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orzel-w
Galactic Ambassador
Joined: 19 Sep 2014
Posts: 1865
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 Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 7:14 am Post subject: Mystery Men (1999) |
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Looks like I'm kicking off this thread. So I'll start it with something you haven't seen before. Here's my just-finished drawing (initial release) of the Herkimer Battle Jitney, by far and away the most accurate representation found on the Internet:
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WayneO
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Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)
Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17637
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 3:34 pm Post subject: |
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In gratitude for initiating a thread on this enjoyable movie, and for the fine drafting you did on the Herkimer Battle Jitney, please accept our prestigious Emerald Duck Call Award.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
Last edited by Bud Brewster on Wed Dec 30, 2015 6:00 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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orzel-w
Galactic Ambassador
Joined: 19 Sep 2014
Posts: 1865
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| Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2015 4:01 am Post subject: |
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Owing to the enthusiastic interest in this thread, I wanted to share the latest news about the current location of the Herkimer Battle Jitney. Following up a lead posted on the Hemmings vehicle site, I scoured the Street Views on Google Maps and found these images.
Address: 13990 Valley Blvd., Fontana, CA
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WayneO
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orzel-w
Galactic Ambassador
Joined: 19 Sep 2014
Posts: 1865
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| Posted: Fri Jan 01, 2016 1:53 pm Post subject: |
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Here are photos from the friend of a friend who visited the property on 29 Dec 2015, subsequent to our determining the location. The work done on the vehicle is a refit or revamp rather than a restoration. Alterations include the following —
CHANGED/ADDED:
front grille frame
side windows
entry hatch
tail lights
backup lights
license plate frame and light
tires and rims
misc diamond plate panels
rear suspension
REMOVED:
"nuclear magnet"
front bumper and lights
misc grab handles
gladhands
"Pakawalup" nose art
side mirrors
front fender middle panels
"Herkimer" emblem
roof vents
jerry cans
running lights
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WayneO
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Last edited by orzel-w on Sat Dec 02, 2017 4:14 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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orzel-w
Galactic Ambassador
Joined: 19 Sep 2014
Posts: 1865
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| Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2016 5:17 am Post subject: |
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I'll just bring this up to date with the latest background info.
The vehicle was built on the frame of a 1979 Ford C-series semi tractor by the former KPK Truck Body Manufacturing & Equipment Distr. Co., 3045 Verdugo Rd, Los Angeles, CA, according to Richard Iniestra, son of the former owner of the shop. Richard supplied these photos of the Battle Jitney under construction.
This model of the Ford truck had only a single rear axle, so KPK added a Peterbilt second rear axle.
The customary Internet "authorities" have had a field day posting rumors about the origins of the Herk. One of the more notable rumors was that it was one of a few actual military vehicles built during WWII (or in the 1950s), the six remaining now worth $30million apiece. Now that the actual build photos have been posted, the rumor has morphed into it being a replica of the original military vehicles using a truck frame with an Airstream top (this is from a "reliable source").
Curiously, no one has ever produced or turned up even one photo of such a vehicle on an assembly line, at a military base, deployed in the field, or in a car collector's collection.
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WayneO
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Krel.
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Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)
Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17637
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2016 12:32 pm Post subject: |
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Hot damn, now THAT'S what I'm talkin' 'bout, folks! 
Wayne, I love those "work in progress" photos, and after seeing those sad pictures you posted earlier, showing the poor Herk in her declining years in the parking lot, rusting away in obscurity, it's great to have these shots that show the proud birth and development of the machine.
And damn, it looks so solid! Movie props are famous for fooling us into thinking they're well-made and fully functioning mechanisms, when they're actually constructed just well enough to look good on camera until the movie is finished — and sometimes they've fallen apart before shooting has even been completed!
The Herk is a fine example of something that was built with pride and professionalism. Getting to know this prop better (thanks to you) raises our enjoyment of the movie.
Keep them updates a'comin', Wayne! We're a captive audience.
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
Last edited by Bud Brewster on Fri Mar 03, 2023 10:28 am; edited 2 times in total |
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orzel-w
Galactic Ambassador
Joined: 19 Sep 2014
Posts: 1865
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| Posted: Thu Feb 18, 2016 3:29 pm Post subject: |
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| Krel wrote: | | When the movie came out, I read that it was a modified GM Futurliner. Comparison photos of the Futuliner, and the Battle Jitney quickly killed that. |
Yeah, that was another popular rumor, as if the studio would acquire a really expensive collector's vehicle and trash it, when it could very easily be built from a variety of base vehicles in abundant supply available at practically no cost. ...And avoid the wrath of rabid Futurliner collectors.
A number of vehicles have been claimed as the original base vehicle. Any unusual, preferably older, van or truck with a high cab and tall radiator grille, or even most anything with twin rear axles is eligible. ("It's a deuce-and-a-half!") What's really been annoying in conducting online searches to collect what information about the Herk is available are the countless "It's a Herkimer Battle Jitney!" comments posted about any unusual rugged-looking vehicle, whether there's the faintest resemblance or not. They all turn up in the searches.
I did run across an old custom-built vehicle that I thought might have served as an inspiration for the look of the Herk. It was a 1938 Seagram's delivery van built by Diamond T.
Compare that with the conceptual artwork for the Jitney:
I even found photos of its rusting hulk in some salvage yard.
| Bud Brewster wrote: | | ...after seeing those sad pictures you posted earlier, showing the poor Herk in her declining years in the parking lot, rusting away in obscurity, it's great to have these shots that show the proud birth and development of the machine. |
Those photos actually show the Herk in a partially refurbished condition. The "classic" post production photo that's commonly seen shows how bad it actually got:
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WayneO
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Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)
Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17637
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 1:02 am Post subject: |
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| orzel-w wrote: | | Bud Brewster wrote: | | ...after seeing those sad pictures you posted earlier, showing the poor Herk in her declining years in the parking lot, rusting away in obscurity, it's great to have these shots that show the proud birth and development of the machine. |
Those photos actually show the Herk in a partially refurbished condition. The "classic" post production photo that's commonly seen shows how bad it actually got. |
Ah-ha! So, those aren't pictures of it's birth, their pictures of it's salvation — a born-again Battle Jitney.
Praise the Lord . . . and pass the ammunition!
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
Last edited by Bud Brewster on Fri Mar 03, 2023 10:35 am; edited 2 times in total |
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orzel-w
Galactic Ambassador
Joined: 19 Sep 2014
Posts: 1865
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| Posted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 2:47 pm Post subject: |
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| Bud Brewster wrote: | | Ah-ha! So, those aren't pictures of it's birth, their pictures of it's salvation — a born-again Battle Jitney. |
Yes. The photos in the parking lot are the refurb condition. Check out my post of Fri Jan 01, 2016. The photos in the workshop are its birth.
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WayneO
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Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)
Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17637
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Mon May 02, 2016 11:12 pm Post subject: |
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I am SO ready to watch this one again, since I realized I had sold it short in the past and gained a new appreciation for it. Here's a great trailer.
If you're into streaming and downloading, Watchfree.to offers quite a few sources, including one of my favorite sites, Vidzi.tv, the link below.
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___ Mystery Men (1999) Original Theatrical Trailer
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_________________
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
Last edited by Bud Brewster on Fri Mar 03, 2023 10:36 am; edited 2 times in total |
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orzel-w
Galactic Ambassador
Joined: 19 Sep 2014
Posts: 1865
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| Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 8:58 pm Post subject: |
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Time for an update.
On 8 Nov (last month) two cohorts and I got permission from its current owner to visit the former Herkimer Battle Jitney at its present location. We collected several photos and measurements and were able to explore it thoroughly. It had been modified quite a bit by its former owner, but I've been able pretty well to parse out the modifications.
Here are my two friends really "getting into it".
From the front they look more like this (Dennis on the left, Mikel on the right)...
Here's proof that I was there as well.
From the photos and measurements I was able to update my drawing to a more accurate representation. (All you 3D artists, start reworking your virtual models. I pretty much had to redraw my 2D.)
A larger version can be downloaded here:
https://orzel-w.deviantart.com/art/Herkimer-Battle-Jitney-491541116
The current owner's employee showed up after awhile and offered to start it up for us. We said, "I don't know; let us think about it." (Right, uh-huh.) So for some action videos, check out these (Sorry, Imgur doesn't seem to preserve the sound.):
https://i.imgur.com/zEZjXyE.mp4
https://i.imgur.com/pzUSmrL.mp4
Mikel runs a blog here with more comprehensive coverage of the Herk:
https://tinyurl.com/y9sdonfn
_________________
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WayneO
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Last edited by orzel-w on Sat Dec 02, 2017 9:26 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Bud Brewster
Galactic Fleet Admiral (site admin)
Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 17637
Location: North Carolina
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| Posted: Sat Dec 02, 2017 9:20 pm Post subject: |
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A fantastic post, Wayne!
The photos are great, the CAD is remarkable, and those videos are astoundingly sharp. Good job.
_________________
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Is there no man on Earth who has the wisdom and innocence of a child?
~ The Space Children (1958)
Last edited by Bud Brewster on Fri Mar 03, 2023 10:41 am; edited 1 time in total |
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Maurice
Starship Navigator
Joined: 14 Dec 2013
Posts: 542
Location: 3rd Rock
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2017 2:25 am Post subject: |
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"Battle Jitney" always struck me as an odd name, like someone heard of a "jitney bus" and decided to play with the name, not realizing that a "jitney bus" is a "nickel bus" that, as its name suggests, has a fare of 5₵.
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"The absence of limitations is the enemy of art."
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Custer
Space Sector Commander
Joined: 22 Aug 2015
Posts: 929
Location: Earth
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| Posted: Mon Dec 04, 2017 6:49 am Post subject: |
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| Maurice wrote: | | "Battle Jitney" always struck me as an odd name, like someone heard of a "jitney bus" and decided to play with the name, not realizing that a "jitney bus" is a "nickel bus" that, as its name suggests, has a fare of 5₵. |
How interesting. I had come across the word "jitney," and would if anything have connected it to a rather informal, unlicensed or shared taxi, but it does look as if the nickel-fare bus use came earlier. "Speculated to originate from Louisiana Creole French jetn'e, from French jeton ("token, coin-sized metal disc")," Wiktionary tells us. |
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