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Modelers Lounge => Time to relax => Topic started by: Jamo on May 06, 2013, 06:49:58 PM

Title: Peter Jackson's Weta Cave in Miramar, Wellington, NZ
Post by: Jamo on May 06, 2013, 06:49:58 PM

I took the family to visit The Weta Cave on the other side of Wellington, down in Miramar.

(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030503sm_zpsa5ddda41.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030503sm_zpsa5ddda41.jpg.html)

(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030610sm_zpsb6f1234b.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030610sm_zpsb6f1234b.jpg.html)

It was a popular place during the school holidays and the first thing you notice are three large mountain trolls right outside

(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030517sm_zps9bffe2c1.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030517sm_zps9bffe2c1.jpg.html)

(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030508sm_zps37ba04f1.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030508sm_zps37ba04f1.jpg.html)

(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030606sm_zps9273f268.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030606sm_zps9273f268.jpg.html)

(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030612sm_zps3c7cc9a1.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030612sm_zps3c7cc9a1.jpg.html)

Inside it is a treasure trove for anyone interested in Lord of the Rings, The Hobbit, District 9, TinTin, King Kong. There are some full size exhibits like this Gandalf figure

(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030530sm_zps52de70e4.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030530sm_zps52de70e4.jpg.html)

And Lurtz the head Uruk-Hai

(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030531sm_zpse28531bc.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030531sm_zpse28531bc.jpg.html)

This cave Ork from Morea was hanging right over the sales counter (full size and badly in need of dental work)

(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030600sm_zpsaf3c9d36.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030600sm_zpsaf3c9d36.jpg.html)

Young prawn from District 9 movie:
(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030591sm_zps52fcc8a8.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030591sm_zps52fcc8a8.jpg.html)

(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030590sm_zps521609db.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030590sm_zps521609db.jpg.html)

If you have seen District 9 this Arc Generator is an awesome weapon

(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030592sm_zps533c5b57.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030592sm_zps533c5b57.jpg.html)

Silicon Hobbit feet

(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030597sm_zps9e37bef4.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030597sm_zps9e37bef4.jpg.html)

LotR helmets, all full size
(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030594sm_zps8ecb7969.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030594sm_zps8ecb7969.jpg.html)

Gear for the Avatar movie made by Weta Workshops
(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030572sm_zpsf774c6d4.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030572sm_zpsf774c6d4.jpg.html)

Then there was all the collectable stuff, movie memorabilia for sale, this from King Kong:
(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030547sm_zpsad4fa9aa.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030547sm_zpsad4fa9aa.jpg.html)

All sculpted by the Weta artists, cast in polystone resin and painted in China
(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030550sm_zpsdfc38715.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030550sm_zpsdfc38715.jpg.html)

TinTin stuff:
(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030544sm_zps3aa39e38.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030544sm_zps3aa39e38.jpg.html)

(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030543sm_zps85f9cf0b.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030543sm_zps85f9cf0b.jpg.html)

(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030541sm_zps16e533d7.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030541sm_zps16e533d7.jpg.html)

Not sure where this one comes from:
(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030556sm_zps3fcea3d6.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030556sm_zps3fcea3d6.jpg.html)

Balin the Dwarf
(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030582sm_zpsab1214d5.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030582sm_zpsab1214d5.jpg.html)

This figurine of Nazgul vs Eowyn is made to order and cast in bronze, selling for USD$4,900 (sorry about all the reflections)
(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030578sm_zps7b800332.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030578sm_zps7b800332.jpg.html)

This model of Rivendell was extraordinarily detailed:
(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030536sm_zpsa861e215.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030536sm_zpsa861e215.jpg.html)

(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030537sm_zps2e512174.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030537sm_zps2e512174.jpg.html)

The model of Barad Dur was very imposing, weighs 10kg and is an exact copy of the model made for the movie (except for the size)
(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030538sm_zps78505fe7.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030538sm_zps78505fe7.jpg.html)

Dr Grordbort's ray guns were very whimsical
(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030520sm_zps72c32112.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030520sm_zps72c32112.jpg.html)

(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030521sm_zps07a59c35.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030521sm_zps07a59c35.jpg.html)

Bilbo's conditions of engagement:
(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030522sm_zpsfdbdf44b.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030522sm_zpsfdbdf44b.jpg.html)

And a guided tour of the movie studio is available (for a charge)
(http://i1011.photobucket.com/albums/af234/Jamo_kiwi/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030601sm_zpsb4d3c082.jpg) (http://s1011.photobucket.com/user/Jamo_kiwi/media/Peter%20Jacksons%20Weta%20Cave/P1030601sm_zpsb4d3c082.jpg.html)

If you are planning to visit New Zealand for a Vintage Aviator airshow make sure you visit the Weta Cave. Wingnut Wings isn't far from here but unfortunately they are not open to the public  ;)

http://www.wetanz.com/shop/

No I don't work for them, but I do admire their talent

Title: Re: Peter Jackson's Weta Cave in Miramar, Wellington, NZ
Post by: mike in calif on May 08, 2013, 02:46:34 AM

Great pics Jamo, thanks for the glimpse.

Title: Re: Peter Jackson's Weta Cave in Miramar, Wellington, NZ
Post by: Lyle on May 08, 2013, 02:54:36 AM

Incredible!   :D

Title: Re: Peter Jackson's Weta Cave in Miramar, Wellington, NZ
Post by: coyotemagic on May 08, 2013, 03:00:23 AM

Very cool stuff, Jamo.  Just added it to the bucket list NZ trip itinerary.  Thanks for posting.
Cheers,
Bud

Title: Re: Peter Jackson's Weta Cave in Miramar, Wellington, NZ
Post by: pepperman42 on May 08, 2013, 11:12:32 PM

So whatcha buy the bronze Nazgul vs Eowyn or another WNW W29? :o Interesting spot. Thanks for the pictures!!

Steve

Title: Re: Peter Jackson's Weta Cave in Miramar, Wellington, NZ
Post by: bbrockel on May 09, 2013, 09:06:45 AM

Thanks for the photos, James.  Some great models/memorabilia from some of my favorite movies.