Hi – we’re a small group of film-makers currently developing a short film about a retired ex-Lancaster crew. The crew are quite active but dysfunctional, living in a Nursing Home. And they are facing one last great fight: a group of violent drug-dealers has moved in next door and are ruining the neighborhood.
One of the drug-dealers attacks the ex-Navigator, Harry, beating him so badly that he dies a few days later. The crew of the Lanc band together once more to bring down this menace to their society, and exact a very fitting revenge on the drug-crazy gang next door.
We have lots of footage of Lancs (including a barrel-roll over one!) for a flashback sequence, but what we desperately need is a REPLICA REAR GUN TURRET. Preferably someone to build us a (cheap) imitation as we don’t want to damage a real one, perish the thought!
Can anyone out there help us, please? Thankyou, David
By: Rockhopper - 21st February 2013 at 17:02
Thats possibly not the right link!
By: Reargunner57 - 21st February 2013 at 16:53
Thanks for the info Paul – I’ll get in touch with the museum (and all of you / your leads) as soon as I can over the next few weeks. As for the other aircraft and crew, then yes, absolutely agree – all incredible planes and crew, and full respect and awe goes out to them all – it’s just that a friends Dad flew on a Lancaster during WWII, and we’ve got a fantastic barrel-role shot of a Lanc we want to use in the finished (short) film. If you’d like to keep track of this unusual but hopefully thrilling and imaginative little production (which may or may not be show on the tv) then please ‘like’ our page at www.facebook.com/Reargunner Thanks once again. Regards, David
By: Whitley_Project - 20th February 2013 at 17:12
I have a Whitley front turret I would be happy to see used for filming – pretty much complete. It has a birdcage style cuppola so would make it particularly amenable for filming.
You aren’t allowed to break it though!
Many thanks for all your replies – the good and the bad!
REARGUNNER started out as a simple ‘War on the Sunday Driver’ plot but has progressed to be more along the lines of HARRY BROWN – and the ex-aircrew in it are indeed the heroes. I’m personally a huge fan of the Lancaster Bomber – it moves me to tears whenever I see one as I think of what the boys went through back then, and the mighty plane they bravely crewed. An amazing feat, and one that needs to be remembered. And I’m a tough hard-bitten 48-year old company director!
My cameraman is also the same age, and has filmed some amazing air to air footage over the years for all sorts of documentary warbird videos… so our short film REARGUNNER is just a bit of pure escapism.
So whilst the plot to REARGUNNER is a tad irreverent (some of you were almost right – they DO put the turret on the back of their minibus and…. well, I’m not going to spoil the end here…) it’s very definitely NOT your usual war film. It’s only a short – and may get broadcast but it’s not a commercial project, and hasn’t been commissioned by any TV Company.
I can promise you that we’ll treat the characters very sympathetically and it will be a story about their sacrifices for a somewhat broken Britain. All their hard work in vain? Maybe they get help in the end from a most unlikely source…. and their faith in humanity is restored.
So, I do welcome your comments good and bad, but I do realise that this film won’t be too everyone’s taste. It does have a moral, but it will be fun to watch! Just bear in mind that it’s entertainment and not a documentary though – and I welcome all the help you can give me please. Even if you hate the idea of this film, bear with us as we hope to produce something quite magical – that you just might be proud of, too.
So, anyway…. who’s got a turret then?
All my best regards, David
By: Paul - 20th February 2013 at 14:32
Many thanks for all your replies – the good and the bad!
I’m personally a huge fan of the Lancaster Bomber – it moves me to tears whenever I see one as I think of what the boys went through back then, and the mighty plane they bravely crewed. An amazing feat, and one that needs to be remembered.
There were other bombers you know….. Whenever there is a WWII RAF film suggested the producers just cannot seem to get past Lancasters & Spitfires.
What is wrong with a Halifax crew, or Stirling or Wellington etc. The crews were equally as brave, their tales of bravery will reduce you to just as many tears and their planes were every bit as mighty….. Why oh why does it always have to be the Daily Mirror bomber? (That is what the crews of the “other” bombers called the Lanc). Go on and be a bit more creative.
The Yorkshire Air Museum has a good range of rear turrets (and a Halifax). There are at least two Wellington rear turrets attached to airframes in the UK.
I do wish you luck with the project, but please be a bit more imaginative by not perpetuating the Lancaster myth, reducing the other bombers to just a bit part in WWII history.
By: Rlangham - 19th February 2013 at 20:17
I think this sounds pretty fantastic actually. Hope the filming goes well and you’re succesful in your search, I hope the finished product will be available to view for the public?
By: Blue_2 - 19th February 2013 at 20:09
best of luck Reargunner57, I’m saddened you seem to have been met by some with the sort of response commonly found on UKAR though. I look forward to seeing the fruits of your work!
By: Wulfie - 19th February 2013 at 19:35
The Boulton Paul Association have a full scale model of a Type E tail turret based on a real cupola. This is actually Halifax of course, not Lancaster, but might be more available and handy than a real turret.
By: PanzerJohn - 19th February 2013 at 19:26
Good luck, sounds like a fun film.
By: DiverScout - 19th February 2013 at 18:02
Can’t help with the turret … but if you need any supporting cast members… 😉
By: DCK - 19th February 2013 at 13:01
Sounds like an entertaining short movie. All the best with it. Not all things has to be a 180 minute documentary on quantum physics and the post modern society.
By: Reargunner57 - 19th February 2013 at 11:21
Don’t mean to offend!
Many thanks for all your replies – the good and the bad!
REARGUNNER started out as a simple ‘War on the Sunday Driver’ plot but has progressed to be more along the lines of HARRY BROWN – and the ex-aircrew in it are indeed the heroes. I’m personally a huge fan of the Lancaster Bomber – it moves me to tears whenever I see one as I think of what the boys went through back then, and the mighty plane they bravely crewed. An amazing feat, and one that needs to be remembered. And I’m a tough hard-bitten 48-year old company director!
My cameraman is also the same age, and has filmed some amazing air to air footage over the years for all sorts of documentary warbird videos… so our short film REARGUNNER is just a bit of pure escapism.
So whilst the plot to REARGUNNER is a tad irreverent (some of you were almost right – they DO put the turret on the back of their minibus and…. well, I’m not going to spoil the end here…) it’s very definitely NOT your usual war film. It’s only a short – and may get broadcast but it’s not a commercial project, and hasn’t been commissioned by any TV Company.
I can promise you that we’ll treat the characters very sympathetically and it will be a story about their sacrifices for a somewhat broken Britain. All their hard work in vain? Maybe they get help in the end from a most unlikely source…. and their faith in humanity is restored.
So, I do welcome your comments good and bad, but I do realise that this film won’t be too everyone’s taste. It does have a moral, but it will be fun to watch! Just bear in mind that it’s entertainment and not a documentary though – and I welcome all the help you can give me please. Even if you hate the idea of this film, bear with us as we hope to produce something quite magical – that you just might be proud of, too.
So, anyway…. who’s got a turret then?
All my best regards, David
By: TonyT - 18th February 2013 at 23:30
By: Mike J - 18th February 2013 at 23:29
…….and Duxford’s B-25. 😮
By: Moggy C - 18th February 2013 at 23:28
And Duxford’s hangar 😮
By: TonyT - 18th February 2013 at 23:22
Thorpe camp has another real one, and a replica nose I think, piccies here
http://www.flickr.com/photos/pyewipe-jct/sets/72157627526485104/with/6082879399/
Agree with the damaging bit, remember what happened to the Arrow in Canada.
By: Moggy C - 18th February 2013 at 23:13
Why don’t you ask the Pantons about using NX611.
The OP does mention about “not wanting to damage a real one”. It could be that it intended to come to a sticky end, which might not go down well at East Kirkby
Moggy
By: TonyT - 18th February 2013 at 23:10
What about the one at Doncaster Aero? Perhaps an injection of funds to complete it might help?
http://milky01.co.uk/?page_id=6508
By: benyboy - 18th February 2013 at 22:49
There are some completely unnecessary replies on this thread !
I agree with RMAllnutt, the story does seem to be along the lines of Harry Brown, which is an excellent film. I think some members need to think about how many times they have seen a `navigator character` die, falling from the sky in a ball of flames before they judge anybody else.
Reargunner57, I hope you find the help you need.
Ben
By: Arabella-Cox - 18th February 2013 at 22:14
Lanc rear turret
Hello there, reargunner57,
Don’t be put off by a little silliness or cynicism from some of us, we’re quite a helpful bunch, really, when we want to be:)
What is the timescale for this turret, and what’s the budget? I may be able to help with a convincing replica.
PM me for my e-mail address.
Anon.
By: Robbo - 18th February 2013 at 22:14
Why don’t you ask the Pantons about using NX611. You get a real Lancaster and some funds go towards her restoration. Win-Win?
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February 18, 2013 at 10:35 am