'Masters Of The Air' - Who Watched It?

[Panther_99FS]

I thought it was incredible!

 

[ViperPilot2]

Overall, I thought it was well done and a good representation of the 8th and their fight over Festung Europa​. Having known about the 100 BG for decades, it was good to see their story being told.

I did watch the final Episode last night, and was bummed to see one thing 'out of place' towards the end of the Episode. It's a small thing that some won't notice, it doesn't disrupt the flow of the Story, and it's one of those things only an old Aviation 'frankfurter' like me would notice. I won't spoil it here.

 

[Panther_99FS]

Overall, I thought it was well done and a good representation of the 8th and their fight over Festung Europa​. Having known about the 100 BG for decades, it was good to see their story being told.

I did watch the final Episode last night, and was bummed to see one thing 'out of place' towards the end of the Episode. It's a small thing that some won't notice, it doesn't disrupt the flow of the Story, and it's one of those things only an old Aviation 'frankfurter' like me would notice. I won't spoil it here.

I think (for me) the little things greatly contributed to my enjoyment of the series.....Such as the scene of with the perspective of the German Flak gun operators....

 

[ViperPilot2]

I think (for me) the little things greatly contributed to my enjoyment of the series.....Such as the scene of with the perspective of the German Flak gun operators....

Totally agree. I liked the fact they showed the folks that lived next to the 100th's field at Thorpe Abbots like the kids that hung out with Lemmons and the other Crew Chiefs.

My 'little' gripe was that, given they were depicting the end of the War, it would have been nice to see our Principals (Buck, Rosie, Crosby) climbing out of a G model Fortress instead of the E (or F) Model that was shown. The E's and F's preformed excellently but by the end most of them would have either been relegated as 'Assembly' ships or rotated back to the States. I don't know how much access they had to the actual Aircraft for Production purposes...

 

[Panther_99FS]

Totally agree. I liked the fact they showed the folks that lived next to the 100th's field at Thorpe Abbots like the kids that hung out with Lemmons and the other Crew Chiefs.

My 'little' gripe was that, given they were depicting the end of the War, it would have been nice to see our Principals (Buck, Rosie, Crosby) climbing out of a G model Fortress instead of the E (or F) Model that was shown. The E's and F's preformed excellently but by the end most of them would have either been relegated as 'Assembly' ships or rotated back to the States. I don't know how much access they had to the actual Aircraft for Production purposes...

Agreed!
They did so many 'little things' well!

 

[Bomber_12th]

For the production, no real B-17s were used, but two full-size replica B-17Fs were built by BGI Supplies Ltd. using a steel frame structure and aluminum skins - incredibly accurate externally (except for their use of pop rivets). Interestingly, the replicas ended-up weighing the same as the real thing! One of them was powered using electrical motors attached to the landing gear so that they could capture it taxiing (the motors were edited out in post-production). They weren't fitted with real engines, so all of the spinning props and engine smoke you see in the series was added with VFX. The only real B-17 parts that were used on those were the wheels and tires, which were non-airworthy parts acquired from the Collings Foundation. Several very accurate and fully-detailed fuselage sections were also built by BGI for all of the interior filming. One of the nose sections built (from the top turret forward) was attached to an articulating machine on the back-end of a truck, that could change angle and distance from the ground, which was used to simulate takeoffs and landings. The original plan was to modify the B-17Fs to appear as Gs in post-production, for the final episode, but there wasn't enough in the CGI budget to allow that.

I personally really liked how the series showed as much as it did of the grounds, buildings and life around the airfields. Those that were involved with the physical sets were incredibly dedicated to getting things right, down to the smallest detail. All of the most successful elements of the series, in my opinion, were in the physical sets, equipment, and actor's training - all aspects of the film in which they had some very knowledgeable experts directly involved, such as Taigh Ramey. In order to get the actors knowledgeable about operating the aircraft, they spent some time getting to know how to control an aircraft in flight, and were trained on the aircraft checklists, where everything was located and why/when to use it, including the starting procedure, using the communications radios, etc. Where things went astray, too often as I saw it, was in the flying sequences (all CGI), which didn't have the same expert involvement.

Here are some behind-the-scenes photos shared by Taigh Ramey.

(Note the bullet/flak holes were added using vinyl stickers)

 

[Bomber_12th]

Some more photos by Taigh Ramey from the production, showing the incredible attention to detail that went into the sets and equipment.

The hard-to-find Bell E-11 gun mounts manufactured new by BGI for the production.

 

[Bomber_12th]

Some of Taigh Ramey's insights into the production of the series can be read here, in four separate articles: https://mailchi.mp/66451aac4c33/the-making-of-masters-of-the-air-1544749?e=e370377fbe&fbclid=IwAR1mRShqU2zExxMZE_LnyUr_VMz5k9irlohqxOAdLjq8W0JLrWhr1fI9kBE

While they're currently in storage, here's to hoping that the replica B-17s and fuselage sections built for the series will eventually find their way to museums.

 

[Javis]

For the production, no real B-17s were used, but two full-size replica B-17Fs were built by BGI Supplies Ltd. using a steel frame structure and aluminum skins - incredibly accurate externally (except for their use of pop rivets).

Do you know anything about the reason why non of the 5 still flying B-17's in the US were used, John ? I can imagine that the operators would stand in line to have their beloved beauties participate in such a movie about this iconic aircraft. And wouldn't it be a heck of a lot cheaper to use these airworthy B-17's as opposed to creating all these mockups ?!... Electric motors in tailwheels and to spin the props.... sjeeezzz..

Btw, thanks very much for the photo's ! Magnificent !

 

[Bomber_12th]

The filming was done in England, so if they were to use any of the US-based B-17s they would have needed to fly them over. Unfortunately, at this time, there are only three B-17s in the US that are airworthy (Sentimental Journey, Ye Olde Pub and Yankee Lady), though there were more when the filming was taking place. The only other airworthy B-17 being Sally B, based in England. And there aren't any operating in full/accurate F-model configuration, as needed to be depicted for the main length of the series. There were also many scene portrayals in the series that simply could not be filmed using the real deal (for instance, no owner would risk their B-17 being flown in the severe crosswind landing scene in Greenland, as shown in episode 1). All of the destruction of the airframes would have to take place using CGI or replicas anyway. Also, once you start using real aircraft, you're dealing with greater risk, insurance, specialists trained in aerial coordination, aerial filming, etc., and with so few flying B-17s, so much CGI work would be required to build formations that it would still remain largely CGI in the end.

For the sounds of the B-17's engines, they made interior and exterior recordings from the CAF's B-17 Sentimental Journey. When building the B-17F interiors, they used the restored B-17F Boeing Bee as one of their guides. Unfortunately, that is the reason they painted the whole interior zinc chromate, where as on the originals much of the interior, especially the whole aft fuselage, was bare metal (although the rest of the details are very accurate).

 

[Javis]

Thanks for your elaborate explanation, John, that makes a lot of sense. Other than the flying stuff they'd want the English landscape for external shooting instead of the Hollywood hills of course. I think i forgot a little bit about that. ;-)

I just saw the first episode. I think i can relate to the characters enough to enjoy the complete series. While i think i have seen only one or two actors before they certainly make a good impression acting-wise. I think Austin Butler could put a good Elvis on the stage. ;-) Also good to see they've kept the romantic escapades to a minimum, atleast in the first episode so here's hoping. Well done.

What i am looking for in a movie like this is that they've made the airplane kind of "Star of the show". Like they've done with "Memphis Belle" which i believe is the best WWII aviation action movie featuring the B-17.

Only minus sofar, for my taste there's too much 'Lord of the Rings' music. Good movies don't need music. But this is a series production of course but still.. Keep the music at a minimum that's my motto. Certainly not at any moment that a situation gets tense. We can understand that ourselvers, don't need no cheap music reminders. We're all grown ups

I believe one of the best WWII aviation TV series is "Piece Of Cake" about the Battle of Britain. I do hope "Master of the Air" will prove to be able to stand in its shadow and preferably outclass it. (i do like the B-17 as much as Spitfires and Hurricanes. no bias here whatsoever...;-)

Thanks again., John !

 

[Panther_99FS]

The filming was done in England, so if they were to use any of the US-based B-17s they would have needed to fly them over. Unfortunately, at this time, there are only three B-17s in the US that are airworthy (Sentimental Journey, Ye Olde Pub and Yankee Lady), though there were more when the filming was taking place. The only other airworthy B-17 being Sally B, based in England. And there aren't any operating in full/accurate F-model configuration, as needed to be depicted for the main length of the series. There were also many scene portrayals in the series that simply could not be filmed using the real deal (for instance, no owner would risk their B-17 being flown in the severe crosswind landing scene in Greenland, as shown in episode 1). All of the destruction of the airframes would have to take place using CGI or replicas anyway. Also, once you start using real aircraft, you're dealing with greater risk, insurance, specialists trained in aerial coordination, aerial filming, etc., and with so few flying B-17s, so much CGI work would be required to build formations that it would still remain largely CGI in the end.

For the sounds of the B-17's engines, they made interior and exterior recordings from the CAF's B-17 Sentimental Journey. When building the B-17F interiors, they used the restored B-17F Boeing Bee as one of their guides. Unfortunately, that is the reason they painted the whole interior zinc chromate, where as on the originals much of the interior, especially the whole aft fuselage, was bare metal (although the rest of the details are very accurate).

John, great seeing you again & thanks for the interior sound tid-bit as I was curious about that.....

 

[lefty]

Er, I know this just me showing signs of old age, but please tell me why Bomber 12th's photos just don't show up on my screen ?

Images in other forums are showing up just fine, but not these !

 

[Panther_99FS]

Er, I know this just me showing signs of old age, but please tell me why Bomber 12th's photos just don't show up on my screen ?

Images in other forums are showing up just fine, but not these !

He replied before the server upgrade I would presume...