Watched this amazing movie last nite (the 2005 Peter Jackson one that is, not the 1933 original), and loved the bit at the end with the two seat biplanes attacking Kong – anyone know what they were? Haven’t seen anything like them before, but then again I know nothing about inter-war US aircraft. Anyone seen it or have any useful links?
Cheers, Rob
By: amitch - 23rd December 2005 at 22:52
Ah seems fair enough, where did the front guns go? There was a couple of .30 cals in the film mounted up front in the film
This shot kind of shows where they mount on the film aircraft. In real life, armament was two .30 caliber machine guns in the center section of the upper wing that fired forward just outside the propeller arc and two guns fitted to a scarf ring around the rear cockpit.
By: Rlangham - 23rd December 2005 at 21:44
I grabbed a twin lewis and mounted it because it looked better for the photos. Same mount and it made up for the lack of the front guns.
Ah seems fair enough, where did the front guns go? There was a couple of .30 cals in the film mounted up front in the film
By: Dave Homewood - 23rd December 2005 at 21:20
(Dave Holmwood can expand)
TT
Yes, it seems I can, I have put on several inches round the girth in recent years. 🙂
One of the replicas will stay in the new Aviation Heritage Centre at Omaka, Blenheim, NZ. The other’s fate has not been disclosed as yet.
Oh, and it’s Homewood
By: amitch - 23rd December 2005 at 21:03
Wow nice – thought the movie aircraft only had a single gun in the rear though?
I grabbed a twin lewis and mounted it because it looked better for the photos. Same mount and it made up for the lack of the front guns.
By: Rlangham - 23rd December 2005 at 20:59
Wow nice – thought the movie aircraft only had a single gun in the rear though?
By: amitch - 23rd December 2005 at 20:52
helldiver
Yes it is a gunsight. Can’t remember the name.
By: DazDaMan - 23rd December 2005 at 20:18
Great pics, Alex.
I was curious to what that weird-looking attachment is on top of the machine-guns – looks like it’s fixed to the barrel of the gun, or perhaps the gunsight itself? :confused:
By: amitch - 23rd December 2005 at 20:02
Helldivers
They are Curtis F8C-4 Helldivers, the first aircraft to carry that name. First flew in 1928. The two aircraft made for the film are exact replicas.
Here are a couple of photos from the shoot I did for Pacific Wings.
By: willy.henderick - 23rd December 2005 at 17:52
King Kong’s Helldivers
helldiver’s replicas
By: Rlangham - 23rd December 2005 at 17:42
From what i’ve gathered, the movie aircraft were Curtiss F8C Helldivers from the few photos ive seen
By: DazDaMan - 23rd December 2005 at 16:02
Its confusing Rob –
Curtiss S3C/S4C Helldiver was the biplane
Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was the monoplane – very different aircraft, same manufacturer, same name, different designations.TT
So I take the biplane versions had either fixed or retractable gear? It’s rather confusing! :confused:
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 23rd December 2005 at 12:16
Its confusing Rob –
Curtiss S3C/S4C Helldiver was the biplane
Curtiss SB2C Helldiver was the monoplane – very different aircraft, same manufacturer, same name, different designations.
TT
By: Rlangham - 23rd December 2005 at 12:11
Sure that’s a helldiver? Typed it into google image search, got a WW2 monoplane bomber and this for the biplane version http://www.daveswarbirds.com/usplanes/photos/sbc_hell.jpg which is different from the movies helldivers
By: DazDaMan - 23rd December 2005 at 11:15
Have a look at How to build a Curtiss Helldiver replica
It’s an exact scale replica built specifically for the movie, used for the blue screen sequences at the end of the film.
By: TEXANTOMCAT - 23rd December 2005 at 11:14
Curtiss Helldivers Rob – beleive two very good static mockups built – one staying in NZ (Dave Holmwood can expand)
one mooted to go to Pensacola
Beleive they were front line aircraft when the original film was made (and also starred in their own movie – Helldivers c.1931/32)
TT
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December 23, 2005 at 11:08 am