I was just hunting for something and found an issue of Flypast from Oct 88 that I’d bought second hand ages back. It has an article about the making of Piece of Cake in it. Smashing stuff.
I wonder about some things… 1) What became of the replica Spitfires they made, it says some were not destroyed and were up for sale. Are some in museums? (also, I notice the replicas were made with four blade props? To match the flyers?)
2) It advertises a book called ‘How They Made PIECE OF CAKE’ by Robert Eagle and Herbie Knott (Boxtree). Has anyone out there got this, and if so, is it good (I’ll bet it is fantastic…)
3) Has anyone got the Nov 88 edition, as it was a two-parter and I’d love to see the second half if someone can scan it please.
4) It mentions that Derek Robinson also wrote a book about Hornet Squadron in World War One called War Story. Is this good? Did they ever consider a TV version of that one?
By: Moggy76 - 3rd October 2008 at 22:44
Yes, I loved the book. I’d like to read more of his wartime books, can you point me to any?
By: salforddude - 3rd October 2008 at 22:35
And while I think on it was the book was written by Derek Robinson, who wrote some very entertaining wartime flying tales. Better than Biggles anyway
By: Moggy76 - 3rd October 2008 at 22:15
😀 Forget the inaccuracies ,they just DID’NT have enough Hurricanes to use,it was a brilliantly entertaining series with great footage and the characters,well,Moggy Cattermole,Skull,Hart and all the others are well worth it.Enjoy it for it’s own sake,wish it was out in region 2 DVD in the UK 😡
This is a huge bump, I know, but in case you’re still after it:
http://www.simplyhe.co.uk/Search/piece+of+cake/0/
Region 2, uncut UK version. Enjoy!
By: DazDaMan - 27th February 2005 at 12:28
Got my region 1 copy on DVD , from Amazon ..now the series that HAS to come out on DVD is “Spitfire Ace”. Outstanding in evey way…… it just reran here last week in the USA late at night (4:00am est) . Have it on vhs…but its not the same as on DVD.
Would love to have all the raw footage of the flying if nothing else. What has become of Dave Mallon the lucky young man who did so well in this wonderful series? I wrote Channel Four to inquire about this series on DVD, but so far no reply, hope they don’t intend to just allow this to sit on the shelf and collect dust !
Ask Melvyn, he keeps in touch with Dave.
By: ALBERT ROSS - 26th February 2005 at 23:15
People are strange,they pay more on there for a second hand dvd than they cost new,nowt stranger than folk 😮
Don’t think it’s the price, but the thrill of the chase and ‘spoils’ to the victor, whatever the cost!
By: Bluebird Mike - 26th February 2005 at 22:31
I too hope that ‘Spitty Ace’ is released, far more in fact than I would the slightly disappointing follow up ‘Bomber Ace’.
By: BlueNoser352 - 26th February 2005 at 20:09
Got my region 1 copy on DVD , from Amazon ..now the series that HAS to come out on DVD is “Spitfire Ace”. Outstanding in evey way…… it just reran here last week in the USA late at night (4:00am est) . Have it on vhs…but its not the same as on DVD.
Would love to have all the raw footage of the flying if nothing else. What has become of Dave Mallon the lucky young man who did so well in this wonderful series? I wrote Channel Four to inquire about this series on DVD, but so far no reply, hope they don’t intend to just allow this to sit on the shelf and collect dust !
By: trumper - 26th February 2005 at 19:23
Trumper, no there aren’t any extras on the DVD – just the 6 episodes.
Rob
🙁 Thats a shame,they must have hours of footage from behind the scenes,they have published a book about the Making of P o Cake so theres probably footage around.Maybe one day,after all it only took 35 years or so fotr the B o B to be released LOL. :rolleyes:
By: Moggy C - 25th February 2005 at 22:59
Yup, I’ve got the double pack.
Moggy
By: Bluebird Mike - 25th February 2005 at 20:45
Yes, not long after it had been on TV, really. I then saw the odd copy in places like Smiths for a year or two, but have not seen them anywhere since.
By: DazDaMan - 25th February 2005 at 20:16
LOL @ Cattermole, alive and well there!
I’ve got it on UK-bought VHS, two separate tapes, 3 episodes on each; think it was out as a doublepack, too.
Where’d you get that from then? Take it this was a while ago?
By: Bluebird Mike - 25th February 2005 at 17:35
LOL @ Cattermole, alive and well there!
I’ve got it on UK-bought VHS, two separate tapes, 3 episodes on each; think it was out as a doublepack, too.
By: Moggy C - 25th February 2005 at 17:33
Moggy, how did you manage to survive the serious chest wounds and the disintegration of the aircraft and end up in Suffolk, did you land up in the sea or on an orphanage?
Luckily the cannon shells bounced off the cigarette case in my pocket. Had to brolly-hop, the aircraft came down on a nearby convent that was sheltering a few hundred refugee-types.
Damn shame.
It was a good old kite.
Moggy
By: Moggy C - 25th February 2005 at 17:31
Perhaps Moggy would know as it was really him wasn’t it.
Certainly not old boy. I had nothing to do with it, Hanna seemed keen so I let him have a go 😉
Moggy
By: trumper - 25th February 2005 at 16:42
My DVD set arrived from Canada yesterday. As has been mentioned the picture quality isn’t stunning, but overall I am very pleased (particularly as it only cost about £17 inc.P&P).
As an unexpected bonus, it appears to be region free. I was expecting to have to convert it or dig out my ancient hackable Wharfdale player, but the packaging and disks have no mention of region restrictions and it pays absolutely fine on my non-multi region main player. Marvellous!
OH why can’t they release here in the UK then,seems a shame.Were there any extras on it ?Thanks 😀
By: Arabella-Cox - 25th February 2005 at 15:56
By the way,where was that bridge?
Winston Bridge, County Durham.
Interesting thread about it on PPRuNe here – http://www.pprune.org/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=117023&highlight=piece+of+cake
By: Arabella-Cox - 25th February 2005 at 15:33
My DVD set arrived from Canada yesterday. As has been mentioned the picture quality isn’t stunning, but overall I am very pleased (particularly as it only cost about £17 inc.P&P).
I did see this when it was originally on TV, but only had a vague memory of it. Watched the first episode last night and was very impressed. Absolutely stunning flying scenes.
As an unexpected bonus, it appears to be region free. I was expecting to have to convert it or dig out my ancient hackable Wharfdale player, but the packaging and disks have no mention of region restrictions and it pays absolutely fine on my non-multi region main player. Marvellous!
By: Pete Truman - 24th January 2005 at 22:55
Moggy, how did you manage to survive the serious chest wounds and the disintegration of the aircraft and end up in Suffolk, did you land up in the sea or on an orphanage?
By: Pete Truman - 24th January 2005 at 22:49
Piece of Cake
Hi All,
I got my copy at Border right here in Portland Maine it cost me $30 US,its been avaible here in the States for close to 10 Years.
We seem to get alot of the UK stuff over here that isn’t avaible in the UK I’m not sure why.
I can tell you this that alot of stuff that end up on Public Broadcasting Systems(PBS) you can find on Dvd and Video. Maybe thats why its only avaible in North America.
Cheers
RER
London Weekend Television got a lot of critisms from ‘vets’ over the production,thought it was an insult to the FEW, plus the use of Spitfires rather than Hurricanes, but the BBMF were’nt going to allow their’s under bridges were they, I think that they dare’nt either show it again or bring it out on video/DVD.My scratchy old TV recorded video of the last episode is considerably better quality than the Canadian DVD.
By the way,where was that bridge?
By: DazDaMan - 24th January 2005 at 22:08
Wonderfull series, it got me hooked into WW2 aviation from that point onwards. Do by any chance those DVDs be region free?
One interesting bit, in the book Hornet Squadron flew Hurricanes but in the series they had Spits. I guess the Spit was more abundant than the Hurry 😉
At the time, I think there were only three or four airworthy Hurricanes in the world.
(Actually, not that sure about the TFC one, either. When was its first post-rebuild flight?)
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March 25, 2004 at 9:13 am