SPA Modeler

I came across this page about special effects from the days of yore when models were used in movies in pre CGI days. And in this case, they did a most impressive job. Have a look thru this page with lots of studio shots showing the miniatures and effects crews as they created a film masterpiece (in my opinion), Tora! Tora! Tora!

http://nzpetesmatteshot.blogspot.com/20 ... rtise.html

here is a teaser shot, yes it is a model...

What a find! Thanks, Stik! I had no idea that this many pictures and information of the good old days of movie tricks still have survived!

amazing find. Amazing work and pictures. I think these guys were in many ways far more talented than the CGI specialists of today. This is neat.

LyleW wrote:amazing find. Amazing work and pictures. I think these guys were in many ways far more talented than the CGI specialists of today. This is neat.

Good stuff,one of my favorite war movies.

I'm not really a fan of CGI - I much preferred the days when models where used in movies. CGI always looks fake, where models looked more real becuae they are real - Starwars springs to mind.

Mind you I'm taking about good models here - not awful stuff like Mings 'Battleship' in Flash Gordon that looked like milk bottle covered in gold paper.

(and I'm not anti-CGI either - some of it can be very clever and I think it works best when the whole film is shot in CGI - think 'Sky Captian and the world of tomorrow' - I love that Movie!)

However I'm sure the day will come when CGI is so good we won't be able to tell.

Yes, Sky Captain is a great one! But, the vehicles in the new Star Wars movie look great and realistic, too. Have seen this movie in 3D last Saturday. To us the 3D feature was felt as "yes, we did some 3D in it". But I think the movie itself wouldn´t be less good in 2D only. Avatar in 3D: gorgeous!!! Star Wars: okeeeyy...

Not far from where I lived in NY, in the town of Lake George, a man named Charlie Wood had a few amusement parks. One of the attractions was the Cavalcade of Cars. In there was not only such stars as Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, but also 4 ship models from Tora, Tora, Tora. I remember how cool it was to see the actual models. In some cases, radio controlled aircraft were flown from the carrier decks for filming. Prior to his death, the collection was sold off. I need to find out where those ships went!

Thanks for the memories Stik!

Several of the Tora Tora Tora converted Vultees and T-6s ended up here locally at Talmantz Aviation for work in later movies and TV shows. I often got to see them flying overhead between there base at (then) Orange County airport, and whatever area they were filming over. But I never got to see those ship models.