BST were asked by The Producers Group to design and install the special effects within the live-action stunt show spectacular, SWAT – Trans Studios, Jakarta.
4800 ton indoor lagoon!
The stunt show was based around a 30 x 80m indoor lagoon. The action was provided by actors, jet skis, motor bikes and a helicopter in the final scene!
Hiding the water effects from the guests
To hide the underwater effects from the view, BST were asked to create turbulence on the lagoon surface. The turbulence was achieved by using large high-pressure blowers and hundreds of metres of 150mm pipework fitted to the lake bed. The 1000’s of holes drilled in the pipework caused air to bubble-up from the pipework creating a variable movement to the water surface. The water movement could be controlled and set from a slight ripple to a rapid boiling effect. The water movement obscures the other effects bolted to the lagoon bottom and gives the appearance that the lagoon is deeper than its actual 2 meters.
Underwater bullet hits
BST also provided an underwater strafing run effect. Secured to the bottom of the lagoon, this effect floated just below the water surface. The effect had to be flexible to avoid damaging the jet skis that would speed across it. The effect was designed to move out of the way of the skis and then reset once they had passed. The strafing run gave the illusion of machine gun bullets striking the surface of the water. The whole effect was over a distance of 10m.
Water mortars
Compressed-air water mortars were used to create underwater explosions and to simulate grenades being tossed into the lagoon.
Fullers earth bullet hits
A further 30, compressed-air, bullet hit simulators were installed. 15 bullet hits were mounted in the stage floor and a further 15 in the walls. The bullet hits were fired in sequence by a dedicated controller. A single contact closure would trigger each sequence and simulate machine-gun fire on the floor and walls.
Missile launchers
Swat – Trans Studios, Jakarta also called for three 1:1 scale missile launchers were constructed for the villains to use. The faux missile launchers were to simulate firing rockets at the buildings during the finale sequence. These self-powered props lit-up using LED’s and produced a burst of smoke to simulate the missile exiting the launcher. In addition multiple, large, smoke machines were used within the buildings to simulate the explosions when the missiles hit.