I'm gonna need a bigger boat,ORCA

[batguy]

I had that problem with the spinner , it just became too heavy to hang for shooting, version 2 (spoiler there is going to be a version 2) the plan is to vac form all the panels and attach them to a laser cut acrylic frame, I couldn’t get the take off shots I wanted. But that’s for another day.
The great thing about the ORCA is using real timber, it give you so much detail for free without distorting the scale.

Yeah, wood is like rock. The texture scales well.

But with wood, you have to make sure the grain runs the same direction as the real thing. That's a complication.


Glossy surfaces are a PITA. They have to be way smoother than the real thing on a miniature.

That always frustrated me with little plastic car models as a kid. It's impossible to nail the glossy paint surface and the body panel fit. The scale is too small.

 

[Jamesfett]

I think 1:16th scale is a bad choice. I would rather have it a bit smaller & cheaper (for a display model).

1:18th is still perhaps too big. But at least that is a common size for other car/truck collectibles.

Bigger is always better.

I am looking at a nice 35" on Ebay, but I would prefer a NECA scale or 1/6th.

 

[batguy]

Bigger is always better.

I am looking at a nice 35" on Ebay, but I would prefer a NECA scale or 1/6th.

Bigger is better if you have the shelf space and money. But this is a commercial product. How many people would spend a couple thousand dollars on a model the size of a coffee table? 12 buyers won't cut it. They need hundreds.

 

[Jamesfett]

Bigger is better if you have the shelf space and money. But this is a commercial product. How many people would spend a couple thousand dollars on a model the size of a coffee table? 12 buyers won't cut it. They need hundreds.

If you build it,.........they will make space.

 

[joberg]

I had that problem with the spinner , it just became too heavy to hang for shooting, version 2 (spoiler there is going to be a version 2) the plan is to vac form all the panels and attach them to a laser cut acrylic frame, I couldn’t get the take off shots I wanted. But that’s for another day.
The great thing about the ORCA is using real timber, it give you so much detail for free without distorting the scale.

How heavy is that Spinner flimzy? It's true that, if heavy, the model would be built and designed to have holes/anchors to attach cables and such.

 

[flimzy]

How heavy is that Spinner flimzy? It's true that, if heavy, the model would be built and designed to have holes/anchors to attach cables and such.

I haven't got an exact weight and there are cable attachments but you know when you get that feeling its not going to hold. it looks better as a display peace until I make version 2.

 

[ID10T]

That reminds me of our safety policy:

"Nobody moves; nobody gets hurt."

 

[batguy]

This isn't about the Orca, but it's a similar scaled miniature car in action. About 1/5th scale.

It's interesting because it shows two versions of the same thing - the first time it has slow-motion and sound effects added. Then at about 2;38 it switches to raw footage with real speed & sound. Big difference.

The video also shows the physics & weight issue. Most consumer RC cars don't look this realistic (at any video speed). But this car has a homemade wooden body, which added a lot more weight. The builder had to put stiffer coil springs and tires on the chassis to cope with it.

 

[flimzy]

 

[Lt Washburn]

Nice video. Reminds me; that guy who was building the full-size Orca replica, that disappeared for awhile, just showed up again. I haven't watched the video yet to see if he intends to start working on it again. Lots of Orca stuff happening at the moment.

 

[batguy]

I'm surprised there aren't any full-size Orca replicas already. I guess it's the sheer size/cost of the project.

But there are many Ghostbusters Ecto-1 replicas, for example. That's a pretty big undertaking. Those things don't fit in a normal car garage. They are too heavy for normal jacking/lifting equipment. Etc.


You'd think Universal Studios would have put together a cheapie replacement Orca for the backlot pond after the real Orca was scrapped. Maybe they just didn't wanna spend the money on it in the mid-1990s.

I'm also a little surprised that Speilberg didn't make some phone calls and get the boat preserved back in the day. He was all upset when they scrapped it, but it was already long gone by then. The front hull was visibly sagging down like 10 years earlier.


If I was in charge of replacing the Los Angeles backlot Orca now, I would look into doing a pure mockup. Don't even bother buying another 40-foot boat and transporting it into the city. See what it would cost to do a fake shell out of plywood and 2x4s.

 

[flimzy]

There’s going to be a full size replica at the 50th on Martha's Vineyard, haven’t seen it yet .theres a teaser on YouTube.

 

[flimzy]

 

[shaunsheep]

did find this on my travels, thought slightly off topic

 

[ID10T]

flimzy you need to get yourself and your model(s) invited to the 50th.

 

[flimzy]

did find this on my travels, thought slightly off topic

Thankyou I did have that in the handbook I bought, there’s a member on here in England that owns one I sent him a drawing of mine for comparison I was close enough. I should post his photos on that thread.

 

[flimzy]

flimzy you need to get yourself and your model(s) invited to the 50th.

I got invited a wile back but it would have clashed with the film I was on, and it’s definitely going to clash with the new one. I went to Martha’s Vineyard way back in 1997 on my own would love to go again one day.

 

[flimzy]

The new Quint arrived today and NECA have gone and got there heights right this time, Hooper is really small. I think if I ever did get around to making plans I’d do it at this new scale.

I am dopeing canvas on the roofs this time as the scale calls for it.

 

[shaunsheep]

looking as sharp as ever

 

[Jamesfett]

The new Quint arrived today and NECA have gone and got there heights right this time Hooper is really small. I think if I ever did get around to making plan I’d do it at this new scale.View attachment 1933519
I am dopeing canvas on the roofs this time as the scale call for it.View attachment 1933520

I wish I could work out your speed. You posted this in parts on April 24th. In just over three weeks you have gotten this far.

Even if I was ever able to convince you to offer a kit it would take me at least six months to get this far, and it would likely not come out nearly as good.