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The Bridge on the River Kwai

Started by Peter Hausamann · 186 ≡ · ↻ 5 years ago

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Peter Hausamann said 5 years, 7 months ago:

For practical reasons, and to add more to the diorama, a smaller scale will need to be considered.

I will need to add a railway line. So the scale will then be forced to fit a known model ralwat guage. N gauge seems most likely, a scale of 1:148. This scale would halve the original plan dimensions. Already have 1:144 scale figurines to suit. Talking about suits, The POWs only had a loincloth, made from their uniforms. I can see myself spending hours with an X-acto Knife, trimming the suits and body fat off these tiny figurines.
Peter Hausamann said 5 years, 7 months ago:

I spoke to Owen Newell, the president of Casino Military Museum. He was quite happy to accept the movie version model. The museum lacks anything physical, let alone models, of WW2 other than photographs. He said they collected from locals items of WW1 but cannot get their hands on WW2 items for some reason.

So, he is not fussed if the model is not of actual historic significance. We arranged to speak again, about this, next year.
Peter Hausamann said 5 years, 7 months ago:

HELP NEEDED
Dear friends and fellow modelers.
Does anybody have any N gauge track they no longer want? I don't care how tattered it is. It's not for running a train on. If so, send me a message.
I need at least 1200 mm (48") of straight, and 600 mm (24") of flexible track.

Thanks for considering this request.

UPDATE: (28/09/2018) No longer need rail tracks. Will make my own. Scale is different to guage. measurements.
Tom Cleaver said 5 years, 7 months ago:

I agree, the moment of the discovery of the wires is important, as Guiness falls over the exploder.
david leigh-smith said 5 years, 7 months ago:

Peter, that is attention to detail above and beyond the duty of regular mortals such as I. You are such a boon to this group, bringing artistry and gravitas galore. And an iconic subject to boot. Ooooooooh, submarines...(I really need to do something about my attention span).
david leigh-smith said 5 years, 7 months ago:

Adding to your accolades is a ‘servant to public service’. This is great news and I’m just delighted that this project will find a wider audience and hopefully enthrall and educate people for years to come.
Jeff Bailey said 5 years, 7 months ago:

Peter, my friend from Down-Under; your skills are amazing and your sense of history is superb. Anyone who sees this replica of the movie bridge should be reminded of the pain and suffering suffered by the POWs, but the young visitors may miss it. Then it becomes the parent's job to "set them straight" so to speak. A few might ...

Personally, I like your idea about a "what if" humourous diorama but that doesn't belong in a museum that way.

Quite a project, mate!
Peter Hausamann said 5 years, 7 months ago:

Thanks David @dirtylittlefokker for your on going eloquence to encouragement. If I was a client, I would always have an issue just to hear your uplifting responses 🙂

The museum has a donation clause, similar to our maritime museum, which keeps the donated item in a museum. So, if the military museum closes, all donated items go to other museums.
david leigh-smith said 5 years, 7 months ago:

Even better, Peter. A wonderful endowment.
Peter Hausamann said 5 years, 7 months ago:

Jeff @mikegolf, you said "...Personally, I like your idea about a “what if” humourous diorama but that doesn’t belong in a museum that way..." However, I have an excuse to add the humor, though somewhat twisted. That is, the actual POWs continued to sabotage the construction wherever possible. It is in those acts which lends itself to some humour. It will be quite strange to do, because it's a quirky sort of humour amongst a setting of grief and torture.

Anyway, I am sure iModeler fellows will provide feedback as to what is proper in such circumstances.
Jeff Bailey said 5 years, 7 months ago:

I think that kind of humour would be perfectly acceptable, Peter @tecko.

Whatever you decide to do will be in good taste I'm sure and will be done VERY well with much care and great talent!
Greg Kittinger said 5 years, 7 months ago:

One of my favorite movies, and what an icon (the bridge) of the British experience in the jungles of the CBI theater in WWII. My only memory of one of my favorite TV series from the 80's (Magnum PI) was the replica of the bridge built out of matchsticks by Magnum's nemisis/sidekick, Higgins. I'm looking forward to where you take this!
2 attached images. Click to enlarge.
Peter Hausamann said 5 years, 7 months ago:

Discovered that the movie bridge is also known as Kitulgala Bridge. Named after a town in Ceylon. Kelani River, near Kitulgala, was used for the movie bridge.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kitulgala
Extract:
'The Academy Award-winning The Bridge on the River Kwai was filmed on the Kelani River near Kitulgala, although nothing remains now except the concrete foundations for the bridge (and, supposedly, the submerged train cars that plunged into the river in the climactic scene)'.

Guess what, Sri Lanka is rebuilding the Bridge On The River Kwai.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2738001/Sri-Lanka-rebuild-iconic-Bridge-On-The-River-Kwai-starred-Oscar-winning-time-won-t-blown-up.html
Peter Hausamann said 5 years, 7 months ago:

Greg @gkittinger, thanks for sharing that model of the bridge. I found two manufacturers. However, I prefer to scratchbuild this model.

When I discovered the above box cover image, I was pleased to be confirmed about its length of 120 metres. 120,000 mm / 304.8 = 394 feet. I estimated 400 feet.
david leigh-smith said 5 years, 7 months ago:

Thanks for the article, was a great read, despite being in the daily mail...

I wholeheartedly agree with your scratchbuilding policy, Peter. Your skills (as demonstrated by your reckoning of the Bridge’s length) are in excess of what any manufacturer could produce; and no, that is not flattery my friend.

This build (44 posts before ground is even broken) is already a cornerstone of this group build, a reference point, or a staging post if you like, for ideas and imagination. Thank you.

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The Bridge on the River Kwai