Identification of biplane in B movie

Romani · 4 March 2010, 10:03 AM

I cropped this from a B-movie poster starring Bud Spencer and Terence Hill, "All the way boys" Can anybody identify the biplane? I am curious

YavorD · 4 March 2010, 10:13 AM

Belly fuel tank and many other details speak Curtiss, 1930s.
Regards,
Yavor

Lufbery · 4 March 2010, 10:24 AM

Yavor,

You're exceptionally knowledgeable, so I hesitate to disagree,

but that looks like a modified Boeing F4B (click for image) to me.

It looks like the fuel tank was moved to make room for a second seat -- unless Boeing made a two-seater at that time.

Romani · 4 March 2010, 10:26 AM

Thank you, I hope somebody can come up with a more precise identification, my references on this period are sadly lacking

And while you are at it, what about this biplane seaplane? The poster is so good, I have to post it in its entirety

Here it is

YavorD · 4 March 2010, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lufbery

Yavor,

You're exceptionally knowledgeable, so I hesitate to disagree,

but that looks like a modified Boeing F4B (click for image) to me.

It looks like the fuel tank was moved to make room for a second seat -- unless Boeing made a two-seater at that time.

My statements were proved wrong quite often

Boeing F4B / P-12 was a little stubby biplane. I am not aware about such a Boeing two-seater.
Curtiss and Boeing were rivals for Army / Navy orders at the time and often produced competitive designs. Nevertheless, it is more Curtiss than Boeing, IMHO, e.g. radial-engined Curtiss Falcon (Cyclone Falcon, Model 37F), but hardly exact match to any particular design

Regards,
Yavor

Romani · 5 March 2010, 03:38 AM

I downloaded the movie, I saw it as a kid in school

. I liked it because it had lots of old airplanes, Dakota, Catalina, and others.

The poster is creative license by the artist, in the movie at some time the heroes repair and fly a derelict Stearman. Guess the artist knew something about airplanes and thought a Boeing or Curtiss looked better.

I don't rule out the possibility of a trainer version, but I guess is either a Curtiss or Boeing fighter. In fact I would rule out the two-seater theory as the heads of the crew look too small in relation to the engine.

Romani · 5 March 2010, 03:52 AM

And what about the seaplane? Here's a cropped pic for easier viewing

And another question for real experts in ancient aviation, is that a pterodactyl or a pteranodon?

I never know wich is wich

BuzPezold · 5 March 2010, 04:18 AM

Romani,

I think the seaplane is a VICKERS VIKING. Here's a link:Vickers Viking

As for the pterodactyl/pteronodon perhaps it is a RODEN RODAN!

Buz

EricGoedkoop · 5 March 2010, 07:43 AM

Looks likes a gigantic Rhamphorhynchus.

Pteranodon didn't have teeth - hence the name.

Romani · 5 March 2010, 02:28 PM

Lufbery is right, after careful examination is indeed a Boeing F4B, very pretty airplane!

Buz, you are right about the Vickers Viking, would never have guessed, I thought it was a Royal Navy seaplane

Eric, the teeth are artistic license, but when I looked up Rhamphorhynchus, I came up with this beast.

Quetzalcoatlus northropi, amusing that it also has an airplane name!

Thank you all for your responses, now I have to find thrdr "lost world" movies!