Sky Captain And The World Of Tomorrow

[Cold Steel]

Did anyone seen this movie at all? I thought it was fantastic in that it showed all the pulp elements and was a little sad that it did not make it in the Pulp Hero resources list in the back of the book at all.

[clsage]

Did anyone seen this movie at all? I thought it was fantastic in that it showed all the pulp elements and was a little sad that it did not make it in the Pulp Hero resources list in the back of the book at all.

Hmmm....Well, I've only read the novelization (and that was back when the
film was first released) but I agree the setting has potential. As for why it
didn't make the 'resource list cut' ? I'm not in the know but just a guess is
that the printing of Pulp Hero might predate the release of the film (the film
came out in...2004. I don't yet own a copy of Pulp Hero so I can't check the
printing date...).

Just my slightly greater than $.02US.

-Carl-

[Thia Halmades]

I was on the list of not fans of this film, but certainly it had Pulp elements. Not enough Nazis were punched for my tastes, though.

[Steve Long]

I saw it... which is why I didn't put it on the PH filmography. I thought it was just awful.

[steamteck]

I agree and I am an enormous pulp fan. Pulp conventions tend to be natural law in my campaigns. I was very disappointed. seemed put together by someone who knew most of the genre troupes but didn't really get The spirit of the Pulps to me.

[BobGreenwade]

I actually enjoyed the film quite a bit (except that I thought Angelina Jolie's character was rather underused, or else oversold). I'd always assumed that it was omitted because it was more "neo-Pulp," not really a product of the era.

[Opal]

I like SCatWoT just fine, but yes the whole thing was kinda 'neo pulp' - kind of to pulp what streamline modern is to art deco. So, it looks like pulp, unless you're really, really into pulp.

Personally I found the deviations acceptable, though the pacing wasn't that great, and it never quite came together. It had very much the feel of a lot of really cool ideas for scenes strung together so that all the really cool scenes could be used. Considering that the whole venture started with the scene of robots attacking New York, I may even be right.

It would probably be remembered as a revolutionary new style of filmaking, too, if Sin City hadn't come out around the same time...

[Inu]

I like SCatWoT just fine, but yes the whole thing was kinda 'neo pulp' - kind of to pulp what streamline modern is to art deco. So, it looks like pulp, unless you're really, really into pulp.

Personally I found the deviations acceptable, though the pacing wasn't that great, and it never quite came together. It had very much the feel of a lot of really cool ideas for scenes strung together so that all the really cool scenes could be used. Considering that the whole venture started with the scene of robots attacking New York, I may even be right.

It would probably be remembered as a revolutionary new style of filmaking, too, if Sin City hadn't come out around the same time...
'Around the same time' being 'over a year apart'. ^_-

I loved the film, myself. The pacing/editing was a little odd at times, but I thought it did manage to contribute to the weird flavour of the film. I'm not too familiar with pulp, myself, so I had no preconceptions it had to live up to. I liked the stuff it had, and the oddball nature, and how it kept entirely consistent to its tone, without dropping the mask once.

[wrestlinggeek]

I liked the movie very much. If I ever get to run the pulp campaign rattling around in the back of my head, I will definitely steal some stuff for it. Of course, just about everything steal-worthy was used previously somewhere else. Plus I just love the villain's name. Totenkoff (sp?)

[McCoy]

I liked the movie very much. If I ever get to run the pulp campaign rattling around in the back of my head, I will definitely steal some stuff for it. Of course, just about everything steal-worthy was used previously somewhere else. Plus I just love the villain's name. Totenkoff (sp?)
I liked the movie, and I found the casting for the villian more approperate than I thought it would be.

[The Monster]

I put it in the 'nice try' category - a few decent ideas, a lot of botched ones. My biggest complaints: too much copy-and-paste - even *one* of those giant robots stomping thru the city would have been an impressive demonstration; to have hundreds or thousands was just ludicrous. Talk about taking suspension of disbelief and wringing its neck like a rebellious chicken! The other was, given a fleet of five - five!! - zeppelins at Captain's base, why *why* did they have to just blow them *all* up? Useless waste of potential!

[Spence]

I actually enjoyed it a lot. But I didn't look at is as a Pulp Movie. But rather as a collage of Pulp tropes loosely tied together. It had them all, Robots, Airships, Fighters, Rockets and so on.

I believe they knew it would be a one shot and so had fun. With the exception of Indiana Jones most Pulpy movies were either not properly promoted or they missed. Nate & Hayes, The Shadow, The Rocketeer, The Phantom and so on.

[Shaft]

Totenkopf: Skull or Death's Head. So that villain's name translates to Dr Skull.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totenkopf

[starblaze]

I thought that as movies go it was pretty much 'style over substance'. They put pretty special effects in it but the acting was very bland and the plot didn't really work for me.

[SSgt Baloo]

I thought that as movies go it was pretty much 'style over substance'. They put pretty special effects in it but the acting was very bland and the plot didn't really work for me.

From what I understand, Sky Captain was supposed to be a technology demonstrator to call the industry's attention to the capabilities of realistic CGI. I liked seeing all the "neat toys" but regretted that it wasn't really aimed at pulp fans.

[FireTiger]

I like the film, though I agree it isn't really Pulp, though it is Pulp-ish in its own ways.

One of the reasons I liked it is from the nods made in the film to various ideas and works from around the Pulp era.

The initial scene with the marching robots draws a lot from the 2nd of the Superman animated shorts: The Mechanical Monsters (1941). Robot #5 from that short even makes an appearance as one of the non-functional machines in storage at Sky Captain's base.

Polly's telephone report on the approach of machines over the city takes several lines directly from the radio broadcast of The War of the Worlds (1938). To be specific, the lines are from a radio-announcer's description of the Martian anti-personnel weapon—the Black Smoke—as it approaches his position on the roof of the broadcasting building.

The sound effects used for some of the beam weapons employed by the robots comes from sound effects created for the 1953 film version of The War of the Worlds. The sound effect for the Martian heat ray in particular.

The line borrowed from The Empire Strikes Back that was used for when Joe & Polly are about to land on the hover-carrier I thought a little out of place, though.

The story takes place somewhen in the 1940s, which puts it out of the Pulp-era in general. I think that films like this can provide a bit of inspiration when creating one's own Pulp material, SCatWoT, in particular for runs that emphasize weird science plots.

Oh yes, almost forgot this one (pardon me while I drop it into Spoiler tags, just in case):
The atomic boosters that would have ignited the atmosphere echo some real fears from the early days weapon's research. There were those who thought that when we tested the first bomb we'd get a non-stop reaction, with results like the boosters would have caused.

There are probably other tidbits like that in the film, those above are only what I recall having noticed.

[Ian Mackinder]

I enjoyed the movie. OK, not the greatest movie ever, but it was entertaining AND had a vague senblance of a storyline and likable characters - which is all I ask for. Never felt that seeing it was a total waste of my time or money. Easy to please, maybe.

[eternal_sage]

From what I understand, Sky Captain was supposed to be a technology demonstrator to call the industry's attention to the capabilities of realistic CGI. I liked seeing all the "neat toys" but regretted that it wasn't really aimed at pulp fans.

not only is this more or less correct, but it goes deeper than this. apparently the guy showed the technology demonstration (which was a bunch of planes and robots blowing up, all disjointed and plotless) and the studio said "yes! thats awesome. make THAT into a feature length film!" it was just a demo reel, and it didn't even have a script until after large portions of the CG had been done. thats why the movie tanked. its was all just smoke and mirrors.

[The Monster]

Totenkopf: Skull or Death's Head. So that villain's name translates to Dr Skull.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Totenkopf


Or Doctor Deadhead.

(...and his Mellow Truckers of Doom!!!!) :cool:

[GamePhil]

The thing I hated the most was the wasted potential. I remember thinking at the time that it had enough cool visuals and the atoms of concepts to go into a small group of movies or even a long-running series, if they had been developed and extended. Thinking back, it may have only made it to one somewhat longer, actually good movie (with respect to DW, who once said something like that), but that was my impression at the time.

Cool to look at, possibly even a good movie to get visual inspiration from, but overall a disappointment.

[Inu]

Or Doctor Deadhead.

(...and his Mellow Truckers of Doom!!!!) :cool:
I like Death's Head, myself, for a bit of a poetic turn. =)

[Spence]

I like the film, though I agree it isn't really Pulp, though it is Pulp-ish in its own ways.

The story takes place somewhen in the 1940s, which puts it out of the Pulp-era in general.


Actually the Pulp Era ran from the 1920's to the 1950's. Though I am pretty sure they were mostly gone by 46-48ish. But I don't really know. If you trust the Wikipedia it says the first recognized Pulp was Frank Munsey's revamped Argosy Magazine of 1896 and the 1957 bankruptcy of the American News Company as marking the end of the "pulp era. But then I have yet to find many people who can agree on it.

All of the things in the movie, from the fighter becomeing a sub, to robots, to the rockets were all inspired by Pulp rags in the era. While I prefer 1930-1939ish, the 1940's were still in the Pulp era.



From what I understand, Sky Captain was supposed to be a technology demonstrator to call the industry's attention to the capabilities of realistic CGI. I liked seeing all the "neat toys" but regretted that it wasn't really aimed at pulp fans.


That explains a lot. Thanks.

[steamteck]

I actually enjoyed it a lot. But I didn't look at is as a Pulp Movie. But rather as a collage of Pulp tropes loosely tied together. It had them all, Robots, Airships, Fighters, Rockets and so on.

I believe they knew it would be a one shot and so had fun. With the exception of Indiana Jones most Pulpy movies were either not properly promoted or they missed. Nate & Hayes, The Shadow, The Rocketeer, The Phantom and so on.


Most of those " he Shadow, The Rocketeer, and The Phantom were right on target. I really really liked Nate & Hayes but it wasn't pulp to me. If you mean they weren't huge commercial successes, You're probably right.

In sky captain I found Gweneth Paltrow a complete loss. Angelina Jolie was underused. Jude Law did just fine. The movie almost made it but fell short on many counts. Often doing the troupe of the genre but missing the spirit of it quite cleanly. I really hated the actual man was dead and his machines were carrying out his orders. Good pulp need a good villain not the machine wizard of OZ.

[Yansuf]

I didn't like the movie at all.
Particularly having the British Royal Navy had several flying aircraft carriers and airplanes that could function as submarines, with a woman as their commander. Yes, pulp did have many advanced "weird science" items, but they were never part of the regular armed forces.

[Thia Halmades]

I saw it... which is why I didn't put it on the PH filmography. I thought it was just awful.

Or I could be blunt, like this guy. You must spread some rep around before giving it to Steve Long again.

[McCoy]

not only is this more or less correct, but it goes deeper than this. apparently the guy showed the technology demonstration (which was a bunch of planes and robots blowing up, all disjointed and plotless) and the studio said "yes! thats awesome. make THAT into a feature length film!" it was just a demo reel, and it didn't even have a script until after large portions of the CG had been done. thats why the movie tanked. its was all just smoke and mirrors.
Shades of Ed Wood!

[Spence]

Most of those " he Shadow, The Rocketeer, and The Phantom were right on target. I really really liked Nate & Hayes but it wasn't pulp to me. If you mean they weren't huge commercial successes, You're probably right.

In sky captain I found Gweneth Paltrow a complete loss. Angelina Jolie was underused. Jude Law did just fine. The movie almost made it but fell short on many counts. Often doing the troupe of the genre but missing the spirit of it quite cleanly. I really hated the actual man was dead and his machines were carrying out his orders. Good pulp need a good villain not the machine wizard of OZ.

Yep :D As a cohesive movies it was weak. But I just enjoyed all the bits.

On Nate & Hayes, it wasn't pulp as such, but it had some Pulpy elements. Plus the period was right. A tweek here and nudge there and it could have easily been Pulp. So I use it to pad out my pulp movie list :D

[Kristopher]

I didn't like the movie at all.
Particularly having the British Royal Navy had several flying aircraft carriers and airplanes that could function as submarines, with a woman as their commander. Yes, pulp did have many advanced "weird science" items, but they were never part of the regular armed forces.

And that's actually something I've never liked about the pulp/supers genre span -- the best weaponry and military tech is almost always in private hands, the complete reverse of how things actually work.

[Inu]

Most of those " he Shadow, The Rocketeer, and The Phantom were right on target. I really really liked Nate & Hayes but it wasn't pulp to me. If you mean they weren't huge commercial successes, You're probably right.

In sky captain I found Gweneth Paltrow a complete loss. Angelina Jolie was underused. Jude Law did just fine. The movie almost made it but fell short on many counts. Often doing the troupe of the genre but missing the spirit of it quite cleanly. I really hated the actual man was dead and his machines were carrying out his orders. Good pulp need a good villain not the machine wizard of OZ.
Personally, I liked Gwynneth Paltrow -- she wasn't meant to be intensely likeable, but she was fun to watch. The film also wasn't 'on her side', with the amount she messed up (including one of the funniest moments, when she takes a picture of the log when she falls). Angeline Jolie was indeed amazing, but I think she was used just the right amount of time; every single moment she had on the screen was amazing. Any more time and she'd have had dull moments, which would have reduced her presence. I'm glad they resisted the urge to use her more!

[steamteck]

The thing I hated the most was the wasted potential. I remember thinking at the time that it had enough cool visuals and the atoms of concepts to go into a small group of movies or even a long-running series, if they had been developed and extended. Thinking back, it may have only made it to one somewhat longer, actually good movie (with respect to DW, who once said something like that), but that was my impression at the time.

Cool to look at, possibly even a good movie to get visual inspiration from, but overall a disappointment.


I agree. That's kind of what I was clumsily getting at but you cut to the chase.

[steamteck]

Personally, I liked Gwynneth Paltrow -- she wasn't meant to be intensely likeable, but she was fun to watch. The film also wasn't 'on her side', with the amount she messed up (including one of the funniest moments, when she takes a picture of the log when she falls). Angeline Jolie was indeed amazing, but I think she was used just the right amount of time; every single moment she had on the screen was amazing. Any more time and she'd have had dull moments, which would have reduced her presence. I'm glad they resisted the urge to use her more!




True I suppose overexposure could have lessened her presence. Paltrow has just never done much for me. She really seemed to not be into it also. Seemed very wooden. I think she was trying to be Lois Lane but failing in my book.

[Admiral C]

I liked the film and agree that it had a lot of potential. When a movie, to me, fails to be internally consistant I can still rank a film as fun or not. And Sky Captain was defiently a fun movie. And like comic book movies the bad ones that make it to the theater pave the way for the good ones to make it there. The provide the opportunity to figure out what went wrong and how they did this or that and what worked on screen and what didn't. Granted it won't prevent a flop if the producers are making a short sighted decision for a what they believe is a cash cow.

Personally I believe that good scriptwriters are where a good movie starts and and a bad movie begins too.

[Cardinal]

One of the most visually amazing films in a while. However, when you combine that with a lack of a plot and the worst on screen chemistry of two leading actors you get a BAD movie.

I echo the many calls that this was an absolute waste of great potential. I mean, come on, the name alone is completely badass. Why did the movie have to suck.

[Silverhawk]

Actually the Pulp Era ran from the 1920's to the 1950's. Though I am pretty sure they were mostly gone by 46-48ish. But I don't really know. If you trust the Wikipedia it says the first recognized Pulp was Frank Munsey's revamped Argosy Magazine of 1896 and the 1957 bankruptcy of the American News Company as marking the end of the "pulp era. But then I have yet to find many people who can agree on it.


Speaking as the holder of a degree in History, it seems that people only agree on the beginning or end when there is a definite event. Even then there are those who want to disagree.

BTW, my wife (a school librarian) hates Wikipedia for the amount of inaccurate and plain wrong info that seems to be there.

[Spence]

Speaking as the holder of a degree in History, it seems that people only agree on the beginning or end when there is a definite event. Even then there are those who want to disagree.

BTW, my wife (a school librarian) hates Wikipedia for the amount of inaccurate and plain wrong info that seems to be there.

Well the Argosy as a Pulp in 1882 is easily verifiable via multiple independent sites to include cover screen shots as well as actual content you can read. Though in 43 it switched from all fiction to mixed content and in its life had more than 10 title changes until it ceased. There were a few issues in 78 and 79, but I never saw them and can't say if someone was just banking on the name.

Weird Tales ran from 1923 to 1954, also independently verifiable.

That pretty much makes Pulp to have existed in publication from 1882 to 1954, not counting later reprints and specials. Now it also depends on what you consider Pulp. If westerns are not pulp in your mind then you will probably be disregarding one of the larger chunks of the Pulps published. But Pulp covers a very wide range of genres. Sports, Mystery, Crime, War, Old West, SciFi, Horror and on and on.

As for degrees, the library and Wiki. I am not going to list the list that brings up. I will just say that Wiki is a tool. And a tool is only as good as the user. If a Wiki listing is incorrect, it is extremely easy to fix it. If the libraries still had their old Catalog Card system (or at least had retained ALL of it’s information, namely the subject cross reference capability) then people would still go there and not places like the Wiki. But unless it is a University Library or the central branch of a major city, libraries have pretty much outlived their usefulness for the serious user of books. They sure can get that cook book though.

[st barbara]

Defining "The Pulp Era" is perhaps a little harder to do than might be supposed. Magazines such as "Argosy" and "All Story" have been mentioned as being "Pulp" but what about magazines such as "The Frank Reade Library" or "The Strand" ? I think that the sort of stories written in those magazines could easily be defined as "Pulp" and "The Frank Reade Library" was publishing S F Adventure stories in the late 1860's (The "Frank Reade Jnr" stories). Certainly the Western Pulps can trace their origins back to the nineteenth century and the proliferation of "Dime Novels" featuring the adventures of both real historical characters (such as Jesse James) and invented ones such as "Deadwood Dick" that occurred in the mid to late nineteenth century.

[Curufea]

I loved it - I saw it as the paradigm of 50's science fiction with women film noir relationships and pulp elements thrown in.

[wrestlinggeek]

You know, I always thought of it not so much as "Pulp," but more like "Republic Serial." And yes, I do realize there is a large amount of cross-over between the two.

[bubba smith]

i wish sky captain had been more sucessful it could'vbeen a great franchie movies and novels

[Hermit]

I enjoyed it a lot, though I wouldn't say it was one of my favorite movies by any stretch. I found myself pretty fond of the character "Dex" who is probably the character I am most likely to rip off if I ever do swipe some ideas from SC&tWoT

[bubba smith]

I enjoyed it a lot, though I wouldn't say it was one of my favorite movies by any stretch. I found myself pretty fond of the character "Dex" who is probably the character I am most likely to rip off if I ever do swipe some ideas from SC&tWoT
speakink of which have joe polly &dex had theit stats written up?

[Burrito Boy]

Personally, I loved this movie. The only thing that really bothered me about it and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was the wholesale slaughter of zeppelins. "Oh, the humanity!"

[Spence]

Personally, I loved this movie. The only thing that really bothered me about it and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was the wholesale slaughter of zeppelins. "Oh, the humanity!"

I guess The Rocketeer bothered you too? :sneaky:

[Burrito Boy]

I guess The Rocketeer bothered you too? :sneaky:

Actually, I haven't seen The Rocketeer. Maybe it's best that way.

[Spence]

Actually, I haven't seen The Rocketeer. Maybe it's best that way.

But its got a Zeppelin..... <dangles shiny zepplin in front of BB>

[Burrito Boy]

But its got a Zeppelin..... <dangles shiny zepplin in front of BB>

You're just trying to trick me into watching another zeppelin die. The sad thing is it's working.

[tkdguy]

Here's (http://www.airshipventures.com/) the website about a Zeppelin that is on active duty. I've seen it a couple of times on my way to work.

[AmadanNaBriona]

Here's (http://www.airshipventures.com/) the website about a Zeppelin that is on active duty. I've seen it a couple of times on my way to work.

Yeah, seen it a couple of time m'self.

It's pretty cool to suddenly spot a zeppelin overhead.

[Steve Long]

If you haven't seen The Rocketeer, stop mucking around on the Intarwebz and go watch it IMMEDIATELY. If you like Pulp stuff you won't regret it for one second. ;)

[Spence]

Here's (http://www.airshipventures.com/) the website about a Zeppelin that is on active duty. I've seen it a couple of times on my way to work.

Aarrggghhhhh no interior pics....

[BigJackBrass]

Personally, I loved this movie. The only thing that really bothered me about it and The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen was the wholesale slaughter of zeppelins. "Oh, the humanity!"
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee147/BigJackBrass/manateemini.jpg

[Spence]

Lol

[Burrito Boy]

Here's (http://www.airshipventures.com/) the website about a Zeppelin that is on active duty. I've seen it a couple of times on my way to work.

Awesome site. Being obsessed with zeppelins, I can't thank you enough.


If you haven't seen The Rocketeer, stop mucking around on the Intarwebz and go watch it IMMEDIATELY. If you like Pulp stuff you won't regret it for one second. ;)

Aye aye, Captain. :thumbup:


http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee147/BigJackBrass/manateemini.jpg

Thanks a lot, man. I nearly died laughing. You'll be hearing from my attorney.

[TheQuestionMan]

Golden Age Resources
http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1536828#post1536828

Horror Hero Resources
http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1554773#post1554773

Pulp Hero Resources
http://herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30071

Victorian Hero Resources
http://herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30759

Zeppelins! by CthulhuAd
http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=53672&highlight=Airships

News: Return of the blimp/zepellin by Curufea
http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=62168&highlight=Airships

[Compilation] "from Other Hero Forum to Pulp Hero Forum"
http://www.herogames.com/forums/showthread.php?t=30928


Cheers


QM

[Burrito Boy]

Wow, QuestionMan. How do you do it? :think:

By the way, thanks for the links. Anything about zeppelins... :love:

[TheQuestionMan]

The Algernon Files: Fires of War - Zeppelins
http://www.blackwyrm.com/FOW.htm

Provides a full map and stats for a WWII Zeppelin Aircraft Carrier and the War Planes to prove it.


;) Age brings Wisdom my young Padiwan Learner.


QM


QM

[bubba smith]

Would a series of novels based on sky captain work?

[Burrito Boy]

Would a series of novels based on sky captain work?

I don't see why not. After all there's a lot of untapped potential. One of the things that irked me about the movie was the way Sky Captain's whole squadron was destroyed early on. I guess they did that so the film could concentrate on Sky Captain (name?) and Polly. But it still horrified me to see all the wasted possibilities. Setting a series before the movie or after the planes and zeppelins were replaced would open up a lot of storylines. New characters, bigger dogfights, more weird inventions, and living villains could all help make the series successful. Especially if the writer(s) take their cues from a great pulp series like G-8 And His Battle Aces.

[Narratio]

Ooooooh..... shiney Zeppelin.... WANT!

I thought that as a Republic serial script (King of the Rocketmen anybody?) mixed with that Film Noir shadowy shooting style it was just a complete blast. As for the giant robots? SOOOOO Cool! Superman Fleisher cartoon robot cool. Loved'em.

The Rocketeer went in a completely different direction (must dig up the comics...) in that it actually had a set of characters and a plot which, while far fetched, was plausible. I re-watch that regularly. Jennifer Connelly had the 30's spunky girlfriend part locked down solid.

Blast, it's Sunday, I'm working but now I want to go watch movies.

[Spence]

Ooooooh..... shiney Zeppelin.... WANT!

I thought that as a Republic serial script (King of the Rocketmen anybody?) mixed with that Film Noir shadowy shooting style it was just a complete blast. As for the giant robots? SOOOOO Cool! Superman Fleisher cartoon robot cool. Loved'em.

The Rocketeer went in a completely different direction (must dig up the comics...) in that it actually had a set of characters and a plot which, while far fetched, was plausible. I re-watch that regularly. Jennifer Connelly had the 30's spunky girlfriend part locked down solid.

Blast, it's Sunday, I'm working but now I want to go watch movies.


I liked both and was really disappointed that they didn't make more Rocketeer movies.

[bubba smith]

Did anyone seen this movie at all? I thought it was fantastic in that it showed all the pulp elements and was a little sad that it did not make it in the Pulp Hero resources list in the back of the book at all.
maybe the book came out BEFORE sky captain did thats why its not in the resorces list

[JmOz]

If you haven't seen The Rocketeer, stop mucking around on the Intarwebz and go watch it IMMEDIATELY. If you like Pulp stuff you won't regret it for one second. ;)

Agreed, one of my two favorite pulpish superhero movies (The Shadow is the other...)

[jtelson]

maybe the book came out BEFORE sky captain did thats why its not in the resorces list

ummm, from earlier in this thread


I saw it... which is why I didn't put it on the PH filmography. I thought it was just awful.

[Curufea]

Zeppelins will be back.
Once we have this nanotech material worked out properly, they're be no reason to use a flammable gas for lighter than air transport.
It'll be "the bubbles of nothing that make it something" to quote the old Aero bar ad :)
Spheres of vacuum. Or several spheres in an aerodynamic shape.

[Burrito Boy]

Zeppelins will be back.
Once we have this nanotech material worked out properly, they're be no reason to use a flammable gas for lighter than air transport.
It'll be "the bubbles of nothing that make it something" to quote the old Aero bar ad :)
Spheres of vacuum. Or several spheres in an aerodynamic shape.

I found a site about zeppelins in GURPS that has several ideas about "vacuum lifting cells". http://dangermouse.net/gurps/zeppelin/vacuum.html

[BobGreenwade]

Zeppelins will be back.
Once we have this nanotech material worked out properly, they're be no reason to use a flammable gas for lighter than air transport.Not to disparage the nanotech material, but there's not really any reason now to use a flammable gas for that. And it isn't; helium is the norm. The only reason hydrogen was used with the Hindenburg was because helium wasn't available.

[Lawnmower Boy]

Well, if dirigibles are technically impractical, which they are,* the idea of making them less technically impractical by improving their disposable lift is the obvious road to go down before you give up. And that means replacing helium as the buoyancy gas with hydrogen.
Which was much more important to Lufthansa's thinking than the American helium export restrictions.



*Sail area is the issue here, not flammability.