Peter Jackson & Weta Workshop NZ WW1 Museum Exhibitions (1 Viewer)

[Desertkiwi]

Hi Guys, I managed to shoot down to our capital, Wellington earlier this week to visit both the Peter Jackson & Weta Workshop WW1 exhibitions. Jacksons exhibition is located at our National War Memorial museum and Weta Workshops at our National museum of NZ called "Te Papa".

I was not disappointed, both are quite different in one sense but are no less stunning, both visually and in text. It was at times a deeply moving experience, but also incredibly engrossing, with the highlight being Jacksons huge WW1 Gallipoli (Chunuk Bair) diorama and Weta's massive life-like figures.

You certainly don't need to be into WW1 to appreciate these exhibitions.

Anyway, I will post a few pic's over the next few days to highlight some of the many attractions.

Cheers.

 

[Desertkiwi]

 

[Desertkiwi]

 

[Desertkiwi]

 

[Desertkiwi]

 

[Desertkiwi]

 

[Desertkiwi]

I can't emphasize enough how big this diorama actually is in real life, with over 5,000 hand painted figures on an accurate scaled landscape. Our few snaps don't do it justice and there are parts of the display we couldn't get photographs of due to the large glass protection panels. Hopefully you'll get an idea of the scale of the huge display by our few photographs.

The display depicts the first morning of the defence of 'Chunuk Bair' (Gallipoli) by NZ forces and shows Rhododendron Spur, the long ridge leading up to the crest, over which the troops had to advance while being exposed to Turkish fire from the surrounding hilltops.

Reinforcements are depicted moving to support the soldiers of the 'Wellington' Battalion who are shown defending the former Turkish trenches from fierce Turkish counter attacks.

The "Wellington's" took Chunuk Bair on the 8th August 1915, which was led by Lieutenant Colonel MALONE. NZ and British forces were later driven from Chunuk Bair by the Turks on the 10th August 1915.

 

[Desertkiwi]

 

[Desertkiwi]

You'll notice the text (in green) attached to some of the glass protection panels. These tell the story of what is hapening in the display at various stages of that particular day. It also helps put into context the importance of the Australian's battle to hold 'Lone Pine', which was planned as a diversion for the Kiwi's to take Chunuk Bair.

 

[Fitzgibbon]

Sensational Toddie and the big figures so life-like but not so sure about #94

 

[vandilay]

Nice photos , when we visited both exhibitions they where too crowded to get decent photos. Looking forward to your shots of the giant figures at Te papa they are outstanding.

 

[The Military Workshop]

Great pics Toddy. Very good for giving an idea of how big the diorama is. NZ lucky to have Peter Jackson but when you see him next can you ask him to get a move on with his Dambusters Movie !{sm4}. Thanks for posting.

The picture of you beside the statue outside with the two guys and a donkey. For those that may not be aware the statue is Private Richard Alexander "Dick" Henderson MM (26 August 1895 – 14 November 1958) . He was a school-teacher who served with the New Zealand Medical Corps at Gallipoli. Like the Australian John Simpson Kirkpatrick, he used a donkey to carry wounded soldiers from the battlefield. He was later honoured with a Military Medal for repeatedly rescuing wounded from the battlefield while under heavy fire at the Battle of the Somme. A well known artwork of Henderson and his donkey was long thought to be of Simpson until many years later Henderson pointed out it was him.

 

[TomNT]

You look like a bouncer in some of those pic's Toddy! ^&grin

Thanks for posting mate, that dio looks absolutely awesome. The other exhibits look great as well. I bet your bro was suitably impressed.

Tom

 

[waynepoo]

You're as bad as Tom Cruise, managed to get yourself in nearly every frame....:rolleyes2: Give PJ a 'Onya' next time you're around his place for a Barbie.....^&grin
Wayne.

 

[lancer]

This is a spectacular museum. The 5000 figure battlefield is just unbelievable. I'm really impressed with the life-size displays, especially the artillery piece, the limber with the riders, and the French M/F aircraft in Belgian colors. Nice pictures and thanks for posting them. -- Al

 

[DMNamiot]

Hi Toddy,

Loved seeing the MKIV Tank going over the trench display! Really amazing how they captured the look of terror on the German Soldiers face. The Gallipoli display is about as cool as it comes for a TS display! Thanks for sharing them with us

Dave

 

[Desertkiwi]

Nice photos , when we visited both exhibitions they where too crowded to get decent photos. Looking forward to your shots of the giant figures at Te papa they are outstanding.

Thanks mate, yeah I'd been told to avoid weekend visits because of the crowds so arrived on Tuesday, however on Wednesday two giant Cruise Ships slipped into town and guess where the tourists ended up? On top of that Prince Charles & Camilia arrived on Wednesday as well and laid a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldlier at the War Memorial museum. So it was a bit nuts on Wednesday, which meant viewing the exhibitions was dicey.

Thankfully we managed to spend some quality time at both venues on the Tuesday with little interruption, but planned to return to 'Te Papa' the next day to visit the Weta Workshop exhibition again to get some more photographs and see more of the museum. We arrived early but it didn't matter there were bus loads already inbound and it stayed like that for most of the day.

Regardless we still enjoyed ourselves and spent more time going through the Gallipoli exhibition.

 

[Desertkiwi]

Hi Toddy,

Loved seeing the MKIV Tank going over the trench display! Really amazing how they captured the look of terror on the German Soldiers face. The Gallipoli display is about as cool as it comes for a TS display! Thanks for sharing them with us

Dave

Thanks Dave, yeah that particular display was really well done and the detail is incredible, the fear on the Germans faces say it all. You can even stand over the trench in one area which is covered in a thick glass panel and look inside the tank which is amazing. They even had pigeons in baskets inside the tank.

You'd love it mate!

 

[Desertkiwi]

This is a spectacular museum. The 5000 figure battlefield is just unbelievable. I'm really impressed with the life-size displays, especially the artillery piece, the limber with the riders, and the French M/F aircraft in Belgian colors. Nice pictures and thanks for posting them. -- Al

You'd love the exhibition Al. The limber & gun set is fantastic with the bi plane above. They are all life size, plus just out of shot to the right of that snap is a huge double decker bus full of troops. I'll try and get my bro to dig out some more pic's of that area if we can.

 

[Desertkiwi]

You look like a bouncer in some of those pic's Toddy! ^&grin

Thanks for posting mate, that dio looks absolutely awesome. The other exhibits look great as well. I bet your bro was suitably impressed.

Tom

Yeah, sorry Tom mate, but my bro insisted he took snaps with me in them and he took hundreds with his whizz-bang camera which drove me bonkers at times. Don't worry I played silly buggers in some of them, but yes the serious 'cop' face is a bit much at times^&grin