Ice Station Zebra - Under the ice scenes model filming setup?

[Alucard]

Sorry about having to give it up, I hope you find it and finish it and thank you for posting the pics really cool.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

One of the biggest regrets in my life was many many years ago selling my 1/48 Skate fiberglass resin hull built my Garry Gray in Australia. I was forced to sell it to someone back east (Quartermaster'?) to help pay my mortgage that time despite a A hole alcoholic boss then. It was never completed, fine, but I am building again, my Mortgage is now paid off, boss has drunk himself to death hopefully, I am retired and I'd like to buy it back if anyone knows where it is? Who has it. Some estate sale? Quatermaster, if you - I'd like to bring her home and finish her please.

Painful to think about it. Here are some Hi res images from Ice Station Zebra. The under the ice scnes are my fvorite too. I can grab more off the film if you need. Just tell me.

Thank you.

Steve

One movie-night on the TRUTTA we watched that flick. We had three spook-CT's riding with us doing radar signature capture stuff off Cuba. All three did a palm-face-smack when the movies ECM (Electronic CounterMeasures) mast came up out of its well. So much for physical security of classified antenna arrangements, Hollywood!

David

[SubSteve]

I know in some movies, the ice covered pond is paraffin wax, like Arnold in True Lies as he was in dry suit in the opening scenes.

I seem to recall a European regatta that had a navigation course that included a large square floating frame that contained "slabs" of Styrofoam. The object was to surface in the frame, displacing the foam "ice".

[SubSteve]

I do hear ya Casey. Need to keep bothering Bob about kicking Randy to do the SKATE Class. NOTHING beats the look of an early US Nuke.

Absolutely need CAD/print files for this boat!

[Albacore 569]

One movie-night on the TRUTTA we watched that flick. We had three spook-CT's riding with us doing radar signature capture stuff off Cuba. All three did a palm-face-smack when the movies ECM (Electronic CounterMeasures) mast came up out of its well. So much for physical security of classified antenna arrangements, Hollywood!

David

I'm sure it was a bit astonishing and upsetting Dave. . Years later saw this movie after on TV before the internet and knew enough from talking with other submarine veteran's like yourself knew enough to know that ECM/DF mast was showing just a little bit too much tits and ass security wise. I remembered the scene, they surface in the story just prior to going under the ice cap for additional navigational fix 'On Zebra' before Rock Hudson (Commander 'My first name is Captain' Farraday) tells the XO 'Dive Bob'.. I wonder if the Navy tech advisor for the film at the studio was out that day they did that shot. It surprised me too. So the story needed a Radio mast up for the trangulation fix but......

I read Rickover refused to let MGM producers film a real Skate class boat, for security reasons & simply because the Navy (has its own schedules fighting quietly a cold war excuse me please) vs the Films scheduling. USS Pickerel (SS-524) a Fram III with her PUFFS absent performed the Tigerfish role in those gorgeous helicopter shots off Hawaii. Another unknown Guppy sub performed the Helicopter transfer of Vaslov and Capt Anders in San Diego Harbor (notice in the scene how calm the water is is the ]Atlántic' ? LOL) . Unlike a later similar scene in Hunt for Red October...lol).




Here is an illustration from Norman Friedmans great book 'Submarine Design & Development' (Friedman autographed my copy at the 1994 Sub Regatta at Groton) from his book Copyrighted 1984. So I guess by 1983-84 things may have relaxed some since. But that had to be a hot cene for thos aware in the audiance in 1968. This was an Illustration from a SSN-637 class.

I sorta Love and hate this film. It has some great scenes and some dumb stuff too. The Mig modlels look like models, Hell John Fords 'Air Force' made in 1943 effects looked as good or better 25 years earlier. Some scenes - model work under the Ice, and photography of USS Pickerel diving are awesome even today.

I am a rare dog I hate the new CGI effects technologies they look so fake to me. The reason is they can't get down movement and inertias well, they are always TERRIBLE!!!!!!!!). The P-40's in Pearl Harbor zipping between buildings and the movements are so stupid P-30s are not Lukes Skywalkers X-wing in space. and I hate what JAbbrams has done to the Star Trek Roddenberry Canton. Abbrams needs to be shot. IMO LOL. The best special effects are always effects that never look like special effects. Take the computers away from the over paid juveniles in 'Hollywood'. All war/military films should be produced and shot in England , anywhere but Hollywood. Im stillwaiting for a majestic drama a on Jutland May 1916. .Te fog of war and not knowing where everyne in the battle was, who accidently ran into who, The screw ups by Beatty abd hi Battlecruiser squadron & how later as Sea Lord Beatty blamed Jelicoe for his screw ups. .

Ok ok, we are talking about Skate ....i'll shut up! LOL.

[QuarterMaster]

One of the biggest regrets in my life was many many years ago selling my 1/48 Skate fiberglass resin hull built my Garry Gray in Australia. I was forced to sell it to someone back east (Quartermaster'?) to help pay my mortgage that time despite a A hole alcoholic boss then. It was never completed, fine, but I am building again, my Mortgage is now paid off, boss has drunk himself to death hopefully, I am retired and I'd like to buy it back if anyone knows where it is? Who has it. Some estate sale? Quatermaster, if you - I'd like to bring her home and finish her please.

Painful to think about it. Here are some Hi res images from Ice Station Zebra. The under the ice scnes are my fvorite too. I can grab more off the film if you need. Just tell me.

Steve

Steve,

Just to set the record straight...

1-You actually sold it to "Sub" Steve O'Connell. I purchased it from him.

2-It is actually 1:64 Scale by measurement.

3-I understand situations are what they are, and I do feel you, BUT unless you can convince Bob to have Randy develop printer ready files, or Bill Lambing to sell me his, I don't want you getting your hopes up of me letting this boat go. Just being honest.

In all reality, unlike others, I keep my boats for life.

[Albacore 569]

Steve,

Just to set the record straight...

1-You actually sold it to "Sub" Steve O'Connell. I purchased it from him.

2-It is actually 1:64 Scale by measurement.

3-I understand situations are what they are, and I do feel you, BUT unless you can convince Bob to have Randy develop printer ready files, or Bill Lambing to sell me his, I don't want you getting your hopes up of me letting this boat go. Just being honest.

In all reality, unlike others, I keep my boats for life.

Rest Easy. Lets get Bob to do a program. I'd like Bob to do a American EB built L-class submarine too in 1/32 too! Or AL class first for me. He has the stuff already. Just waiting after the regatta and a major busiess move to smaller quarters I presume. I may have hull sections in my files for a Skate. I know I have a docking plan. I know I have some on SSN -571, too bvut thats a completely different hull size, stern everything is different. Thanks for correction, 1/64 scale. It was a good size. I keep my boats for life too normally, but I prefer a house to live in for life...lol.. ok not a house a ship yard infrastructure...lol) .then I have a place to keep those boats for life also...lol

[wlambing]

The boat pictured above is not the same as the Garry Gray asset I have downstairs. This one is 65" OAL (64 1/2" if you use the other eye to look at the tape! So, not 1:64 either!), upper hull separation aft is on a 45 degree angle and is forward of the turtle back. I have the receipt for the Postal Money Order Bob used to buy it from Steve Reichmuth! She's not quite a true 1:48, but close enough for gov't work!! Besides the hull, it has a custom OTW 4.25" cylinder. I do not intend to sell it. One of the few things I have to remind me of my old friend. Sadly, I don't even know where he is interred.

Bob had tried to do 2 ESCs using a Throttle Jockey, but that didn't work out. I had to rebuild a shaft seal unit because it was seized due to a seal failure and subsequent corrosion. All good now!

As for the movie, my favorite piece of Hollywood stoopidity is the boat steaming under ice (overhead silhouette) and the quote; "400 feet, no radar contacts". That was always good for a razzing on the mess-decks! The second stoopid was the 300 lb. torpedo tube breach door bouncing off the on watch TM and then floating away after the inter-lock sabotage. I guess they couldn't figure out how to smash somebody onscreen back in the old days!!!

[SubSteve]

Steve,

Just to set the record straight...

1-You actually sold it to "Sub" Steve O'Connell. I purchased it from him.

2-It is actually 1:64 Scale by measurement.

3-I understand situations are what they are, and I do feel you, BUT unless you can convince Bob to have Randy develop printer ready files, or Bill Lambing to sell me his, I don't want you getting your hopes up of me letting this boat go. Just being honest.

In all reality, unlike others, I keep my boats for life.

I really wanted the Skate but when I saw the tears in Ed's eyes, I knew he wanted it more. I'll hold out for the print files and revel in the good deed I did for SubEd!

[Albacore 569]

Hey Bob, whip out that 3 d printer - time to make some money.

[RanSan]

I do hear ya Casey. Need to keep bothering Bob about kicking Randy to do the SKATE Class. NOTHING beats the look of an early US Nuke.

Bob has been kicking Randy but Randy has had some trouble with the limited reference material on the Skate. Working on it though.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

I may have drawings.

David

[QuarterMaster]

I may have drawings.

David

David lent me his stuff, made copies. An unbelievable treasure trove!

David is the MAN! We knew that already, but this is testament # 631626

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

David lent me his stuff, made copies. An unbelievable treasure trove!

David is the MAN! We knew that already, but this is testament # 631626

In that case, you guys are all set. Scan the drawings to CAD files, then set your godless 3D spawn-of-Satan machines about their work.

[jphatton]

The SSN 583 Sargo website has a some general arrangement drawings, as well as other useful information. In addition the photos of the 4 boats of the Skate class on Navsource are good reference material, including some construction launching photos showing the hull below the waterline.

https://www.ssn583.com/

https://www.navsource.org/archives/08/05idx.htm

Concerning the under ice voyages of the class here are some articles which may be of interest;

USS Sea Dragon navigated through the Northwest passage below the ice in August 1960, this article shows a periscope view that looks very similar to the scene in Ice Station Zebra

https://www.marinersmuseum.org/2018/08/a-voyage-of-firsts-for-uss-seadragon/

https://www.defensemedianetwork.com/stories/uss-seadragon-ssn-584-sailed-arctic-waters-following-log-book-of-early-explorer/

An account of USS Skate's expedition to the North pole in March 1959

https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1959/september/skate-breakthrough-north-pole

Finally a list of the publicly known submarine voyages under the polar ice up to the mid 1980's

https://www.usni.org/magazines/proceedings/1984/june/sailing-under-ice