Miniatures and Movers

On set, InCamera mix models and stop-frame animation techniques with custom engineering and sophisticated software

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Filmmaker Tommy Martin set about building an impressive 1/32 scale model kit of the hero Lancaster, complete with motorised propellers and top gunner.

Sigma Arts UK completed the paint and weathering effects to a high standard, which all culminated in a detailed shooting miniature. The Lancaster model kit was modified to match its full-size counterpart

Just Jane, which is one of three surviving Avro aircraft remaining in the world, and that is currently housed at the Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre. The museum itself is situated on the remains of RAF East Kirkby, a retired WWII bomber airfield where the exterior base location and aircraft interior sequences are to be shot with the principal cast.

Our miniature is ready, but to make her fly we needed significant engineering work, so James ‘JP’ Price set about building a bespoke model mover that would allow us to produce the aviation manoeuvres required.

Shooting planes

Our bespoke motion-control model mover will provide repeatable motion to the model, enabling multiple lighting passes to be filmed and composited separately. Protruding from the rear of the model Lancaster tail was a square section of aluminium tube, which was able to provide a stable mount point to the model mover platform.

The model mover was built from scratch by JP and consisted of a few recycled components from our previous projects, as well as some new parts that were sourced online.