The Abyss Submersibles Project
- Thread starter DaveG
- Start date
CaptCBoard
Well-Known Member
Yep. I worked on the Abyss. I built the manipulator arm for Flatbed!
I was working for Don Pennington. Actually, it was my first time working for him. His company built the full-size submersibles.
Scott
I was working for Don Pennington. Actually, it was my first time working for him. His company built the full-size submersibles.
Scott
Ha! This is great! When I was at USC Film School, we tried to get a tour of DQ, but someone blabbed about it and it got shot down by Gale Ann Hurd.
We had a special effects club at the school called SCFX (which is still going) and we tried doing some dry for wet in "The Abyss" style. I made the model and we smoked up one of the classrooms (setting off a smoke alarm in the process. Or maybe we disabled it and that's what set it off...... fuzzy on the details....). I built the model and we used brown paper for the rocks -
I still have the model in a box in my garage.........
And here's the kicker David - I worked with you and Josh on "Flight of the Phoenix" over at R&H a few years ago. Full circle. Weird.
Gene
We had a special effects club at the school called SCFX (which is still going) and we tried doing some dry for wet in "The Abyss" style. I made the model and we smoked up one of the classrooms (setting off a smoke alarm in the process. Or maybe we disabled it and that's what set it off...... fuzzy on the details....). I built the model and we used brown paper for the rocks -
I still have the model in a box in my garage.........
And here's the kicker David - I worked with you and Josh on "Flight of the Phoenix" over at R&H a few years ago. Full circle. Weird.
Gene
SVTStingRay
Sr Member
wow those pics look great!
i wonder, where are the full size flatbed and cab one? where they destroyed after filming or are they still around? or even the minatures?
http://www.eonentertainment.com/
found it on IMDB, says its a 2-disk dvd versuin of the making of the aliens in the abyss. has anyone seen this?
i wonder, where are the full size flatbed and cab one? where they destroyed after filming or are they still around? or even the minatures?
http://www.eonentertainment.com/
found it on IMDB, says its a 2-disk dvd versuin of the making of the aliens in the abyss. has anyone seen this?
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TheNeverman
New Member
Weren't the full-size flatbed and cab one real subs (in use by Woods Hole Research) with fake bits and pieces on them?
CaptCBoard
Well-Known Member
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
Scott
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 three Cab models originally built for the movie. 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.
An update - Jim Cameron has the 1/14 scale Flatbed but it was badly damaged when it took a dive off a shelf. It's being restored now.
There were two 1/8 scale Flatbed models and three Cab models originally built for the movie. 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.
An update - Jim Cameron has the 1/14 scale Flatbed but it was badly damaged when it took a dive off a shelf. It's being restored now.
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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
Well-Known Member
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! :love Or if anyone knows where I can upload them let me know.
George
timeslipcreations@sbcglobal.net
George
timeslipcreations@sbcglobal.net
SVTStingRay
Sr Member
hey man thanks a bunch, they look great!
Upload them to a site like this- MEGAUPLOAD - The leading online storage and file delivery service
Nick
Nick
SVTStingRay
Sr Member
Hope someone else has copies of the cab one plans. Would be nice to print them together as one last poster.
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...
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
Sr Member
that whole sequence of the montana dive is incredible.
the 1/14 flatbed was used in only which shot?
the 1/14 flatbed was used in only which shot?
Junk Pilot
Sr Member
This is a great behind the scenes thread, DaveG. It's making me want to watch the movie again.
vistaVision
Sr Member
A long time ago, in an industrial park far, far away...
SVTStingRay
Sr Member
all that's left of the u.s.s. Montana, bound for her final resting place in a ventura county landfill!
nnnnnnnnnooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
but amazing pictures!Similar threads
