Battle of the Sea of Japan 1969

Nihonkai Daikaisen Japanese title.

The miniature effects were supervised by Eiji Tsubaraya and in my view they represent the best Japanese model ship effects ever put to screen. There is an abundance of models, scenic art, pyrotechnics and miniature water tank action throughout the film. In addition there is a sprinkling of matte paintings and split screen shots where foreground actors are optically combined with miniature backgrounds.

 

Illustration of the studio tank setup.

According to Wikipedia 170 ship miniatures were built and photographed for the film using 60 technicians.

 

 

 

It was also Eiji Tsubaraya's final film.

Eiji Tsubaraya on the right.

 

 

Some of the models remained out on the backlot in the weather for many years. The ravages of time have revealed some of the construction methods. 

 

Thanks to McTodd for suggesting this title and furnishing the lions share of the visual material, quite a few years ago. My apologies for taking so long to make use of it.

Edge of Darkness 1943

 A reader of this blog suggested this title which I had never been aware of.

It has a small number of impressive visual effects miniature shots supervised by Lawrence Butler.

It starts with a German aircraft miniature and features a small flotilla of model ships and a patrol vessel in a miniature Norwegian coastal landscape. The landscape with painted background features fog on the water as well as layered clouds around the mountains making for a very atmospheric effect.