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Post by Lex Of Sydney Australia on Mar 11, 2014 17:27:14 GMT
A friend of mine on Facebook asked if we could ask the Mythbusters to do an A Team Special, but I can't think of any A Team related myths. Anyone got any bright ideas?  |
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Post by Cybermortis on Mar 11, 2014 17:50:06 GMT
Its been a LONG time since I saw the A Team - I ignore the lacklustre film. Didn't they have at least one car crash per episode? I seem to remember that the usual trope was for vehicles to go flying through the air and roll over several times after having a tire shot out. (Only for the occupants to clamber out unhurt afterwards). That is the sort of thing they could look at. *Thinks* Might be nice if they had an excuse to make or borrow a duplicate of the A Teams van, even better if we could think of some sort of test they could do with that van. *Slight Aside* You have to wonder who would get to play who? Jamie as B.A. is a no-brainer, if only because they could give him a Mohawk. Adam would have to be Hannibal, which would leave Grant and Tory to fight over who gets to be Face - for my money Tory would be a better Mad Murdock. Kari would of course have to play one of the women who appeared on the show...and probably have to vanish 2/5th's of the way through the episode. *Edit* Why doesn't your friend just sigh up on TC. Its easy and painless now we took the jump cables off Blazerrose...  |
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Post by the light works on Mar 12, 2014 2:04:49 GMT
is it really possible to spray 200 rounds of ammunition and never hit anything?  if they went with the movie as well, they could test whether airbags make a difference on floating a shipping container. I think the best subject matter would be some of the builds. |
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Post by Cybermortis on Mar 12, 2014 10:43:47 GMT
Well, given that most of the builds were 'create armoured vehicle out of parts lying around in the workshop they were left alone in for several hours' there is probably not that much scope for a dedicated episode on that alone. Or put another way they'd either end up doing the exact same thing with both teams, or concentrating an entire episode on a single build. Both would quickly become rather dull regardless of the theme.
So if we assume that they will end up trying to recreate one of the (many) vehicles the A-Team managed to put together, they would need at least one if not two different myths from the series that would give a change of pace. Ideally something that became something generic/a trope throughout the series.
*Muses*
If they are doing a 'build' segment, then logically having at least one or more 'action' based myth would help break things up.
I guess they could do the 'spraying gunfire without hitting anything' myth, but that seems a little too dull to me.
Maybe something involving explosives, or better yet something that relates to the car chases or crashes they seem to have had a LOT of.
My money would be on a chase scene/myth as they could then use a recreation of the famous A-Team Van. (Which would also allow them to stage a scene where they all get out of the van dressed as their A-Team counterparts)
The van used was a GMC Vandura, which not only seems to be a popular model in the US but also something that they could pick up cheaply - a quick search shows that you can pick up a second hand van of this type for $2000-3000 in the SF area. That might be a little too expensive for them to want to wreck it (educated guess is that a working recreation of the A-Team van could probably be sold for more than they paid for it). But they could probably pick up a van for less than this at a scrap yard if they wanted a destructive myth to test.
I think we should stick to the TV series and ignore the film. First because the film was, well, not that good. Second because a TV series that ran for four and a half years is going to have more material to choose from. Third because if they stick with the series they *might* be able to get one of the remaining stars of the show to make an appearance. My money, for some reason, would be on Dwight Schultz as being the easiest to get on the show and probably the easiest to work with.
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Post by the light works on Mar 12, 2014 13:31:30 GMT
Well, given that most of the builds were 'create armoured vehicle out of parts lying around in the workshop they were left alone in for several hours' there is probably not that much scope for a dedicated episode on that alone. Or put another way they'd either end up doing the exact same thing with both teams, or concentrating an entire episode on a single build. Both would quickly become rather dull regardless of the theme. So if we assume that they will end up trying to recreate one of the (many) vehicles the A-Team managed to put together, they would need at least one if not two different myths from the series that would give a change of pace. Ideally something that became something generic/a trope throughout the series. *Muses* If they are doing a 'build' segment, then logically having at least one or more 'action' based myth would help break things up. I guess they could do the 'spraying gunfire without hitting anything' myth, but that seems a little too dull to me. Maybe something involving explosives, or better yet something that relates to the car chases or crashes they seem to have had a LOT of. My money would be on a chase scene/myth as they could then use a recreation of the famous A-Team Van. (Which would also allow them to stage a scene where they all get out of the van dressed as their A-Team counterparts) The van used was a GMC Vandura, which not only seems to be a popular model in the US but also something that they could pick up cheaply - a quick search shows that you can pick up a second hand van of this type for $2000-3000 in the SF area. That might be a little too expensive for them to want to wreck it (educated guess is that a working recreation of the A-Team van could probably be sold for more than they paid for it). But they could probably pick up a van for less than this at a scrap yard if they wanted a destructive myth to test. I think we should stick to the TV series and ignore the film. First because the film was, well, not that good. Second because a TV series that ran for four and a half years is going to have more material to choose from. Third because if they stick with the series they *might* be able to get one of the remaining stars of the show to make an appearance. My money, for some reason, would be on Dwight Schultz as being the easiest to get on the show and probably the easiest to work with. that body was made from the 70s to the 90s. (mine was a 93) you should be able to get a thoroughly used one for under $1000.00 - it was sold with both GMC and Chevrolet badging. the biggest challenge is that most of them had full windows - though there are a LOT of construction trades running around in them without windows. |
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Post by Cybermortis on Mar 12, 2014 18:29:02 GMT
Yeah, I'm using the prices I can find for vehicles via online dealers in the SF area as a basic guide as to cost. I figure that this would give them a reasonable idea as to both the cost of the episode and how difficult it would be to get a particular model.
To use my research for another myth it seems unlikely that they would find it easy to find a 2CV in working condition in the SF area, and even if they did the price would probably be more than they could reasonably afford to pay for something they intended to take apart.
In this case the number of Vandura vans for sale, and the asking price, would imply that they should be able to get one fairly cheaply. Finding one that lacks windows *might* be slightly more difficult, but worse case scenario simply requires them to cover them up. A little more work, but nothing they couldn't manage in a day (or they couldn't hand over to the other staff at M5/7 to do). After all they'd have to add the spoiler on the roof and paint it anyway.
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Post by maxman on Mar 13, 2014 8:20:01 GMT
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Post by the light works on Mar 13, 2014 13:15:02 GMT
right, and the only thing that changes between the model years and weight classes is the grille and headlights; and the lighter weight classes tend to ride a bit lower. |
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Post by Cybermortis on Mar 14, 2014 12:05:12 GMT
OK, lets see if I can drum up interest in this because the more I think about this the better the idea seems;
*Coughs, puts on deep American accent*
In 2002 a crack special effects team was sentenced for a crime they didn't commit.
They promptly escaped from an unlocked room to the San Fransico underground.
Today still wanted by mall security they survive as soldiers of myth-fortune.
If you have a myth, if no one else has the answer AND if they read your email, maybe you can hire
The M-Team.
Seriously, can you imagine the opening titles if they could use the A-Team Theme music and decide to recreate the A-Teams opening titles using clips from MB?
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Post by the light works on Mar 14, 2014 13:44:23 GMT
I do like the idea.
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Post by Lex Of Sydney Australia on Mar 15, 2014 15:34:09 GMT
Its been a LONG time since I saw the A Team - I ignore the lacklustre film. Didn't they have at least one car crash per episode? I seem to remember that the usual trope was for vehicles to go flying through the air and roll over several times after having a tire shot out. (Only for the occupants to clamber out unhurt afterwards). That is the sort of thing they could look at. *Thinks* Might be nice if they had an excuse to make or borrow a duplicate of the A Teams van, even better if we could think of some sort of test they could do with that van. *Slight Aside* You have to wonder who would get to play who? Jamie as B.A. is a no-brainer, if only because they could give him a Mohawk. Adam would have to be Hannibal, which would leave Grant and Tory to fight over who gets to be Face - for my money Tory would be a better Mad Murdock. Kari would of course have to play one of the women who appeared on the show...and probably have to vanish 2/5th's of the way through the episode. *Edit* Why doesn't your friend just sigh up on TC. Its easy and painless now we took the jump cables off Blazerrose... I've asked her if she wants to join but she said no thanks - wouldn't give me a reason why though, which I though kinda odd, but some people are just like that you know. |
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Post by Lex Of Sydney Australia on Mar 15, 2014 15:38:02 GMT
OK, lets see if I can drum up interest in this because the more I think about this the better the idea seems; *Coughs, puts on deep American accent* In 2002 a crack special effects team was sentenced for a crime they didn't commit.
They promptly escaped from an unlocked room to the San Fransico underground.
Today still wanted by mall security they survive as soldiers of myth-fortune.
If you have a myth, if no one else has the answer AND if they read your email, maybe you can hire
The M-Team.Seriously, can you imagine the opening titles if they could use the A-Team Theme music and decide to recreate the A-Teams opening titles using clips from MB? Cyber thankyou for providing me with my second WTF look  from the ER staff tonight for laughing like a lunitic! (read post in Happy Pi Day for ER details) I couldn't help reading it in my head in the voice of the narrator from the TV show. |
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Post by Cybermortis on Mar 16, 2014 22:41:11 GMT
OK, someone somewhere clearly wants an A-Team special judging from events this week.
On a whim I went into town earlier in the week, something I haven't done in two years. Twenty minutes before my bus was due I spotted a second hand DVD store I could swear hadn't been there when I'd walked past an hour earlier. I go in, decide to check out the box sets section and not only find a copy of Season One of the A-Team but that the price was the exact amount of change I had in my pocket.
A couple of days later I went into another town, again for the first time in a few years. Decided to go into a second hand DVD store on the off chance they might have season 2 but was told that the later seasons are hard to find. Twenty minutes before my bus was due I once again spotted another second hand DVD store I'd never seen before. I walk in and...yeap, you've guessed it. Sitting there on the shelf was A-Team Season Two on sale for...the exact amount of change in my pocket.
I'd give you an overview of the series and any myths I spotted, but after watching the A-Team for some 35 hours Howling Mad Murdock is starting to make sense....
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Post by the light works on Mar 16, 2014 23:22:51 GMT
OK, someone somewhere clearly wants an A-Team special judging from events this week. On a whim I went into town earlier in the week, something I haven't done in two years. Twenty minutes before my bus was due I spotted a second hand DVD store I could swear hadn't been there when I'd walked past an hour earlier. I go in, decide to check out the box sets section and not only find a copy of Season One of the A-Team but that the price was the exact amount of change I had in my pocket. A couple of days later I went into another town, again for the first time in a few years. Decided to go into a second hand DVD store on the off chance they might have season 2 but was told that the later seasons are hard to find. Twenty minutes before my bus was due I once again spotted another second hand DVD store I'd never seen before. I walk in and...yeap, you've guessed it. Sitting there on the shelf was A-Team Season Two on sale for...the exact amount of change in my pocket. I'd give you an overview of the series and any myths I spotted, but after watching the A-Team for some 35 hours Howling Mad Murdock is starting to make sense.... Isn't it great the way that works? hey, some of his breakout tricks should be testable. |
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Post by Cybermortis on Mar 17, 2014 0:09:46 GMT
Don't you mean 'I love it when a Myth comes together'?
I was surprised at A; How many things had already been tested and B; At how limited some of the other material was - the car chase scenes are, stunt wise, rather tame. In fact on the two seasons I've just watched they only really did three stunts in the van. One involved driving into a bay as a distraction, the other two were jumping through a billboard and across a gap where a bridge was down. (The billboard stunt was done twice in the same episode, but I'm only counting it once.)
Other things were clearly too dangerous to test out, such as if dynamite that is sweating could really be detonated by dropping it. (JD would probably whimper just thinking about handling sweating dynamite).
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Post by User Unavailable on Mar 17, 2014 0:59:53 GMT
The channel called Esquire runs repeats of The A-Team. Esquire is one of those channels that is buried among the other worthless channels that come as part of your cable/digital tv package, that most people never watch, except that a Esquire actually shows pretty good tv and movies.
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Post by maxman on Mar 20, 2014 9:08:12 GMT
Seriously, can you imagine the opening titles if they could use the A-Team Theme music and decide to recreate the A-Teams opening titles using clips from MB? You say that like they wouldn't parody the A-Team opening. |
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Post by OziRiS on Mar 20, 2014 23:31:28 GMT
Don't you mean 'I love it when a Myth comes together'? I was surprised at A; How many things had already been tested and B; At how limited some of the other material was - the car chase scenes are, stunt wise, rather tame. In fact on the two seasons I've just watched they only really did three stunts in the van. One involved driving into a bay as a distraction, the other two were jumping through a billboard and across a gap where a bridge was down. (The billboard stunt was done twice in the same episode, but I'm only counting it once.) Other things were clearly too dangerous to test out, such as if dynamite that is sweating could really be detonated by dropping it. (JD would probably whimper just thinking about handling sweating dynamite). How about testing how bulletproof some of the contraptions they've made really were? IIRC the episode you're referencing about the sweating dynamite includes the team being trapped in an old mine and making a small vehicle with some heavy armor that seemed to withstand bullets pretty well. I also seem to remember B.A. finding various ways to weld stuff together in different episodes that might be fun to test. LOVE your idea for the intro BTW! |
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Post by silverdragon on Mar 21, 2014 8:01:02 GMT
"A" team Van can FLY......
Or can it?
In several episodes, the team Van, that black think with the red stripe, is seen flying through the air.
Seriously?...
Look, I used to drive a Ford Transit, about the closest UK equivalent would be the 90T350 Transit, and I know I CAN get serious air over humped-back bridges if you hit them hard enough...
But Maybe a few inches height and maybe one or two yards at the most....?.....
Now that thing flies for a dozen yards at head height.
Over small ditches, from one side of the road to the other.....
So, if you beef up the suspension to Baha type serious off road rally spec, maybe....
But otherwise, a Van that is designed to lug heavy loads will all four wheels on the road at all times....
Get Air?... I dont think so.
Myth to be busted, if CAN you "Fly" a un-modified except cosmetic race tuneed one-ton (small van) as far as the "A" team do and get away with it?...
Taking into consideration what can be done to a normal road going van.
I suspect they used stunt doubles, and the stunt doubles had serious race seats 5 or 6 point harness, HANS, and all the rest?.. with internal strengthening roll cage?...
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Post by Cybermortis on Mar 21, 2014 11:30:36 GMT
Well, the first two seasons only had three van crashes/jumps.
In season one the van was forced off the road and ended up on its side. In season two they drove the van into the bay as a distraction and of course there was the jump(s) I mentioned above.
The last of the van jumps clearly shows that the right front side of the van was crushed on landing, although naturally the van we see seconds later is undamaged. The first crash was according to BA afterwards hard enough to snap the rear axle of the van.
What is interesting about both (if indeed not all) stunts done in the van is the seats. If you look closely it is clear that the van not only lacks seatbelts, but that the seats are capable of turning to face the rear of the van - that includes the drivers seat. This doesn't seem like the sort of design you'd want to perform a jump or have a crash in.
In terms of armour plating, yes I did notice that. The 'worst' offender was an early season 2 episode where they armour a van using...the wall panels from an elevator. They have also (in the episodes I've seen) used corrugated iron sheets more than once. Most of the 'armour' used does seem to be steel sheets, roughly 1cm thick, which would *probably* be capable of stopping pistol rounds. Of course most of the time they are being shot at with rifles.
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from the ER staff tonight for laughing like a lunitic! (read post in Happy Pi Day for ER details) I couldn't help reading it in my head in the voice of the narrator from the TV show. 
