Life Aquatic Boat ????

[DrMcoy]

I am trying to find a plastic model kit of a boat that looks close to the BELAFONTE ship used by TEAM ZISSOU in LIFE AQUATIC. I believe it was a WW2 Mine Sweeper type ship but I know next to nothing about ships or military vessels.

Here is a pic/illustration of the ship -- if anyone can steer me in the right direction, that would be great.

Here is a real boat that looks close, just don't kno if they make models of such ships:

 

[Mercury]

Many, many years ago there was a plastic retail model of Jacques Cousteau's Calypso which the Belafonte was based on. I had it when I was a kid. Probably impossible to find tho. Anyway the ship is a converted WWII British Minesweeper.



Edit: This isn't the model I'm talking about, but here is one that is very costly.

 

[Tony]

Many, many years ago there was a plastic retail model of Jacques Cousteau's Calypso which the Belafonte was based on. I had it when I was a kid. Probably impossible to find tho. Anyway the ship is a converted WWII British Minesweeper.



Edit: This isn't the model I'm talking about, but here is one that is very costly.

Revell made the smaller 'Calypso' and you might want to try eBay because that the only place you're gonna find it.

The larger Billing Boats version of the Calypso is a multimedia kit (wood ,metal and vac-form plastic) and is quite nice.

 

[TheRealMcFly]

Anyone have the critereon dvd? I know in the bonus features they say exactly what kind of minesweeper... and how the paint was still wet when they started shooting. Curses! I have forgotten.

 

[CTF]

I have it.

Let me know which featurette it is mentioned in... so much to go through!

 

[CTF]

Actually, I think it is mentioned during the commentary, which I will have a listen to in the next day or so.

 

[TheRealMcFly]

I'll have to look around for my copy tonight.

I am almost positive it was the director commentary, unless there is a boat featurette or something. I don't think I even watched the entire second disc.:lol

 

[b26354]

Apologies for the necropost - but I just noticed that Revell Germany re-released the 1/125 Calypso kit

Revell - 1:125 Exploration Vessel - Buy it at Mighty Ape NZ

 

[nick daring]

Cool! I've always wanted one!

It's funny that can't call it what it really is though.

Nick

 

[terryr]

Must be a problem with the rights to the name. It used to be mentioned.

After the war the ship remained in the Mediterranean and was converted into a ferry, until she was taken over by an oceanographer in 1950. This oceanographer fundamentally redesigned the vessel and installed specific exploration equipment aboard for research purposes.

Or they want it to be both Calypso and Belafonte.

 

[nick daring]

And the Cousteau version-

 

[DrMcoy]

sweet.

check this thread for pics of my belefonte conversion:

http://www.therpf.com/f9/any-life-aquatic-props-out-there-8671/index2.html

 

[blipper]

DrMcoy, that's a fantastic job (and display) you've done. Did you need to rework the n-scale figures much? They really add a lot.
Now I'm torn between a Life Aquatic version and Cousteau version. As if I didn't have enough distractions.

 

[DrMcoy]

thanks for kind words -- it turned out okay for the time i invested -- i have since added BELEFONTE decal to bow of ship.

as for figures, i believe all i did was PAINT them blue with red hats. they were so small that they did not need caps sculpted on, just painted tops of heads red, i think.

got figs at HOBBY LOBBY, but they no longer carry them -- they cleared out a lot of cool model stuff they used to have.

but i imagine you can find them elsewhere. good luck!

t