Changes: Howe and Howe Ripsaw EV1 "The Peacemaker"

Revision as of 20:55, 8 July 2015

"The Peacemaker" is The Bullet Farmer 's tracked vehicle in Mad Max: Fury Road

Technical spec.

The vehicle is a modified Howe and Howe Ripsaw EV1 "Extreme Vehicle 1" with a Valiant Charger body.

Origin

Miller Kennedy Mitchell production company contacted Geoff and Mike Howe of Howe and Howe Technologies in 2009. George Miller ordered a vehicle from H&H that would be essentially a fast track vehicle capable of driving in rough terrain and unforgiving weather conditions. H&H decided to use their EV1 Ripsaw chassis for this project, however the original design was modified by the requirements of the movie production company.^[1] Building the vehicle took 4 months and rigorous testing in the US before the vehicle was shipped to Australia where it was further modified and then shipped to Namibia. The vehicle, however turned out to be problematic.

Howe_and_Howe_Tech_S02E04_Hollywood_Howes — Howe and Howe Tech S02E04 Hollywood Howes

Mechanical changes

Originally the Ripsaw had a 1000hp supercharged 509 New World big block V8 engine.^[2] Upon arriving in Namibia it came to the attention of the movie's main mechanic - Mark McKinley - that the hydraulic brake system was not up to par. Eventually he tamed the beast with adjustable pressure valves in the hydraulic lines so it would not drag its brakes any more.

"It's meant to be the fastest tracked vehicle in the world, but it wasn't quite up to that for our use. I ended up refining the brakes quite a lot. It was probably the most dangerous vehicle on set and took a lot of refining" - Mark McKinley, chief mechanic on the set of Mad Max: Fury Road.^[3]

The original New World big block V8 would also cause problems, not being able to run properly due to dust and sand and the fact it was under-powered. The film makers replaced the engine with a water-cooled Merlin V8 engine.^[4]

"It needed to keep up with the 100 km/h chases, so we ditched the diesel engine and replaced it with a water-cooled Merlin V8" - Collin Gibson, production designer.^[5]

Bodywork

The peacemaker rare production shot — Rare candid shot from the production of The Peacemaker with Valiant Charger body

The Ripsaw's body is of a mid-70's Chrysler Valiant Charger stretched and modified to fit over the tank chassis. Leftover Cessna sections are bolted up front, the grille is filled with bullet 'teeth'. There is a hole in the roof which allows for The Bullet Farmer to to sit atop and operate the searchlight. There is also space for his two henchmen in the back. The driver of the vehicle sits in the engine bay of the Valiant Charger shell.

Appearance on screen

The Peacemaker is first visible arriving at the blocked passage with disgruntled Bullet Farmer on board. After removing the blockade, the vehicle continues the chase until all vehicles get stuck in the bog. The Peacemaker, being the only vehicle capable of crossing the bog leaves the halted armada and continues to track down The War Rig. Soon enough a bullet from Furiosa's sniper rifle shoots out the searchlight in The Peacemaker, which blinds The Bullet Farmer and enrages him even further. Shortly after The Peacemaker is destroyed and its crew killed from the hands of Max himself.

Appearance off screen

The vehicle was highly regarded as the most dangerous vehicle on set. It's problems with breaking, custom design and engine forced the crew to refine it greatly to perform on screen. The vehicle was destroyed in Namibia.

"Even though I hated the Rip Saw, it was sad watching them get crushed and coming out as cubes" - Mark McKinley ^[6]

Gallery

Videos

The_Peacemaker_Brothers_Create_Vehicle_For_'Mad_Max_Fury_Road' — The Peacemaker Brothers Create Vehicle For 'Mad Max Fury Road'

References

[1] ttp://www.howeandhowe.com/ev1-extreme-vehicle-one.html

[2] ttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAhjJYUdUeM

[3] ttp://www.streetmachine.com.au/news/1504/street-machine-may-2015/ p.89

[4] ttp://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-05-12/every-killer-car-in-mad-max-fury-road-explained

[5] ttp://jalopnik.com/how-the-man-behind-the-machines-of-mad-max-put-a-hellsc-1704037927

[6] ttp://www.streetmachine.com.au/news/1504/street-machine-may-2015/ p.88

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@@ Line 6: / Line 6: @@
 === Origin ===
 Miller Kennedy Mitchell production company contacted Geoff and Mike Howe of Howe and Howe Technologies in 2009. [[George Miller]] ordered a vehicle from H&H that would be essentially a fast track vehicle capable of driving in rough terrain and unforgiving weather conditions. H&H decided to use their EV1 Ripsaw chassis for this project, however the original design was modified by the requirements of the movie production company.<ref>http://www.howeandhowe.com/ev1-extreme-vehicle-one.html</ref> Building the vehicle took 4 months and rigorous testing in the US before the vehicle was shipped to Australia where it was further modified and then shipped to Namibia. The vehicle, however turned out to be problematic.[[File:Howe and Howe Tech S02E04 Hollywood Howes|thumb|center|480 px]]
-===<span style="font-size:16px;">Mechanical chages</span>===
+===<span style="font-size:16px;">Mechanical changes</span>===
 Originally the Ripsaw had a 1000hp supercharged 509 New World big block V8 engine.<ref>https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zAhjJYUdUeM</ref> Upon arriving in Namibia it came to the attention of the movie's main mechanic - Mark McKinley - that the hydraulic brake system was not up to par. Eventually he tamed the beast with adjustable pressure valves in the hydraulic lines so it would not drag its brakes any more.