworth Casa fuselage. From memory it consisted of a nose section and centre section . I cannot think of any reason why they would bring the fuselage over here apart from to use her for filming.
The East Kirkby nose section is made from steel tube and I believe was used for explosve charge sequences. It has recently been in New Zealand for some more film work.

Indeed Colins had the panels removeable for interior shooting!

[QUOTE=G-ORDY]Interesting to see that there seems to be earth inside the starboard engine intake, the prop also shows signs of impact damage. I do not wish to dispute Septic’s crane photo but I just wonder if this aircraft really did suffer an u/c failure whilst being used in the film and was conveniently used for the crash scene?

G-ORDY, the aircraft may well have crashed in reality hence its removal to the dump, as far as I know no CASA 2111 crashed during the production, although I believe there were three accidents with the Buchon’s, one just prior to filming, was sadly fatal.

Septic.

Ah, I wonder if it was used in The Chronicles of Narnia – that’s set in WWII isn’t it, because the kids were evacuees. That’s the only WWII era film I can think of that has been made here in the past year.

Bruce – I am fascinated to hear that the Colin Waterworth fuselage is still in the U.K . I remember seeing a picture of her supposedly in Austria under restoration as a Heinkel.
Did she either go there and come back ? Or not go there at all?
Dave – the East Kirkby nose probably went out about a year ago to N.Z – since then a mock up bombay section has been built. I suspect you are better informed about N.Z events but I will see what I can discover from this end.

The East Kirkby nose section is made from steel tube and I believe was used for explosve charge sequences. It has recently been in New Zealand for some more film work.

David, can you elaborate a little on this please? Is a WWII aviation film currently being made here?

(This isn’t the supposed Russian woman fighter pilot film, with the Brietling fighter pilots and Peter Jackson, is it?)

Maybe a previous in-service accident was the reason it was originally on the dump of course.

Or maybe the crane driver was heavy handed while placing it.

Or the other angle is maybe the set designers were thorough in making it look like it just crashed. There’s lots of possibilities.

Re the ex Colin Waterworth example.

It is currently stored in the UK, as a potential source of spares. The cockpit, and centre section fuselage are ex Spanish Air Force CASA. The aft section is from the Norwegian Heinkel that was recovered in the ’70’s, and was stored at DX for a while. The fin of this aircraft is still at DX, in the Battle of Britain exhibition.

The centre section fuselage has been cut laterally and longitudinally, and the whole lot can be assembled with catches. This was done for installation of cameras in the appropriate position. Colin carried out some restoration on the nose section, so it is uncertain now what had been done for use in the film.

Bruce

Interesting to see that there seems to be earth inside the starboard engine intake, the prop also shows signs of impact damage. I do not wish to dispute Septic’s crane photo but I just wonder if this aircraft really did suffer an u/c failure whilst being used in the film and was conveniently used for the crash scene?

A bit like the 633 Sqdn crash where J.Crewdson retracted the gear on a fast taxying Mosquito?

Maybe the crane was removing it – not placing it – in position?

BTW When I saw the fuselage at Henlow c.1970 it was in bare metal with no markings.

Quite a fascinating thread. So we’re talking about three aircraft here?

– A genuine CASA taken off the dump, lowered into position and used in the crash scene
– A mock-up cockpit built at Pinewood for interiors
– A genuine fuselage imported to Uk also for interiors

Have I got it right?

Daz,

The Casa 2111 in the photograph was taken off the dump at Tablada, I’ve seen photographs taken by Tony Oliver (A Military Vehicle adviser to the production) of the aircraft being lowered into the crash position, if I can I will try to obtain a photo.

The Pinewood Casa fuselage was built strictly for interior filming and had a host of steel attachment points so that it could be suspended and manouvered in front of a screen for background projection etc. One Cockpit section was also built at Pinewood.

Here’s a shot of the Pinewood nose section under construction.

Followed by the same section seen at East Kirkby in March 05

The last shot is of a fuselage/cockpit section that is now in Austria, this I believe was used by the film company for studio work. The section now forms a large part of ambitious project to rebuild a He111, although I believe the project is now up for sale.

Septic.

Thanks for that, Septic. I hadn’t known about the ‘dump’ Heinkel (although I liked my theory better! :D).

Thanks David,

I always thought it rather strange as to why Pinewood would want to construct a complete fuselage section, Far easier to bring one over from Spain.

Septic.

The Colin Waterworth machine did indeed have some fuselage brackets on it. I do not have a picture of her handy but I seem to remember that FlyPast had a photograph of the fuselage section in an early 1990’s issue. Certainly South Yorkshire rebuilt the cockpit at Firbeck which is the example that turned up at Duxford for the event organised by Aeroplane Monthly.

David, would you happen have a better photograph of the Ex Colin Waterworth fuselage. I’ve never been lucky enough to see it although I did see the cockpit at Duxford a few years back.

I don’t want end up perpetuating a myth that Pinewood constructed a fuselage section, I do know that a fuselage was used for studio work and back projection filming, do you remember if the Waterworth example had any unusual external brackets etc.

I’m guessing that the the Waterworth fuselage is the film fuselage.

Septic.

The bottom picture is the former Colin Waterworth fuselage – ex Spanish AF and genuine CASA built which before Colin acquired it was in store at Henlow.

Daz,

The Casa 2111 in the photograph was taken off the dump at Tablada, I’ve seen photographs taken by Tony Oliver (A Military Vehicle adviser to the production) of the aircraft being lowered into the crash position, if I can I will try to obtain a photo.

The Pinewood Casa fuselage was built strictly for interior filming and had a host of steel attachment points so that it could be suspended and manouvered in front of a screen for background projection etc. One Cockpit section was also built at Pinewood.

Here’s a shot of the Pinewood nose section under construction.

Followed by the same section seen at East Kirkby in March 05

The last shot is of a fuselage/cockpit section that is now in Austria, this I believe was used by the film company for studio work. The section now forms a large part of ambitious project to rebuild a He111, although I believe the project is now up for sale.

Septic.

The fuselage used for the interior filming I am more than convinced was the former Colin Waterworth Casa fuselage. From memory it consisted of a nose section and centre section . I cannot think of any reason why they would bring the fuselage over here apart from to use her for filming.
The East Kirkby nose section is made from steel tube and I believe was used for explosve charge sequences. It has recently been in New Zealand for some more film work.

There was a previous thread on it:

Heinkel G-AWHB – with photos by trumper! 😉

😀 Yes,i am going senile,i took those many years ago when i was alot younger LOL. 😀

That looks pretty conclusive to me!

So, maybe, the real Heinkel in Spain gets into a spot of bother with its gear, a film crew is dispatched to film it (or the aftermath) a la Tora! Tora! Tora!, and they get a bonus piece of footage to use for very little effort?

I am not disagreeing with you, But, the crash scene is in the original script dated 26 feb 1968!?! What luck…

I’m with Dave on the replica being used mainly for interior shots, and the damaged real one being used later.

Sounds sensible as well. Well done Sherlock another mystery solved…

How about Leonard Mosley, is he still alive? He’s quite an expertt on the film.

You could always track down and ask Guy Hamilton or one of the set designers.