In 1988 I was hired by Dream Quest Images to run the model shop on Jim Cameron's The Abyss. We built many models ranging from small submersible ROVs a few inches long to the wreckage of the USS Montana nuclear missile submarine at over 70 feet long! Probably the coolest of the models were the 1/8th submersibles Cab and Flatbed. As Jim Cameron described it, Flatbed was an "underwater pickup truck" beat to hell by the rough neck deep sea oil rig workers. We built two Flatbed models, one with miniature diver puppets riding on the top for the memorable scenes of them exploring the wreck of the Montana.
Over 30 years later, the hero Flatbed model has come to my shop for repair and restoration. It's a little beat up but overall it is in pretty decent shape given it's age. It's been owned by the same person all these years and kept in a display case.
Here's how it looks now, I'll post more photos as the restoration goes along.
Over 30 years later, the hero Flatbed model has come to my shop for repair and restoration. It's a little beat up but overall it is in pretty decent shape given it's age. It's been owned by the same person all these years and kept in a display case.
Here's how it looks now, I'll post more photos as the restoration goes along.
