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The THING 1200c

Backyardski

BackyardskiLima
GOLD Site Supporter
Ok.
I’ve been in the closet with this thing for about three months. I figured I better crack the door open a little before the snow flies. I don’t know if I found it or it found me. Sqrwl is an alien. Not sure how it spread but it did.

Snowcats are a disease, add alien infection and all hope is lost (found?)

This machine has been spoken of before on the forum, I’ll dig through and add revenant links/posts at some point. I am it’s host for the time being, not sure why, or for how long, or where it will go next.

It is the LMC 1200c that was in “the THING” 2011 which is the prequel to the 1982 John Carpenter film of the same name. If you haven’t seen it, watch the 2011 movie first, it flows into the original. This is one of the best movies as far as snowcat screen time goes (a standard that all movies should be rated by).

I don’t have a timeline for any of the work it needs. There are things that shouldn’t be replaced because they are the way they are as a result of being in the movie. There is some corrosion that has to be dealt with to return it to the way it looked on screen. I hope I don’t ruin it by trying to make it better.

I’ll start by posting some screen grabs from the movie, courtesy of Universal Studios (unauthorized), then a few as it is now. This might be a slow motion thread/project. The cool thing is that it can be used as is and can fit the whole family.
 

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Backyardski

BackyardskiLima
GOLD Site Supporter
More
 

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Backyardski

BackyardskiLima
GOLD Site Supporter
Now
 

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Backyardski

BackyardskiLima
GOLD Site Supporter
Hopefully Redsqrwl will jump in at some point and recount how he ended up with the machine and some of his adventures, improvements, etc.
 

Backyardski

BackyardskiLima
GOLD Site Supporter
The story is that it took four takes to get the flames to look the way they wanted.
Almost everything was covered in fireproof material so there is less damage than you’d expect. Mike (Redsqrwl) can expand on this, he was the lucky one that got to remove all of the stuff. The seats were covered in Nomex and then vinyl. The passenger seat took it a bit harder than the drivers. The gauges and switches show a little damage but the gauges still work
 

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DAVENET

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
Personal opinion only. I'm sure others may cringe, but whatever.

Strip that thing (no pun intended:bolt:) down and do it up so it's good for you. There may be a big market for movie props(??), but it's too big of an item to not properly enjoy. Rip out the old seats, switches, gauges, interior and do it up for your (and your family's) comfort and enjoyment. A trip to the junk yard for some new front seats, Cole-Hersee for those replacement switches, e-bay (or wherever) for replacement gauges. Re-pad & cover the seats in the rear. (kind of digging the recliner set-up!) Get a shipping box to tuck the old stuff into and hide it in the top of the garage until it's time to sell the cat.

As for the body corrosion, strip, clean, prime & paint to take care of the snow cat. Get good digital photos of the decal so that a sign shop can make up duplicates. (Or tape over to preserve the originals). It's really not practical to source other doors (or make new door skins), so my vote is new decals.

You have all of the pics & info to tie it to the movie, so keep the stuff you take out (within reason- no need for a mad wife, bad life situation) and fix it up to preserve the machine and for your enjoyment.

Keep the shift handle as it is!

:my2cents:

David
 

Backyardski

BackyardskiLima
GOLD Site Supporter
Thanks for the thoughts David!
When I first saw it I thought about completely re-doing the interior.
I plan to re-cover the ceiling, replace the floor, cover the walls.
The front has really grown on me. The burned up dash and drivers seat is pretty badass. Maybe a new passengers seat would be justified.
I do plan on replacing the door skins, they are pretty rotted out. It would be great to find an otherwise p.o.s. parts cat to transfer the doors and wiper motor and various other parts but I don’t think that will happen. It wouldn’t be too expensive to have them laser cut, welding them up without distortion might be the biggest challenge. I haven’t done anything like that before. Definitely paint and new logos, the one on the back door is missing.
I can’t wait to run it in the snow, even in its current state of being.

Mike
 

Backyardski

BackyardskiLima
GOLD Site Supporter
I dug around last night and found some history on the machine. I’m adding it here so it is all in the same place.

The first thread is the guy, Heino, from the production company shopping for machines for the movie.

http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/showthread.php?t=34319

This one he found the machine he wanted

http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/showthread.php?t=33659

The next has a description of the movie damage and a picture of the machine at Snotrans before it was “dressed” for the movie. This is after filming, before release. I don’t think he figured out the pump as it still has no belt on it.

http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/showthread.php?t=44887

The last one has some more movie discussion and the realization it would be sold as is. Page 2 enter Redsqrwl

http://www.forumsforums.com/3_9/showthread.php?t=50233This
 

redsqwrl

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
There should be one more thread..... May have changed his user name.

I should be able to find the one where he discusses the rebuild process......

I should have the receipt from the production company when I came back into the states,,,, I have not crossed paths when I looked for it.... But I don't toss anything so it is here......

Yes It was presented as nonrunning When I put a bid on it, I am pretty sure the machine was on a lend lease from sno trans with the other cats. This machine did not go back after filming and quickly fell into disrepair do to the light work that started at a auto/collision repair....

There are two wooden barricades that were jammed in the back as well..... they have be re purposed here at the compound, but I will look them over for any markings.

Our family has enjoyed the machine on several outings and last time out was adorned with a minion theme....

I enjoyed watching the movie and confirming the various elements
 

redsqwrl

Bronze Member
GOLD Site Supporter
has it turned on the lights buy itself yet?


maybe it just has to be outside on a foggy night for that to happen.....
 

Backyardski

BackyardskiLima
GOLD Site Supporter
I love the key tag.

I ordered two so I could try to make one look authentic. The no smoking symbol is a little ironic
 

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Backyardski

BackyardskiLima
GOLD Site Supporter
has it turned on the lights buy itself yet?


maybe it just has to be outside on a foggy night for that to happen.....

I haven’t seen that yet. It would be a little extra spooky since the battery is in the workshop....
 

Backyardski

BackyardskiLima
GOLD Site Supporter
As long as I’m here I might as well post a few pics of the floor cut out. I should take the whole machine apart but decided to not mess with the cab quite yet. With the easy access I’ll clean the frame up, new exhaust and brake lines.

It looks to me that removing the bolts along the bottom of the frame would allow the cab to be split from the driveline giving easy access to the engine with only a few things needing to be disconnected. Or is there something I’m not seeing?
 

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AbelLMTV

Member
Can I wait until after Christmas to give you an answer?:thumbup:

How much are you looking to get for it?

Dr. Zaugg also has a brand new one that I might end up buying.....

I just watched the movie last night and loved it. I am new to the community and believe in paying it forward. I am still looking for the elusive standard OC-12 axles. Perhaps this will increase my chances?? LOL Regardless PM me your address. :clap:
 

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Backyardski

BackyardskiLima
GOLD Site Supporter
That’s awesome, thanks Sean!
Hopefully the cat karma quickly puts some axles in your hands!
 

AbelLMTV

Member
Pleasant exchange with Mike. Thank you! These will come in handy for the holidays.... :thumbup:
 

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Backyardski

BackyardskiLima
GOLD Site Supporter
Got my package from Sean yesterday as well. Thank you, the Thiokol emblem will find a nice home on the shop wall and the gauges are much less burned looking than the ones in the thing!

The new steel goes in much quicker than the old comes out
 

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Backyardski

BackyardskiLima
GOLD Site Supporter
Kate, what are you seeing?
 

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Backyardski

BackyardskiLima
GOLD Site Supporter
Upload issues, plz standby.

Hey kids! Quit doing your damn schoolwork! I need some &@;/! bandwidth!
 
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