I can’t believe that I missed this, more than three years ago! When filming their Last Chance to See natural history TV programme, Stephen Fry and Mark Carwardine interviewed Peter Jackson in New Zealand. And there, right in the hangar, was one of the full size model Lancasters built for the Dambusters remake.
A very perceptive recent visitor to this blog has sent me these screen shots, taken from the programme which was first broadcast in 2009:
From these pictures, the level of detailing on the model seems extraordinary.
In recent interviews, Jackson has said that ten models have been built. It is noticeable, however, that only one seems to have been on show here.
By the way, this edition of Last Chance to See became notorious for a film clip showing the very rare kakapo flightless parrot attempting to mate with Mark Carwardine’s head. Far be it from me to suggest that you amuse yourselves by watching it again on Youtube.
Dambusters Blog 
I am so pleased that the re-make of The Dambusters (1955) looks like it may get started, Peter Jackson has a huge hit with Hobbit and has the time and the resources to complete his Dambusters project. I trust he will retain the iconic Eric Coates’ Dambusters March.
My mother would tell tales of her watching the mysterious ‘bouncing bomb’ trials while walking me in my perambulator in Birchington on Sea.
Been dropping in on this blog for a few years, to be honest I did doubt that the film would ever get off the ground (pardon the pun). But the lancs look excellent and there’s no chance u would have ten of them sitting without plans to use them!
With Spielberg and hanks planning a film on the US 8th Air Force, that should spur things on a bit. I recall with private Ryan there were several war films released around the same time, generating a kind of buzz.
Thanks for keeping this going. I would imagine there are lots of ppl very exited about the movie.
Andy Watson
Newcastle Upon Tyne
The mock up/ replica Wellington is under the nose.
at least OUR Lancaster is real – a short film commissioned by East Lindsey District Council, Directed by Phil Stevens
http://tinyurl.com/lancasterday1
http://tinyurl.com/lancasterday2
http://tinyurl.com/lancasterday3
http://tinyurl.com/lancasterday4
Are you sure that’s not Lancaster B VII NX665, which is preserved at the Museum of Transport and Technology (aka MOTAT) in Auckland?
Indeed it is.
It is not the MOTAT Lancaster. Note the visible “Upkeep” modifications, which are not a feature of NX665. NX665 also has the broader chord propellor blades which are not evident here, a slightly different paint finish, plus the building and surrounds do not match MOTAT either.
When they have finished with the full scale models, how about sending one to the RAF Scampton Heritage centre. Where better to house?
Am glad that the dambusters film is to be made, and I do hope that the characters are shown to be very young – I thought a shortcoming of the film made in the 50’s is that the actors seemed much older than the men who flew on that raid. It will be so much better if we see the very youth of those aircrew in the new film
You have to wonder if and when this film will ever be made, and why Jackson is so secretive
over it ?
Apparently he wont even talk to anyone about it. Very strange….