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3:10 to Yuma (2007)—Armored Stagecoach

Already an oldie but a goodie, ‘3:10 to Yuma’ (2007) is a Western film I worked on in Santa Fe, New Mexico in 2006 where I was a Set and Prop Designer in the Art Department. Working with the Production Designer–Andrew Menzies, Art Director–Greg Berry, and Assistant Art Director–Kasra Farahani, I developed the detailed design and construction documents for the Armored Stagecoach from a initial concept illustration. Prop and set designs must serve the story/action—which revolved around the two drivers of the stagecoach and one Pinkerton agent on the inside and two additional agents at the Gatling gun in the back protecting the rear. For the actors to get in and out I designed a functional tailgate and rear platform that works like a hybrid pickup truck—the tailgates holding the Gatling gun can swing clear and another tail section drops to the ground and becomes steps to enter the back of the stagecoach. I also developed the period design of the interior where the cashboxes were locked and protected. A total of four variations were built by our amazing special effects (SFX) crew—two of those were fully functioning Armored Stagecoaches pulled by a team of six horses of which one was crashed for the main action chase scene—and two compartmentalized versions with finished interiors for controlled filming of the actors with dialogue.