The Abyss Submersibles Project

CaptCBoard · 10-29-2011, 03:58 AM

The full-size subs were built around actual pressure spheres that were really expensive. Owned by a company in Canada called Can-Dive, if I recall correctly. So, those definitely had to go back. I don't know what happened to the remains.

Scott

DaveG · 10-29-2011, 04:02 PM

Yes, Flatbed was built around the Can-Dive Deep Rover submersible. The Cabs were built around another type of submersible from Canada. There was also a full size dummy Cab Three for crashing around the Moon Pool set. When the movie was finished the submersibles were stripped back to their original configurations and returned to their owners.

There were two 1/8 scale Flatbed models and two Cab models originally built for the movie. The Cab model that I am restoring was cobbled together out of spare castings for use in a couple of shots. One of the Flatbed models was destroyed, intentionally and on film, for Lt. Coffey's demise when it imploded. The other Flatbed is in the hands of a private collector. I think Cab One was given to Jim Cameron and the hero Cab Three was wrecked for some post Deepcore crash shots.

We also built a 1/14 scale model of Flatbed, I have no idea what happened to it, and another model shop built radio controlled wet for wet 1/4 scale Flatbed and Cab models for the chase sequence.

DaveG · 10-29-2011, 04:42 PM

Here are a couple more work in progress renderings of the computer model of Cab. The hull is based on direct measurements and will be refined after I get the model scanned. There are some details, such as the underwater lights and mounting straps for the oxygen tank that are based on the full size submersibles rather than the models.

timeslip · 10-29-2011, 05:05 PM

Ok, got the Flatbed plans scanned. RPF wont let me upload them. They are 4mg. each. There are 3 files. If anyone wants it just email me and I'll send them along!

Or if anyone knows where I can upload them let me know.
George

timeslipcreations@sbcglobal.net

SVTStingRay · 10-29-2011, 07:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by timeslip

Ok, got the Flatbed plans scanned. RPF wont let me upload them. They are 4mg. each. There are 3 files. If anyone wants it just email me and I'll send them along!

Or if anyone knows where I can upload them let me know.
George

timeslipcreations@sbcglobal.net

hey man thanks a bunch, they look great!

nick daring · 10-29-2011, 11:17 PM

Upload them to a site like this- MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service

Nick

SVTStingRay · 10-31-2011, 06:10 AM

Hope someone else has copies of the cab one plans. Would be nice to print them together as one last poster.

8 perf · 10-31-2011, 08:55 PM

Timeslip - got the plans yesterday. Thanks a lot. They are fantastic. If i get time over the holidays, I may redraw them in Sketchup for easier use in scale modeling. Thanks again.

DaveG · 11-03-2011, 08:49 PM

I got a slide scanner and have started digitizing the (hundreds) of photos I shot while working on The Abyss. In no particular order, I'll post some of the more interesting.

Here's one of the Flatbed models under construction. In the box are castings of the rails that went on the bottom of the sub.

Here Cab One is being set up to approach the wreck of the Montana. On the left is the motion control camera. The gentleman with the red hair is Mike Bigelow, one of the Effects Cameramen.

The 1/8 scale Flatbed and Cab Three models being worked on in the shop. On the table in the background is a rare glimpse of the 1/14 scale Flatbed model. Only used in one shot in the movie.

There were eight, 1/8 scale diver puppets made to ride on Flatbed "Like itinerant farm workers riding in the back of a pickup truck." (JC). Here the helmets are being assembles with working lights and other detail parts.

More to come...

SVTStingRay · 11-03-2011, 11:22 PM

that whole sequence of the montana dive is incredible.

the 1/14 flatbed was used in only which shot?

Junk Pilot · 11-04-2011, 01:11 AM

This is a great behind the scenes thread, DaveG. It's making me want to watch the movie again.

vistaVision · 11-04-2011, 06:58 PM

A long time ago, in an industrial park far, far away...

DaveG · 11-05-2011, 02:10 PM

Here's the 1/8 scale wreck of the Montana.

The sub was 6 feet in diameter and 70 feet long. The rock wall was 18 feet high.

All that's left of the U.S.S. Montana, bound for her final resting place in a Ventura county landfill!

SVTStingRay · 11-05-2011, 03:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daveg

all that's left of the u.s.s. Montana, bound for her final resting place in a ventura county landfill!

nnnnnnnnnooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

T2SF · 11-06-2011, 12:54 AM

Dang

but amazing pictures!

SVTStingRay · 11-18-2011, 06:38 PM

TTT for more glorious shots

Jelcoprops · 11-19-2011, 01:27 AM

When I catch my breath I'll actually think of something intelligent to add!

Leon Kowalski · 12-16-2011, 06:07 PM

watching it on Encore right now. One of my favorite FX movies

THANKS for the thread! do you have any updates?

DaveG · 12-16-2011, 08:33 PM

At this point the Cab restoration and replication project is waiting until I can get the hull scanned. This will happen, probably in January sometime.

SVTStingRay · 03-04-2012, 10:49 PM

any new updates?

any copies of the cab 1/3 design similar to the flatbed designs that were uploaded?

DaveG · 03-05-2012, 12:13 AM

No, nothing new. Haven't had the chance to get the hull scanned yet.

stromo · 03-05-2012, 02:17 AM

Wow, what a FANTASTIC thread. Thanks for sharing, DaveG.

mikenelson1982 · 03-28-2012, 09:50 AM

wow looking good : )

nick daring · 03-28-2012, 02:57 PM

It's real now...

Junk Pilot · 03-28-2012, 04:04 PM

And it's Australian made too.

		Replica Props	Screen Used Props	Replica Costumes	Sculpture and Makeup	General Modeling	Studio Scale Models	Movie Discussion
	Collaborate, create, and collect at the internet's largest community dedicated to props, costumes and models.

10-29-2011, 03:58 AM	#26
CaptCBoard Join Date: Dec 2001 Posts: 448	Re: The Abyss Submersibles Project The full-size subs were built around actual pressure spheres that were really expensive. Owned by a company in Canada called Can-Dive, if I recall correctly. So, those definitely had to go back. I don't know what happened to the remains. Scott

10-29-2011, 04:02 PM	#27
DaveG Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southern California Posts: 258	Re: The Abyss Submersibles Project Yes, Flatbed was built around the Can-Dive Deep Rover submersible. The Cabs were built around another type of submersible from Canada. There was also a full size dummy Cab Three for crashing around the Moon Pool set. When the movie was finished the submersibles were stripped back to their original configurations and returned to their owners. There were two 1/8 scale Flatbed models and two Cab models originally built for the movie. The Cab model that I am restoring was cobbled together out of spare castings for use in a couple of shots. One of the Flatbed models was destroyed, intentionally and on film, for Lt. Coffey's demise when it imploded. The other Flatbed is in the hands of a private collector. I think Cab One was given to Jim Cameron and the hero Cab Three was wrecked for some post Deepcore crash shots. We also built a 1/14 scale model of Flatbed, I have no idea what happened to it, and another model shop built radio controlled wet for wet 1/4 scale Flatbed and Cab models for the chase sequence.

10-29-2011, 04:42 PM	#28
DaveG Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southern California Posts: 258	Re: The Abyss Submersibles Project Here are a couple more work in progress renderings of the computer model of Cab. The hull is based on direct measurements and will be refined after I get the model scanned. There are some details, such as the underwater lights and mounting straps for the oxygen tank that are based on the full size submersibles rather than the models.

10-29-2011, 05:05 PM	#29
timeslip Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Mega City Chicago Posts: 200	Re: The Abyss Submersibles Project Ok, got the Flatbed plans scanned. RPF wont let me upload them. They are 4mg. each. There are 3 files. If anyone wants it just email me and I'll send them along! Or if anyone knows where I can upload them let me know. George timeslipcreations@sbcglobal.net

( Don't want to see advertising between posts? Register for free and become a member of our community! )
RPF Sponsors

10-29-2011, 11:17 PM	#31
nick daring Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Austin TX Posts: 2,232	Re: The Abyss Submersibles Project Upload them to a site like this- MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service Nick

10-31-2011, 06:10 AM	#32
SVTStingRay Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 589	Re: The Abyss Submersibles Project Hope someone else has copies of the cab one plans. Would be nice to print them together as one last poster.

10-31-2011, 08:55 PM	#33
8 perf Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Wilmington, NC Posts: 862	Re: The Abyss Submersibles Project Timeslip - got the plans yesterday. Thanks a lot. They are fantastic. If i get time over the holidays, I may redraw them in Sketchup for easier use in scale modeling. Thanks again.

11-03-2011, 08:49 PM	#34
DaveG Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southern California Posts: 258	Re: The Abyss Submersibles Project I got a slide scanner and have started digitizing the (hundreds) of photos I shot while working on The Abyss. In no particular order, I'll post some of the more interesting. Here's one of the Flatbed models under construction. In the box are castings of the rails that went on the bottom of the sub. Here Cab One is being set up to approach the wreck of the Montana. On the left is the motion control camera. The gentleman with the red hair is Mike Bigelow, one of the Effects Cameramen. The 1/8 scale Flatbed and Cab Three models being worked on in the shop. On the table in the background is a rare glimpse of the 1/14 scale Flatbed model. Only used in one shot in the movie. There were eight, 1/8 scale diver puppets made to ride on Flatbed "Like itinerant farm workers riding in the back of a pickup truck." (JC). Here the helmets are being assembles with working lights and other detail parts. More to come...

11-03-2011, 11:22 PM	#35
SVTStingRay Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 589	Re: The Abyss Submersibles Project that whole sequence of the montana dive is incredible. the 1/14 flatbed was used in only which shot?

11-04-2011, 01:11 AM	#36
Junk Pilot Formerly Reckless Pilot Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 390	Re: The Abyss Submersibles Project This is a great behind the scenes thread, DaveG. It's making me want to watch the movie again.

11-04-2011, 06:58 PM	#37
vistaVision Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 243	Re: The Abyss Submersibles Project A long time ago, in an industrial park far, far away... Attached Thumbnails

11-05-2011, 02:10 PM	#38
DaveG Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southern California Posts: 258	Re: The Abyss Submersibles Project Here's the 1/8 scale wreck of the Montana. The sub was 6 feet in diameter and 70 feet long. The rock wall was 18 feet high. All that's left of the U.S.S. Montana, bound for her final resting place in a Ventura county landfill!

11-06-2011, 12:54 AM	#40
T2SF Banned Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: San Francisco, SF, bay area, California Posts: 493	Re: The Abyss Submersibles Project Dang but amazing pictures!

11-18-2011, 06:38 PM	#41
SVTStingRay Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 589	Re: The Abyss Submersibles Project TTT for more glorious shots

11-19-2011, 01:27 AM	#42
Jelcoprops Join Date: Mar 2011 Posts: 2	Re: The Abyss Submersibles Project When I catch my breath I'll actually think of something intelligent to add!

12-16-2011, 06:07 PM	#43
Leon Kowalski Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Arkansas Posts: 44	Re: The Abyss Submersibles Project watching it on Encore right now. One of my favorite FX movies THANKS for the thread! do you have any updates?

12-16-2011, 08:33 PM	#44
DaveG Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southern California Posts: 258	Re: The Abyss Submersibles Project At this point the Cab restoration and replication project is waiting until I can get the hull scanned. This will happen, probably in January sometime.

03-04-2012, 10:49 PM	#45
SVTStingRay Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Miami, FL Posts: 589	Re: The Abyss Submersibles Project any new updates? any copies of the cab 1/3 design similar to the flatbed designs that were uploaded?

03-05-2012, 12:13 AM	#46
DaveG Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Southern California Posts: 258	Re: The Abyss Submersibles Project No, nothing new. Haven't had the chance to get the hull scanned yet.

03-05-2012, 02:17 AM	#47
stromo Join Date: Oct 2010 Posts: 181	Re: The Abyss Submersibles Project Wow, what a FANTASTIC thread. Thanks for sharing, DaveG.

03-28-2012, 09:50 AM	#48
mikenelson1982 Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 28	Re: The Abyss Submersibles Project wow looking good : )

03-28-2012, 02:57 PM	#49
nick daring Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Austin TX Posts: 2,232	Re: The Abyss Submersibles Project It's real now...

03-28-2012, 04:04 PM	#50
Junk Pilot Formerly Reckless Pilot Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Sydney Australia Posts: 390	Re: The Abyss Submersibles Project And it's Australian made too.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
'The Abyss' Lt. Coffey's knife	TheMechanic	Replica Movie Props	22	02-05-2012 11:10 PM
The Abyss models	boatbuilder1	Studio Scale Models	43	10-19-2011 11:58 PM
The Abyss Cab One	SVTStingRay	Studio Scale Models	14	10-19-2011 11:57 PM