Model Aircraft in the Cinema: The Bridges at Toko-Ri 1954

Sunday, 25 October 2020

The Bridges at Toko-Ri 1954

Won Academy Award for Special Effects in 1956. Special Photographic Effects John P. Fulton.

According to an article by David Sears in the July 2013 issue of Naval History magazine (the article can be viewed online, see link at bottom of post) a miniature Korean valley landscape was built at Mint Canyon about ten miles (16km) north east of Los Angeles. It was around 200 feet square with 8 foot (2.4m) high bridges at 1/12 scale. He then goes on to say that a working O scale model railroad and buildings were constructed. O gauge has a track width between the rails of 32mm and is typically 1/48 scale in the US so the disparity between scales is hard to reconcile. A 1/12 scale bridge, 8 foot high scales out to a bridge 96 feet high fullsize which seems reasonable whereas a 1/48 scale bridge would represent 384 feet which doesn't seem right. My guess is that it would have all been 1/12 scale with 1/12 scale trains and 1/12 scale aircraft miniatures doing the attack runs. There may have been a smaller scale in the background but it doesn't look like it to me. The "O scale" reference could have been just a journalistic reference to toy trains in general.

Within the landscape were concealed spaces for special effects technicians to fire the miniature pyrotechnic anti-aircraft barrage that is evident in most of the shots. The aircraft are on a Lydecker style rig (see Model Aircraft Control) with the two horizontal support wires clearly visible in a few shots.

Some of the miniature footage was filmed by John Fulton from a special camaera rig mounted on a small two seater helicopter.

Miniature shots can also be seen composited into a projection screen during a live action briefing scene. It is in black and white and represents reconnaissance footage.

The model action is generally very well done with the crash sequence near the end of the film particularly effective.