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B-17 in 12 O'Clock High (TV) question

Fri Jan 11, 2013 9:21 pm

No, not the easy question about the real B-17, or even the wingless fuselage used for set dressing/crash scenes...
Rather, in Gen. Savage's and Col. Gallagher's office they often show a close up of a B-17 model in a talls skinny stand.
Anyone know what kit it is?
I think it's Lindbergh because of the size (1/64th a bit bigger than 1/72) and it doesn't have the rivets of the Revell kit.
Also it has moveable control surfaces..like the Lindbergh (and Revell kit).
In one episode someone slams it down and it breaks. In a later episode the show a close up of it and one prop blade is missing off the #4.

Also, does anyone know if 20th Century Fox still has some of the props and wardrobe from the series?

Re: B-17 in 12 O'Clock High (TV) question

Fri Jan 11, 2013 10:01 pm

Did the series ever come out on DVD?

Re: B-17 in 12 O'Clock High (TV) question

Fri Jan 11, 2013 10:51 pm

I guess so, it shows up on ebay and a website.
I've been watching the old episodes on a new digital/cable channel.

Re: B-17 in 12 O'Clock High (TV) question

Fri Jan 11, 2013 11:17 pm

Don't know about the model, but generally studios would "recycle" props until they wore out or were no longer needed. With all the World War II movies being made during that time period, I would assume a fair amount of the props were reused. At Universal Studios, for example, the "Adam-12" AMC Matador police cars were used in other productions as late as 1979 when they were likely junked. The fire truck that was used in "Emergency" also was used in other productions. I'm not so sure what its ultimate fate was.

Re: B-17 in 12 O'Clock High (TV) question

Sat Jan 12, 2013 1:45 am

SaxMan wrote:The fire truck that was used in "Emergency" also was used in other productions. I'm not so sure what its ultimate fate was.


Both the "squad" (smaller paramedic truck) and the Ward LaFrance pumper are in the possession of the LA County Fire Museum. Both trucks served as actual firetrucks after the series ended. The pumper was last used in the Yosemite park as their frontline fire apparatus until about 10 years ago when it was sent to the museum.

Re: B-17 in 12 O'Clock High (TV) question

Sat Jan 12, 2013 1:49 am

Part of a B-17 fuselage used in the series was in a bar here in town until a few years ago. It was hung from the ceiling. The fuselage was cutout around the pilot's seat (to allow filming) and cut off just aft of the ball turret. The ball turret was purchased by a group restoring a B-17 to flight status. The fuselage was removed a few years ago after the bar closed is supposed to be restored for static display.

Re: B-17 in 12 O'Clock High (TV) question

Sat Jan 12, 2013 10:24 am

maxum96 wrote:Both the "squad" (smaller paramedic truck) and the Ward LaFrance pumper are in the possession of the LA County Fire Museum. Both trucks served as actual firetrucks after the series ended. The pumper was last used in the Yosemite park as their frontline fire apparatus until about 10 years ago when it was sent to the museum.


Thank you. I knew the squad was still extant (well, one of them, IIRC, they used three of them in the series), and had a feeling the pumper was still around, but couldn't recall where. I wonder if the original "open top" pumper used in the first season is still extant, too?

So that we can steer this threadjack back towards warbirds, does anyone know which Avenger was used in the episode where they are fighting a brush fire? It looks like stock footage that was incorporated into the scene. If my memory serves me correctly, it was the episode where Gage and DeSoto are looking after one of their "patients" dogs, and in the closing scene the dog ends up leaving on another department's hook and ladder truck. I may be getting my episodes confused...it has been awhile!

Re: B-17 in 12 O'Clock High (TV) question

Sat Jan 12, 2013 11:58 am

SaxMan wrote: I knew the squad was still extant (well, one of them, IIRC, they used three of them in the series), and had a feeling the pumper was still around, but couldn't recall where. I wonder if the original "open top" pumper used in the first season is still extant, too?


You're correct, there were 2 or 3 squads made for the show. The open top pumper is a Crown open cab. It was an actual Los Angeles County Fire Department fire truck during it's use for the show's first season. It was the last open cab fire truck that was ordered by LA County. It too survives in the LA County Fire Museum.

Here's their website,

http://www.lacountyfiremuseum.com/

Ok, thread jack over. Back to warbirds! :)
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