Primitive Archer

Main Discussion Area => Bows => Topic started by: islandpiper on January 20, 2009, 10:07:14 pm

Title: The Movie Bows.....for some really BIG Elves
Post by: islandpiper on January 20, 2009, 10:07:14 pm
Here is the first of the MOVIE BOWS.    I was contacted by the writer of a screen play that will be filmed in mid-March.   I'll be making four bows, all long flatbows.  Here is the first of them, not quite finished yet.   I brought it home today and shot a dozen or so through it and that baby is sweet, for such a long bow.  I'll post some specs when I can measure them. 

Here are some pics, as it stands tonight. 

(http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr346/islandpiper51/DSCF0021-3.jpg)

(http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr346/islandpiper51/DSCF0022-3.jpg)

(http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr346/islandpiper51/DSCF0023-5.jpg)

(http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr346/islandpiper51/DSCF0024-2.jpg)

(http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr346/islandpiper51/DSCF0025-2.jpg)

(http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr346/islandpiper51/DSCF0026-2.jpg)

(http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr346/islandpiper51/DSCF0027-1.jpg)

(http://i498.photobucket.com/albums/rr346/islandpiper51/DSCF0028-1.jpg)

By the way, here is a link to the movie's blog. 

http://www.gatetovalhalla.blogspot.com/

piper
Title: Re: The Movie Bows.....for some really BIG Elves
Post by: Coo-wah-chobee on January 20, 2009, 10:12:27 pm
Ya dont look like a ELVE ?????? ;D




bob
Title: Re: The Movie Bows.....for some really BIG Elves
Post by: david w. on January 20, 2009, 10:16:31 pm
real nice bow :)

What does it pull?
Title: Re: The Movie Bows.....for some really BIG Elves
Post by: islandpiper on January 20, 2009, 10:18:00 pm
Thank goodness, they are not relying on me to act in the movie.   There are guys who do that who can't make bows.......see, there is balance in the cosmos.   :) :)

And, by the way, the Elves in this film are all taller than me.  Something changed in the world of fantasy.  Elves were little guys when I was a kid.   Now, they are big, strapping fellows.  

piper
Title: Re: The Movie Bows.....for some really BIG Elves
Post by: sailordad on January 20, 2009, 10:22:29 pm
Thank goodness, they are not relying on me to act in the movie.   There are guys who do that who can't make bows.......see, there is balance in the cosmos.   :) :)

And, by the way, the Elves in this film are all taller than me.  Something changed in the world of fantasy.  Elves were little guys when I was a kid.   Now, they are big, strapping fellows.  

piper

ya will ferrrel wrecked that with the movie  elf  ,just like he did every movie hes been in  lol
Title: Re: The Movie Bows.....for some really BIG Elves
Post by: islandpiper on January 20, 2009, 10:24:21 pm
Thanks DavidW, I'll pull the scale on it tomorrow, I didn't have a string for it till i got home and had dinner first tonight.  BTW, it is hickory, from a board.  I dry-heated the flipped-tips with the heat gun and let it bend itself over the end of the bench.   I didn't have any cooking oil in the shop, just a stick of margarine in the fridge.   So, I used that.   Worked real good, and made the shop smell great.  

In spite of it's size, this is a good shooter.   I was pleasantly surprised, since the last bow I made has been named the SHOOTS LIKE A DOG bow.  No twist in these tips at full draw.   Different board, I guess.  

piper
Title: Re: The Movie Bows.....for some really BIG Elves
Post by: Jesse on January 20, 2009, 10:31:15 pm
Lookin good piper. Give us another heads up when he movie is done so we can see your bow in action.
Title: Re: The Movie Bows.....for some really BIG Elves
Post by: Dave Dellinger on January 20, 2009, 10:34:14 pm
Do you not have to follow the rings with hickory?
Title: Re: The Movie Bows.....for some really BIG Elves
Post by: sailordad on January 20, 2009, 10:36:30 pm
dave,
you dont have to chase a growth ring if your back is pristeen,just ppel off the bark and thats the back,you do need to follw the grain though.
this bow he said was from a board
Title: Re: The Movie Bows.....for some really BIG Elves
Post by: John B. on January 20, 2009, 10:45:55 pm
Nice.  It looks a lot like the Pearson hickory recurves fron the 50s and 60s.
Title: Re: The Movie Bows.....for some really BIG Elves
Post by: orcbow on January 20, 2009, 10:47:14 pm
Gnomes are the little ones, they like to build stuff, Think Santa's little helpers.

Elves are tall,  they like wine and dancing, and archery too!

But then this is just word-play. Call 'em what you want. Cause it's fantasy after all.

Cool Bow piper!
Title: Re: The Movie Bows.....for some really BIG Elves
Post by: Dave Dellinger on January 20, 2009, 11:24:14 pm
My answer didn't post..

I have a hickory board bow cut out and seasoning. I went through boards for at least an hour before I found one that would allow me to follow the rings. I thought ALL selfbows needed to follow the rings on the back.
Title: Re: The Movie Bows.....for some really BIG Elves
Post by: islandpiper on January 20, 2009, 11:34:34 pm
Dave, if you only wasted an hour you're still doing OK.    :) :)



piper
Title: Re: The Movie Bows.....for some really BIG Elves
Post by: knap_123 on January 20, 2009, 11:56:51 pm
whats the string made of and how many threads?
Title: Re: The Movie Bows.....for some really BIG Elves
Post by: islandpiper on January 21, 2009, 12:11:17 am
The string is B-50 from 3-rivers (fast and polite delivery) , seven tan and seven red.  Served with nylon.  Flemish loop on one end and bowyers knot at the other.   

Nocks not complete, as you see.   I'll post more pics when i get back to it.   piper
Title: Re: The Movie Bows.....for some really BIG Elves
Post by: Cromm on January 21, 2009, 07:13:32 am
Great keep us all posted....
Title: Re: The Movie Bows.....for some really BIG Elves
Post by: cracker on January 21, 2009, 07:27:46 am
If there is one thing that I've learned it is that the longer bows are always the smoothest.Ron
Title: Re: The Movie Bows.....for some really BIG Elves
Post by: islandpiper on February 13, 2009, 12:16:03 am
Here is a story that ran in the Baton Rouge news paper today.  No brag, just fact.   I'm looking forward to having some more bowyers stop in and say hello!!

http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/livingston_tangipahoa/39456687.html

Keep an eye out for the movie!!

piper
Title: Re: The Movie Bows.....for some really BIG Elves
Post by: Pappy on February 13, 2009, 07:45:40 am
Cool story. :)
   Pappy
Title: Re: The Movie Bows.....for some really BIG Elves
Post by: Jesse on February 13, 2009, 11:15:44 am
Thats great. What a cool article. violins are a bit out of my league so I admire the skill and knowledge it takes to make one correctly. I imagine learning to make long bows was a bit faster process  :)
Title: Re: The Movie Bows.....for some really BIG Elves
Post by: El Destructo on February 13, 2009, 11:38:10 am
Dave you don't have to follow a Ring on a Board Bow....I just make sure that I get either Biased Cut or Quartersawn Lumber....and don't worry about the Back....just look for grain run-off on the sides....get one with as little run-off as possible.
Title: Re: The Movie Bows.....for some really BIG Elves
Post by: Dane on February 13, 2009, 12:04:39 pm
This is intersting that they want bows that really function for this shoot. Are the actors going to be able to handle even reasonable draw weight for multiple shots? My understanding is most movie bows are props, not the real thing. That is true with Scropion King and the Lord of the Rings trilogy.

Are these going to be hero props, or will they make copies for various other shots? A hero prop, if you have not heard the term, is a prop used for close ups. For longer shots, they use similar props that don't have to look good, or ones they destroy as part of the film's story. The sword used in Robin Hood (the horrible Kevin Costner version) was something like six different swords. One was heavier and more cumbersom to make the evil Sherrif look weak and silly during the sword fight at the end, if my memory serves me right.

Dane
Title: Re: The Movie Bows.....for some really BIG Elves
Post by: hawkbow on February 13, 2009, 12:38:43 pm
Well done brother, I look forward to seeing your work in the upcoming film.. great to see someone with honor and integrity building bows for film. ... Hawk