Movies with Models

[Aeronaut]

Some show that their original markings were paper stickers that clearly protrude through the repaint. Maybe some of them are Miniplanes? I am not an expert on these!

[MichaelB]

MiniPlanes would be way too small, except for their WWI planes. They also didn't have an Me-410 in the line. The Showcase Miniature WWI airplanes would do, but they wouldn't be on sale when this video was made (Early 21st century?)
You have to think...I'm making of video with airplanes...I don't know a damn thing about airplanes...I wonder what I can find? ...in 2000 or so...
The Boley WWI planes come to mind. But again, a bit on the large size and very heavy - tough to stick them onto a set... Easier to send the properties crew home and build a bunch of cheap plastic models real quick.

[dasimperator]

MiniPlanes would be way too small, except for their WWI planes. They also didn't have an Me-410 in the line. The Showcase Miniature WWI airplanes would do, but they wouldn't be on sale when this video was made (Early 21st century?)
You have to think...I'm making of video with airplanes...I don't know a damn thing about airplanes...I wonder what I can find? ...in 2000 or so...
The Boley WWI planes come to mind. But again, a bit on the large size and very heavy - tough to stick them onto a set... Easier to send the properties crew home and build a bunch of cheap plastic models real quick.

'Isobel' came out in 1995 if that helps narrow down model possibilities. The video itself was shot near the Welsh town of Dogellau - perhaps with a crew that came up from Bjork's 'home base' of London.

[MichaelB]

That really wouldn't change the available models status...still Revell, Airfix, Heller, ESCI, Italeri, et al kits in the stores, both 1/72 and 1/144. Since they only cost about $3 or so apiece, I can't help but think that's where they would go.

[Aeronaut]

The Me-410 is definitely as you have identified it Michael. Now the rest could have an origin sort of like this: "I have a bunch of models at home from the time I was a kid, let's use them on the video!" Otherwise why have a Corsair minus the canopy and with broken prop blades?

[Tone]

The Jimmy Stewart and Marlene Dietrich movie No Highway In The Sky has a scene with a model of the fictional Reindeer plane that is the subject of that movie. In Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977) the little boy Barry Guiler has many battery toys in his room including a Toys Nomura (TN) American Airlines DC-10 with opening cabin door. In Airplane with Robert Hays and Julie Haggerty, the captain gives a battery toy 727 to a boy visiting the flight deck. It has triangular lights on the wings and is mostly plastic. Maker unknown but probably Hong Kong as the movie was made in 1979 for 1980 release. It is also finished in a "Trans American Airlines" livery. In one of two 80s movies Empire of the Sun or Hope and Glory the boy who is the star has a die cast toy plane - Spitfire or Hurricane.

[MichaelB]

I thought the video was quite cute using the toy airplanes as butterflies...

[soslipstream]

I was doing some late-night work here in the midwest and caught an episode of the 12 O'Clock High TV series. Actually a decent story line about a successful-failed bombardier. This was one of early shows that featured Robert Lansing as the tough General Frank Savage. In one shot, there was a 1/72 B-17F that was standing on a credenza behind Savage as he sat at his desk. Though not a long take, the airplane was not a Revell plastic model but most likely a period Cruver ID model. The nose had silver paint as did the windshield. It appeared to be in olive drab with gray undersides and had guns as well.

I might add that the producers showed some excellent pass-through shots of the fuselage from the nose, through under the pilots' deck, up through the top turret and into the bomb-bay. The actors wore A-2's and helmets so moving through was relatively easy. How guys in full high altitude gear made that route while under combat conditions is astonishing!

Regards, Tom

[Epap]

One of the old movies I make a point of watching whenever it's on TV is "Wing and a Prayer", starring Don Ameche and Dana Andrews. This 1944 epic is about naval air crews on a carrier in the Pacific. Whenever the pilots get their orders or are dressed down in the briefing room---maybe it's called the ready room---my attention is focused on the Cruver ID models hanging from the ceiling. They are much more interesting than the feeble story line of this low budget propaganda flick.

[voodoo1200]

I didn't see it anywhere but I hope everyone has seen "Strategic Air Command" with Jimmy Stewart......soooooooo many factory models in the background in so many scenes in this movie, it's great.