Castles in the Sky, the story of Radar and Watson Watt - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Top Cap · 27th Aug 2014, 12:27 am

Mods: I hope this is the right place for this announcement.

On BBC2 Thursday 4th September from 9pm to 10:30pm

Castles in the Sky - looks like a program not to be missed.

http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/c4...les-in-the-sky

Nymrod121 · 27th Aug 2014, 8:32 am

Thanks for flagging this, Top Cap

Having checked the cast list, I wonder if any mention will be made of Dr. R V Jones? His book "Most Secret War" and Arthur Price's "Instruments of Darkness" are two of my favourites.

Best wishes
Guy

Hybrid tellies · 27th Aug 2014, 6:49 pm

Thanks for the heads up on this. I shall certainly be watching and have just let my Dad know as well

n_r_muir · 28th Aug 2014, 9:29 am

I saw a brief clip from this film on TV recently, my impression was that it is just a story very loosely based on early "radio direction finding" development. I would not expect much in the way of historical or technical accuracy.

HamishBoxer · 28th Aug 2014, 11:24 am

Also saw a clip from this as well and wondered how accurate and also was the right gear shown.

Station X · 28th Aug 2014, 12:08 pm

Introductory video here:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p025k143

HamishBoxer · 28th Aug 2014, 12:44 pm

What a wonderful phrase "Building A Washing Line In The Rain"!

Is it me or does W.Watt look like a plumper version of J.L.Baird?

brunel · 28th Aug 2014, 1:07 pm

" I wonder if any mention will be made of Dr. R V Jones?"

Or Sir Bernard Lovell.... Or John Randall or Harry Boot.

We could go on and on, but it is only a drama, and now O.T.

28th Aug 2014, 1:47 pm

Noted on my BVWS calendar.

M0FYA Andy · 28th Aug 2014, 1:48 pm

I'd be rather surprised if there was mention of Sir Bernard Lovell - he wasn't to be knighted until 1961!

Andy

dave walsh · 28th Aug 2014, 1:59 pm

Looking forward to it after seeing the trail last night. I'll be watching and reserving criticism for now. I see that Bexhill's local hero Eddie Izzard is in the cast but that's not my reason [he's a good actor though]. Really, there haven't been that many dramatisations of the technical war effort over the years. It all has an added significance from the southern end of the UK, even to a professional northener

.
Dave W

telstar · 28th Aug 2014, 3:22 pm

Hi. I was interested to hear about this programme, so I shall definitely try and watch it on September 4th.
Watson Watt's early experiments began on Orford Ness in Suffolk from what I once read, and then it moved to Bawdsey Manor, situated at the estuary of the River Deben. I once visited Orford Ness (my late father once worked there between 1964 and 1967 during the Cold War), the National Trust organized some days out there in 2006 to illustrate various events that occurred on the Peninsula, in both world wars and the cold war. A fascinating tour out there for those interested. Watson Watt also appears in a couple of books about Orford Ness "Secret Site". I somehow doubt if they will show Suffolk in the programme!
Cheers
Mike

newlite4 · 3rd Sep 2014, 11:37 am

Good program on Thursday at 9.00pm. This is all about the development of radar during WWII. The trailer shows a number of WWII radios. Well worth watching.
Neil

David Simpson · 3rd Sep 2014, 5:23 pm

I guess that several folk might have already seen the trailer for tomorrow night's feature at 9pm on BBC2 .
There have been some exiting glimpses of vintage wartime military equipment. Well worth a look.

Regards, David

short wave · 3rd Sep 2014, 5:41 pm

No!... but thank you for letting me(and forum members) know.
regards S-W

Dave757 · 3rd Sep 2014, 10:53 pm

Hi,
I noticed at the end of the trailer they were
getting enthusiastic about transmitting on
200 'MegaHertz' Really?

Kind regards

Dave

David Simpson · 4th Sep 2014, 10:59 am

As brunel mentioned earlier - I too hope that RV Jones receives a place of significance in the program. Later in life he became Prof. Jones at Aberdeen University.
I'm fortunate and privileged to have acquired some of his personal test equipment from his old Nat.Phil. laboratories. Hence, I'm keen to see if & how he is portrayed.
Other wartime Radar documentaries on TV in the past have shown glimpses of Cossor 3339/339 Oscillographs. Having a keen interest in them, I hope to see more.

Regards, David

G6Tanuki · 4th Sep 2014, 11:20 am

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dave757

I noticed at the end of the trailer they were getting enthusiastic about transmitting on 200 'MegaHertz'
Really?

Yes - getting decent amounts of power at frequencies above 100MHz or so was really quite tricky even in the early-1940s. Specially when complicated by the need to make it light and compact enough to fit an aircraft, or reliably survive the repeated shocks of 5.25-inch Naval guns being fired a few feet away.

Station X · 4th Sep 2014, 11:25 am

Was the "Hertz" unit in use in the UK in the 1930's? Megacycles maybe?

Restoration73 · 4th Sep 2014, 12:41 pm

It sounds like a remake of this feature
http://www.boffinstv.co.uk/clip.html

27th Aug 2014, 12:27 am	#1
Top Cap Octode Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Watford, Hertfordshire, UK. Posts: 1,270	Castles in the Sky, the story of Radar and Watson Watt Mods: I hope this is the right place for this announcement. On BBC2 Thursday 4th September from 9pm to 10:30pm Castles in the Sky - looks like a program not to be missed. http://www.radiotimes.com/episode/c4...les-in-the-sky __________________ Whether the Top Cap is Grid or Anode - touching it will give you a buzz either way!

27th Aug 2014, 8:32 am	#2
Nymrod121 Nonode Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Worcestershire, UK. Posts: 2,052	Re: The Story of Radar and Watson Watt Thanks for flagging this, Top Cap Having checked the cast list, I wonder if any mention will be made of Dr. R V Jones? His book "Most Secret War" and Arthur Price's "Instruments of Darkness" are two of my favourites. Best wishes Guy __________________ "What a depressingly stupid machine." [Marvin: HHGTTG]

27th Aug 2014, 6:49 pm	#3
Hybrid tellies Nonode Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: 1966-1976 Coverack in Cornwall and Helston Cornwall. 1976-present Bristol/Bath area. Posts: 2,965	Re: The Story of Radar and Watson Watt Thanks for the heads up on this. I shall certainly be watching and have just let my Dad know as well __________________ Simon BVWS member

28th Aug 2014, 9:29 am	#4
n_r_muir Hexode Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Edinburgh, UK. Posts: 344	Re: The Story of Radar and Watson Watt I saw a brief clip from this film on TV recently, my impression was that it is just a story very loosely based on early "radio direction finding" development. I would not expect much in the way of historical or technical accuracy.

28th Aug 2014, 11:24 am	#5
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,931	Re: The Story of Radar and Watson Watt Also saw a clip from this as well and wondered how accurate and also was the right gear shown. __________________ G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S

28th Aug 2014, 12:08 pm	#6
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,286	Re: The Story of Radar and Watson Watt Introductory video here:- http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p025k143 __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

28th Aug 2014, 12:44 pm	#7
HamishBoxer Dekatron Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: W.Butterwick, near Doncaster UK. Posts: 8,931	Re: The Story of Radar and Watson Watt What a wonderful phrase "Building A Washing Line In The Rain"! Is it me or does W.Watt look like a plumper version of J.L.Baird? __________________ G8JET BVWS Archivist and Member V.M.A.R.S

28th Aug 2014, 1:07 pm	#8
brunel Heptode Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: LEEDS.......North of the River Aire. Posts: 872	Re: The Story of Radar and Watson Watt " I wonder if any mention will be made of Dr. R V Jones?" Or Sir Bernard Lovell.... Or John Randall or Harry Boot. We could go on and on, but it is only a drama, and now O.T.

28th Aug 2014, 1:47 pm	#9
Guest Guest Posts: n/a	Re: The Story of Radar and Watson Watt Noted on my BVWS calendar.

28th Aug 2014, 1:48 pm	#10
M0FYA Andy Nonode Join Date: May 2007 Location: Preston, Lancashire, UK. Posts: 2,511	Re: The Story of Radar and Watson Watt I'd be rather surprised if there was mention of Sir Bernard Lovell - he wasn't to be knighted until 1961! Andy

28th Aug 2014, 1:59 pm	#11
dave walsh Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Ramsbottom (Nr Bury) Lancs or Bexhill (Nr Hastings) Sussex. Posts: 5,817	Re: The Story of Radar and Watson Watt Looking forward to it after seeing the trail last night. I'll be watching and reserving criticism for now. I see that Bexhill's local hero Eddie Izzard is in the cast but that's not my reason [he's a good actor though]. Really, there haven't been that many dramatisations of the technical war effort over the years. It all has an added significance from the southern end of the UK, even to a professional northener. Dave W

28th Aug 2014, 3:22 pm	#12
telstar Octode Join Date: Dec 2003 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,588	Re: The Story of Radar and Watson Watt Hi. I was interested to hear about this programme, so I shall definitely try and watch it on September 4th. Watson Watt's early experiments began on Orford Ness in Suffolk from what I once read, and then it moved to Bawdsey Manor, situated at the estuary of the River Deben. I once visited Orford Ness (my late father once worked there between 1964 and 1967 during the Cold War), the National Trust organized some days out there in 2006 to illustrate various events that occurred on the Peninsula, in both world wars and the cold war. A fascinating tour out there for those interested. Watson Watt also appears in a couple of books about Orford Ness "Secret Site". I somehow doubt if they will show Suffolk in the programme! Cheers Mike

3rd Sep 2014, 11:37 am	#13
newlite4 Octode Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Bath, Somerset, UK. Posts: 1,805	Castles in the Sky - BBC2 Thursday Good program on Thursday at 9.00pm. This is all about the development of radar during WWII. The trailer shows a number of WWII radios. Well worth watching. Neil __________________ preserving the recent past, for the distant future.

3rd Sep 2014, 5:23 pm	#14
David Simpson Nonode Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Aberdeen, UK. Posts: 2,852	BBC2 Program(Vintage Military Eq.) I guess that several folk might have already seen the trailer for tomorrow night's feature at 9pm on BBC2 . There have been some exiting glimpses of vintage wartime military equipment. Well worth a look. Regards, David

3rd Sep 2014, 5:41 pm	#15
short wave Pentode Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Leeds, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 246	Re: BBC2 Program(Vintage Military Eq.) No!... but thank you for letting me(and forum members) know. regards S-W

3rd Sep 2014, 10:53 pm	#16
Dave757 Heptode Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Scratby, Norfolk, UK. Posts: 649	Re: Castles in the Sky, the story of Radar and Watson Watt Hi, I noticed at the end of the trailer they were getting enthusiastic about transmitting on 200 'MegaHertz' Really? Kind regards Dave

4th Sep 2014, 10:59 am	#17
David Simpson Nonode Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Aberdeen, UK. Posts: 2,852	Re: Castles in the Sky, the story of Radar and Watson Watt As brunel mentioned earlier - I too hope that RV Jones receives a place of significance in the program. Later in life he became Prof. Jones at Aberdeen University. I'm fortunate and privileged to have acquired some of his personal test equipment from his old Nat.Phil. laboratories. Hence, I'm keen to see if & how he is portrayed. Other wartime Radar documentaries on TV in the past have shown glimpses of Cossor 3339/339 Oscillographs. Having a keen interest in them, I hope to see more. Regards, David

4th Sep 2014, 11:25 am	#19
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,286	Re: Castles in the Sky, the story of Radar and Watson Watt Was the "Hertz" unit in use in the UK in the 1930's? Megacycles maybe? __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

4th Sep 2014, 12:41 pm	#20
Restoration73 Nonode Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Surbiton, SW London, UK. Posts: 2,801	Re: Castles in the Sky, the story of Radar and Watson Watt It sounds like a remake of this feature http://www.boffinstv.co.uk/clip.html