Dark Knight Bank Robbery Grapple Guns

[TheDisturbance]

I know that the grapple guns were WZ.83 Pallad D - 40mm grenade launchers. Anybody have any idea how they got the grapple hooks to launch? Reason I ask is because most of The Dark Knight used pratical effects when possible. This scene looked like they really launched the grapple hooks. What bugs me is I've seen real world equvalent grapple launchers and they're freaking huge compared to what you see in this movie. If the launchers in Dark Kight was a pratical effect why are the real deals so cumbersome to weld? DVD commentary reveals very little. :lol Any thoughts?

 

[TheDisturbance]

My posting of this question has lead to the identification of another prop this grenade launcher was used for.

It was made into a Fifth Element gun. Read all about it here:

http://www.therpf.com/showthread.php?t=56360

:lol

 

[jaakub]

Hey,
my two cents on this would be this. The one that you have with the military personel holding it, the huge one, it has an attachement on the front for the spool of rope. In the dark knight scene the rope was not under the rifle but off to the side.
Second on this the grappling hook on the military one is a lot bigger then the dark knight one which could add length to the weapon and weight. The Dark knight one basically only had to go across the street and not hook into anything just "show" itself shot across the street. Also the military one could be bigger to be able to launch the grapple straight up to scale a cliff or building for instance. The Dark Knight one is just needed to shoot the spear tip across the street and carry the rope.
Hope this helps.
Jim

 

[defyitall]

They never showed the grapple go any farther than out the window. It jump cut to the grapple alding on the other rooftop. I'm guessing the grapple was launched by like compressed air just to go out the window. Doesn't looks like it had much power in that scene.

 

[Chiok]

I would think alot of the time they use a compressed air line off screen to fire the projectile, seems the simplest and most effective way for a compact prop.

 

[Jodo]

I've always liked the look of that gun, I think it'd make a great Mandalorian rifle/launcher. Its sorta got the Pre-Pro gun look to it.

I hadn't thought about the actual lauching of the projectile untill now, it could be "in theory" something like the rifle grenades. :

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rifle_grenade

 

[Mobjack]

They never showed the grapple go any farther than out the window. It jump cut to the grapple alding on the other rooftop. I'm guessing the grapple was launched by like compressed air just to go out the window. Doesn't looks like it had much power in that scene.

Agreed. When you look at that scene you will see the grapple being launched, but if you look at the trajectory, there is no way it made it to the other buildings roof, which I am guessing is why the scene cuts so quick.

 

[Boomer]

Necro bump much.