Outdoors Rapier Photo Shines New Light On Design (April 25, 2016)

ChrisReid

ChrisReid

Super Soaker Collector / Administrator
Lightning Picture of the Day recently posted this nifty photo of what appears to be the Wing Commander Movie's Rapiers after construction. The caption references Pinewood, and if it's the same historic Pinewood Studios, then that would be where Privateer 2: The Darkening was filmed. This somewhat contradicts the info we have for the canopy photos which were believed to have been shot in Luxembourg. No matter where the ships were converted though, this is still a pretty cool look at Rapiers from this perspective. At least one unit still remains at Bricket Wood where it serves as a paintball battlefield feature. If you're not familiar with the English Electric Lightning, we've also added one of those for comparison. As you can see, they were quite heavily modified for the film!






--
Original update published on April 25, 2016
 
Last edited by a moderator:
I believe at least one Rapier was returned to the UK for second unit stuff. That is likely the same example that was once listed at auction and then made its way to the paintball arena!
 
I believe I've tracked down the source of this Pic (I've seen it on several blog posts and forum threads over the last couple years). It was uploaded here in 2008 by 'Major Fun" , the company that ran a laser tag setup. In this promo page you can see (lower left) that it's the same rapier (with only one wing) on a more open styled course.
15050097.jpg



Their website still exists here http://www.woodlandadventures.co.uk/) Interestingly their website still has a rapier pic in the gallery
d96f78_0533d5788bd749709bcd0d4c12d823f0.jpg


The pic, when you hover over it has the caption "Spaceship Rapier guess the film - Laser Combat games zones at woodland adventures Sussex"

The paintball course at Bricket Wood is slightly North-west of London whereas this Laser Combat place is about the same distance Southeast of the city. SOOooo this is interesting. Are there *TWO* rapiers? One on a paintball course and the other a Laser combat zone? Or did the laser guys sell it to the Paintball crew?

d96f78_c0a95699b55744af930c93e27ff5e9e6.jpg

Caption "Snow missions - Yes we carry on!

d96f78_1fa326d9d89c41ff86c20904a5c967cc.jpg

Caption "Can't shoot me here - Spaceship"
 
I would have thought that it would have been the same one, especially as the paintball on is missing a few bits and has been painted . . . however going through the facebook photos of the laser place a photo from may 2015 shows a rapier there. Although it could just be an old photo recently updated.

Perhaps there should be a paintball and lasertag meet upto find out for sure ?
 
A little more investigation leads me to believe that the paintball cockpit is no longer a target.

Looking at this photo
newrapiers.jpg


the writing ZF590 can be seen twowards the rear of the cocpit, this would be the aircraft registration.

A simple google search leads here : http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/lightning/survivor.php?id=1108 The page is quite old (2012)

But there is a flicker link that lead here : https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanwz581/18292779782/in/photolist-cbr5SE-tSth7S/ and states the location of Bruntingthorpe ( http://www.bruntingthorpeaviation.com/) as of august 2014
 
Last edited by a moderator:
So with a little more delving into the web I have found some more informaiton.

Apparently there were five lightning cockpits that were rescued by Pinewood studios from Marine Salvage in Portsmouth.

The registrations ZF577, ZF585, ZF586, ZF589 and ZF590 have been mentioned, firstly here in the comments section : http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/lightning/survivor.php?id=375 and then tweeted here https://twitter.com/lightningotd/status/723938005812154369 - perhaps the tweeter found the same post as I did and is just copying and pasting.

Here are some links to the aircrafts, Wing Command pops up several times as does Pinewood.
ZF577 http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/lightning/survivor.php?id=375
ZF586 http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/lightning/survivor.php?id=954
ZF590 http://www.thunder-and-lightnings.co.uk/lightning/survivor.php?id=1108

A website called demobbed http://www.demobbed.org.uk/aircraft.php?type=403 lists all of the aircraft, and some history, it is difficult to link to this informaiton, however if you move your curser over the i on the right hand side you get an information box. But long story short all these five registrations state the wingcommander movie. Looks like ZF590 was at the paintball place, and is now at Bruntingthorpe, with ZF585 in a museum in Hermeskeil, Germany. The others are unknown.
 
This could possibly be the German museum http://www.flugausstellung.de/

They do list having a lightning, however it has a different reg. But it could be that the ZF585 cockpit is a small exhibt somewhere or has been used for parts.

The museum is also not so far from Luxemborg, so it could make sense that a cockpit went from a film set to the museum.
 
And even more information :rolleyes:

Whilst trying to track down the Canberra that was used I came across these posts, that again confirm the information that I have found earlier. I think that its quite funny that in the second link they are referencing wcnews, and now I'm referencing them.

http://forum.keypublishing.com/showthread.php?36444-Scrapyard-Photos-Any-More&p=1428163#post1428163 - you want post 917 if the link doesn't work correctly

http://forum.keypublishing.com/show...htning-fans-UK-TV-tonight&p=801339#post801339 - you want post 13 if the link doesn't work correctly
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top