Time Machine Project

TymerC

Hello Travelers,

I'm starting this thread because some interesting questions thru e-mails have been brought up over what details were original and correct on the Wah Chang model?....so I felt it would benefit more discussing it here.
To start , theres been one detail brought up that some can't agree on....was there pinstrip artwork on the white wheel just behind the head of the passenger chair?
For the less informed, please keep in mind that the Wah Chang miniature lacked the detail the full scale Time Machine had.
Anyone have any thoughts? Smile

...Frankie? Don?

frankie · Master Temporal Mechanic Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Posts: 96

It is hard to say, In one photo there seems to be a Red design, but it is faded. In another picture it looks like a black spider web design. On the black design I played with the contrast and other settings and the design does not seem to be symmetrical,it almost looks like a shodow.In yet other pictures it looks like there is nothing there?

colemanzone · Posted: Thu May 03, 2007 7:04 am Post subject:

The two color photos are scans of original snapshots taken by Wah Chang when the model was being built. Note that there is no detail painted on the dish at this stage.
The B&W photo is a scan of an 8x10 photocopy which Wah sent me when I was corresponding with him. This photo shops more of the detail has been added but I don't see anything on the counter weight. Francois thinks the detail may only be digital noise on the dvd copy which is quite possible.

I have one other source but not able at this time to really examine it properly. I have a film strip of the film which was made by MGM for use in schools. All the images are actual film frames in 35mm format. One frame shows the model with Rod and Sebastian Cabots fingers on it about to start the machine. Even with a 5x loop I can't tell if anything is there. I'm looking into getting a film scanner so I can examine the frames in the strip and I also recently bought reels 2 & 3 of the film in 35mm. There is a total of 6 reels for the entire film.

frankie · Master Temporal Mechanic Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Posts: 96

Thats Great!
Thanks Don,Also the Lamp Cage on the mini?
It appears to be something other than Brass?
It looks like it is a piece that has benn shaped and painted?
Any thoughts?

TimeDaughter · Temporal Mechanic Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 42

Using 2 different dvd players and 3 different photo capturing programs, I have been unable to discover a clear photo of this detail. Like Frankie has mentioned, in some stills the pattern appears red and symmetrical and yet others seem to indicate the pattern is black and may be nothing more than a shadow.
Attempting to use digital manipulation of the stills to sharpen, increase contrast, remove digital noise, etc, does not seem to provide any insight into this.
The clearest close up photo stills that I have discovered are from the model prior to being detailed. It is easy to identify these stills because the large disk lacks the scroll work art that is easily seen in the movie, along with some other touches.
Like Tymer C has stated, the large machine is different in details to the small model. This would be a fun detail to get a confirmation on for us.
Here are some close ups I have been able to produce from the dvd version of the film:

frankie · Master Temporal Mechanic Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Posts: 96

You Two are Fantastic!
Thank you,
Also Timedaughter look close at the other picture with the cigar,The red pattern that you see in the picture you posted seems to be gone?

TimeDaughter · Temporal Mechanic Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 42

Here is another shot from the dvd that I was able to do a close up on the light and wheel. Again, sadly, the close ups prove blurry thanks to the focus on the model in the film. I am wondering if the light is not "caged" in a thin strip of metal, like may be used for very fine trim work. I know these are available today on sheets of paper for projects but I do not know if they would have been a selection for this item.

TimeDaughter · Temporal Mechanic Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 42

I noticed that about the red. The best close up showing red that I have is this one from the dvd again:

frankie · Master Temporal Mechanic Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Posts: 96

The bottom close up is the one i played around with.To me it loses any kind of Symmetrical shape when i do that.

TimeDaughter · Temporal Mechanic Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 42

That is the same problem I have encountered. I have tried every technique I can think of with Paint Shop Pro X to clean it up. Perhaps someone with a fully loaded Mac or better photographic software could have better luck. I am now trying to find any stills of the original model I can to see if they offer any clues. So far I have not had much luck in finding photos that show the wheel in question. This may prove to be one of those endlessly unproven details. Rolling Eyes

frankie · Master Temporal Mechanic Joined: 09 Apr 2006 Posts: 96

Don’t give up; I think when Don gets to see it in 35mm frame by frame there will be a definite answer. Sometimes I look at it and see a design, other time I do not. So for now I think what Francois says is right, just back ground noise. Smile

alan1950 · Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 4:02 am Post subject:

This is what I thought I saw in the movie:

The image was created by simplifying the design on the green counterweight in the full size. It is correct? I don't know. Is it noise or an artifact created because a white surface picks up the stray pixels in the film? Can't say.

It sure looked like Chang did not leave a surface undecorated! The style of that time it depicted 1900s they did all sorts of filigreed designs on flat surfaces. Just like the rest of the Time Machine.

Larger image of the above for those of you with big monitors:

This is a mock-up of a decal that I will be making if this turns out NOT to be just a lot of noise!

timekeeper · Newbie Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 12 Location: Colorado

Alan, in looking over your picture, I was wondering , who did the lamp cages?

TimeDaughter · Temporal Mechanic Joined: 13 Apr 2007 Posts: 42

Frankie, I agree with you that we will have to wait until there is a clear example. It has to be treated with caution until then.
Alan, I think your mock up is a nice example of patterns used during that time. I agree with you that there is hardly an undecorated surface on the machine or model. However, I think we can all agree, it is unwise to assume anything about the choices.
I have collected a series of examples of Victorian patterns and fret work and it is quickly clear that artwork varies during this time. If you take a moment and consider the machine would have been designed with current patterns of the time and influenced by objects seen on a regular basis, it would be impossible to guess the pattern (assuming a pattern even exists). If the attempt in your model is to capture the "feel" of the movie rather than duplicating an exact replica, than your assumptions are adequate.
On a side thought, what was the inspiration for the light cage on your model? It is unique.

TymerC · Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 8:08 am Post subject:

I think I'm correct to assume that in Alan's picture.....that if this is an "exact replica" of Wah Chang's model then the light cage is totally wrong and I can even see the "red accordian neck" below the cage is too long , the diameter is too narrow and the "fins" are too spread apart. Just compare the close-up screen caps and pics to Changs model to see this. Am I correct Frankie?