Re: [Paddlewise] Subject: Re: tank tests

From: Michael Daly <mikedaly_at_magma.ca>
Date: Mon, 13 Sep 2004 02:28:30 -0400
On 10 Sep 2004 at 22:20, Dave Kruger wrote:

> I've certainly done sillier things as research, and
> gotten paid to do them

Me too - except I discovered how hard it is to get quantitative 
information from video cameras underwater (tank tests of icebreaker 
hulls in frozen towing tanks).  Qualitative is easy (ooh - look what 
happened!), but getting numbers is another story.

I also spent a fascinating afternoon with a fellow in a warehouse 
next door to a towing tank in CA where they (years later) did Titanic 
filming in between research.  I was consulting with the towing tank 
owner and he introduced me to the definitely-off-the-wall neighbour 
with his head in the clouds and feet in Hollywood.  He did special 
effects work for anyone as well as technical film work for scientists 
and engineers.  In his free time, he made monster movies (?!?)

He showed me all his gadgets, widgets and thingies, many military 
surplus, to make films that could be _measured_ to get real data in 
the towing tanks.  That was in 1981 and computer technology would 
make a lot of it easier today, but it's still a big task to use a 
camera to get real data in the water.  Also, big bucks.

Hey, I'd do it if someone has the money...

:-)

Mike
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Received on Sun Sep 12 2004 - 23:26:02 PDT

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