Dune VFX trivia

[cylon]

I was reading an interesting story about filming the miniature spaceships in Mexico for the movie Dune. To keep flies and mosquitos away and to avoid the insects landing or flying around the models, they sprew insecticides on the set and directly on the miniatures. Considering the heat and the long filming hours I guess if the models got any damage from this kind of treatment. I wouldn't be surprised if they still have a 30 years old Raid spray covering under the dust sheets. Perhaps some owner of original model props from Dune can confirm that.

 

[epoxinator]

There are certain elements of Dune that I think are wonderful: the interior sets, some of the costume and makeup. But I thought their spaceship models looked like crap, and I thought the way the models were shot made them look even crappier. Nothing looks enormous: nothing has any real sense of scale.

 

[cylon]

well there'a shot in space when some crafts approach the huge tube ships that have indeed sense of scale. it is similar of the falcon approaching the death star. other shots are not very effective. however it is interesting to note, and dune is a curious example, that those models and props are often badly handled due to particular set conditions and production needs. no matter what they cost. they only need for a purpose. it sometimes pains to see how they are used and how the end. some are destroyed and some are left in some dumpster, rotting away. in some more fortunate cases they are recovered and sold for thousand of dollars even if in the poorest conditions. it's crazy world of film making and prop collecting. there are many interesting stories out there.