Chapter 535 Photography props with extraordinary origins
In the desolate desert baked by the scorching sun, a black off-road vehicle and a gun-gray armored pickup truck were speeding among the sand dunes with a distance of tens of meters from each other.
In the compartments of the two vehicles, the drivers were Ji Ma and Wei Ran. In the former's off-road vehicle, the actors who were about to participate in the filming were seated. In the latter's pickup truck, except for Culp and Teacher Anna,
, as well as the enthusiastic Mr. Charlotte, and Matt, who usually never leaves, but at this time can only sit on the car refrigerator.
Behind the two vehicles, a hundred meters apart, there were two Ural trucks following in the distance. Not only were canvas sheds added to the tops of the cargo compartments of these two trucks, but there was also a rack on top of the cab of one of them.
Holding a PKM machine gun wrapped tightly in a blanket.
As for the cargo compartment, there were either old men sitting with weapons or coconuts in their hands, or studio workers holding cameras or coconuts.
In the cab of the armored pickup truck, Wei Ran glanced at the black off-road vehicle not far away that easily rushed up the sand dune, and turned the steering wheel angrily to go around it.
Only then did he understand why when Hongqi Forest Farm fired him, he also confiscated the off-road vehicle and gave it to Jima, not to mention that he had brought it thousands of miles to this ghost place.
Of course, the armored pickup truck that was later given to him under various excuses was much stronger than the previous off-road vehicle in terms of power, top speed, price and protection capabilities, but at the same time it was also much heavier.
Correspondingly, the former can not only drive as a boat on the water, but can also easily rush up the sand dunes with its light weight and thick tires and even stay in the air for a short period. Even the speed can be easily achieved on this soft sand.
It's not a problem to reach seventy or eighty.
But the heavy pickup truck I drive has no problem driving on the desert. After all, the off-road performance is there. But if you want to rush to the top of a soft sand dune dozens of meters high like Ji Ma, you will definitely
It's daydreaming.
It's not that he hasn't tried before, but he got stuck on the hillside of a sand dune twice in a row and then slid down with idling tires kicking up the sand. All he got in return was Ji Ma, the bastard, unbridled ridicule on the radio.
Of course, their trip was not to get out of the car and play in the sand, but to familiarize themselves with the route for the last time before filming started.
When the filming officially starts, the actors who play the Italian tankers will drive the three-wheeled motorcycles to start a desperate journey in this desert.
Filming also started at the same time as the German journalist Per, played by Jima, captures the British soldier Harry in another scene and escapes in an Italian truck that is said to have been borrowed from a rich man's private museum.
All in all, this movie is a story that starts off as two lines, and finally merges into one, where they struggle to survive and establish friendship.
However, some Russians filmed a story about the North African battlefield of World War II, and this reality always made him feel a little bit unspeakably magical.
"The stone mountain in front is where Carlo and the British prisoner Harry rested on their way to find water."
On the radio channel, Jima introduced in a familiar manner, while speaking, he also slightly reduced the speed of the car.
After circling this stone mountain that was not too high, Ji Ma speeded up again, changed direction and continued to drive forward until the mountain behind him was completely blocked by the continuous sand dunes. Only then did he get in front of a Hurricane fighter jet
He stopped near the wreckage and continued to introduce, "The well is not far from the wreckage of the plane."
"Teacher Anna, where did that plane wreckage come from?"
Wei Ran asked curiously. Although he didn't get out of the car, he could still tell that the wreckage of the plane was definitely not a fake, but a real wreckage.
"Speaking of this plane wreckage, I actually have to thank Mr. Alexander."
It was Culp who answered Weihan’s question, “According to him, the wreckage of the plane was found by diggers from the swamp near Murmansk a few years ago. After he bought it, he kept it in the warehouse.
, this time I heard that we needed the wreckage of a fighter jet, so we very generously lent it to us."
"Can I go down and have a look?"
Wei Ran continued to ask. Although he did not have much contact with Mr. Alexander, he also knew that he was a very picky guy. There must be some special reasons for being included in his collection, even if it is just the wreckage of an airplane. Naturally,
aroused his curiosity.
"Of course," Anna said with a smile, "We asked you to come here this time just to see if there are any flaws."
Hearing this, Wei Ran immediately wrapped himself in the Arab kerchief he had received when he first arrived in Egypt. Before getting out of the car, he sprayed an extra layer of sunscreen on his exposed skin and then opened the heavy door.
"This little guy lives a really exquisite life." Culp shook his head helplessly, and also opened the car door, and followed Wei Ran with Charlotte and Matt in no particular order.
Anna, who was sitting in the passenger seat, rolled her eyes, reached for the sunscreen spray that Weiran had just put down, and sprayed it from head to toe before finally pushing the car door open.
The group of people walked quietly to the edge of the wreckage of the fighter jet. Weiyan also noticed that on the other side, which was originally blocked by the wreckage, there was a Ural truck parked under the sand dunes, and a gun stuck in the rear of the truck.
Sun umbrella.
Under the sun umbrella, not only were two people sitting on deck chairs looking at him from a distance, there was even a plate of watermelon and two AK rifles on the table between them.
Pretending not to see the two men, Weiran turned his attention back to the wreckage of the aircraft covered with canvas.
Compared with the wreckage of the original Hurricane fighter that was seen near the dry well in the North African desert, this borrowed aircraft was in much better condition, except that one wing was missing.
Therefore, he could easily tell through the tropical radiator under the nose that these hurricanes were all IIB tropical types.
In addition, when he lifted the canvas that day, the painting on the fuselage made his eyes widen, and he also understood why it was worth collecting.
In addition to a remaining red five-pointed star and a vaguely identifiable number on this aircraft, the left side of the five-pointed star seems to have been polished with sandpaper, vaguely revealing a silver-white capital "F" that was originally covered by paint.
.
"This is really a treasure!" Wei Ran exclaimed sincerely.
"Alexander specifically reminded me at the time that it doesn't matter even if the other wing is removed, but try not to damage the painting on the fuselage."
Culp, Charlotte and the old man named Matt walked towards Wei Ran and asked, "Victor, is there anything special about these paintings?"
"Probably the most valuable thing about this aircraft is its painting."
Wei Ran completely opened the canvas, pointed at the "F" that was polished with sandpaper, and said, "There should be another letter and a set of numbers behind this letter, but just from this F, you can roughly judge it.
Here’s the origin of it.”
"Very special?" Teacher Anna, who arrived later, asked curiously.
"Mr. Alexander said that the plane wreckage came from Murmansk?" Weiyan did not rush to answer the question, but confirmed again.
"That's indeed what he said," Culp responded with interest. While he was talking, Jima and Maya rushed over with several other actors.
"In this case, it is basically certain that this aircraft was first served in the 151st Wing of the British Air Force. Even through this F, it can be traced back to the 81st Squadron under the 151st Wing."
Having said this, Wei Ran's finger also moved to the red five-pointed star, "The 151st Wing was stationed in Murmansk as a British aid force to the Soviet Union in September 1941. At that time, the Germans were uniting with Finland and Norway.
The puppet troops surrounded Murmansk together. According to historical records, even the earliest special forces, the Brandenburg troops, participated in the siege of Leningrad."
"and after?"
Maya, who is also a graduate student in war history in name, asked. Although the origin of this plane has nothing to do with this shooting, it did not affect everyone's interest in listening to the story. Even Charlotte, who was named Matt, asked.
The man translated and listened with great interest.
"This British Air Force Wing began to participate in the battle soon after arriving. It was also responsible for the training of Soviet pilots. In the battle, a sergeant named Smith was even sacrificed. He was also the only British Air Force on the Eastern Front.
Killed pilot."
Wei Ran paused, recalled some historical knowledge he had learned, and continued, "At the beginning of November 1941, all the fighter jets of the British 151st Wing were handed over to the Soviet Air Force, which had undergone emergency training, and formed
The 78th Aviation Regiment of the Soviet Union. At the same time, the soldiers of the 151st Wing also returned to the UK to continue participating in the battle."
Having said this, Wei Yan tapped the red five-pointed star on the fuselage with his finger, "This five-pointed star painting comes from the 78th Aviation Regiment of the Soviet Union. In other words, this Hurricane fighter has served in two countries.
Air force, that's where its value lies."
"So how should I change this painting?"
Culp frowned and asked. It is true that he is a washed-up KGB, but this does not affect his lack of professional knowledge in the field of history.
“very simple”
Wei Ran said with his hand, "Just use double-sided tape to stick a layer of kitchen tin foil, and then repaint the British Air Force camouflage with paint. Wait a minute and I will find you a photo of the British Air Force troops who participated in the North African battlefield.
Just put it up like this."
"Don't you need to move anything else?" Teacher Anna asked with a smile.
"No need for anything else." As Wei Ran spoke, he had already retied the canvas used to cover the fuselage with Ji Ma's help.
"I believe this movie will become a classic," Charlotte, who had just been listening to the story, said in English. "Culp, you have a very good historical consultant."
Hearing this, Wei Ran reacted very quickly with a look of confusion on his face, and looked at Culp with this expression.
"Mr. Charlotte is complimenting you."
Culp responded casually, "Let's go to the well and have a look. If there are no problems, we can start the official filming."
