Gamer nerds rejoice! These are pictures of a functioning, full-size replica of the Warthog, popularized by the video game Halo. Built in Peter Jackson's Weta Workshop, near Wellington, New Zealand, the vehicle will be touring around promotional events and conventions in New Zealand, and possibly elsewhere.
Using the engine and differentials from the Nissan Patrol, the vehicle was pretty much built from the ground up. “The motor’s a six-cylinder diesel automatic, full four-wheel drive. Then we stuck a turbo on it,” said engineer Peter Osborne. “I was pushing for a V8, but I got overruled on that one. They said it might be overkill.”
The one-of-a-kind monster truck has a massive machine gun mounted on top, is larger than many SUVs, and has tusks jutting out from the grille. Weta even crafted a replica armor suit from the game. The United Nations Space Command Marine outfit has everything, including the helmet and battle rifle.
"It took about six weeks, basically going from the chassis up to what we have now,” said Osborne. Built with painstaking accuracy down to custom hubcaps, the Warthog was used in the Halo: Landfall short films. Originally, it was made for a potential Halo film, an idea that never made it out of pre-production in Hollywood.
Unfortunately, the six-week deadline Weta had to build the vehicle meant that each wheel could not get independent shocks. The engineer team says they could have replicated the Warthog's ability to literally hop over any terrain if they had more time. Still, the truck can probably survive a jump from a 20-foot embankment.
Unfortunately, there's no X button to turn the Warthog right-side-up if it flips over.
“That’s the one problem we did run into,” Osborne says. “We couldn’t find a big enough X button.”
Video Game: Halo Warthog Real Life Vehicle Goes for Test Drive
Halo Warthog full function vehicle prop
By Zack Newmark
February 3, 2009 7:11 PM
Filed Under: Entertainment, Japanese, Movies, Nissan, Video Games
Tags: Halo, Halo Warthog
Comments
GanSan
February 3, 2009 9:02 PM
WHY?! In the current economic climate, this sort of frivolous and wasteful project is less than justified.
Hunter2458
February 3, 2009 9:38 PM
The 'economic climate' mostly pertains to the US, Weta is based in New Zealand and I bet they have plenty of money saved up from all the Lord of the Rings stuff.
howe2002
February 4, 2009 12:27 AM
Relax GanSan, it won't go into production. Come on man, I'm sure you liked the Batmobile, and hey, you're not paying for it, so who cares!
GanSan
February 4, 2009 9:00 AM
Australia's and New Zealand's economies are in bad shape too. And yes, I did like the Batmobile. Perhaps I'm just biased because I consider this more geeky!
Motor_Yakuza
February 3, 2009 11:12 PM
This is bad as a military vehicle, the soldiers inside are to exposed.Anyway the car looks nice.
dbehmoaras
February 4, 2009 12:36 AM
I have a problem with a number of things, both with the car itself and the comments above. First things first, it is way beyond me as to way there wouldn't be a V8 in this, and I don't buy the V6 turbo-diesel is cleaner, more efficient...argument. This is a truck, and it's reasonable for a truck to have a V8, especially one that would potentially need to get out of somewhere fast, as was intended. The turbo is bad for an off-road vehicle because of turbo-lag. Starting uphill would not be good. V8 opens for better performance, more control (no lag), and an overall better product, not to mention it sounds better. Naturally aspirated is always better than turbo-charged or super-charged. The reason they opted out of the V8 is even worse: that it would be overkill?? The fact that they're making this is overkill, not to mention the suit and the BR. It's a shame they couldn't add in the individual shocks, would have made for a sick off-roader. @GanSan: don't use the economic climate as your reason for calling it frivolous. This would be a frivolous project if the economy was booming. The project was made for promotional purposes for Halo 3. @Hunter2458: the economic crisis is going to spread everywhere, and your precious Lord of the Rings money is not as much as you might think. @Xanavi23: I agree! (Bet you didn't see that one coming, haha) @Motor_Yakuza: clearly this would not be used as a military vehicle, but more as a recreational vehicle.
Xanavi23
February 4, 2009 3:12 AM
Thanks budd, i just have one thing. Remember the fuel economy of the diesel 6 might not be better than a V8 but do remember, the fuel source does emit far less CO2(Carbon Dioxide), less crap in our atmosphere at least to a degree, so in that regard, it is technically cleaner. That said, that was a well written post.
GanSan
February 4, 2009 9:15 AM
You misunderstand. I didn't mean that this is only frivolous because economies are faltering; although it is made even more so.
Am I the only one who hates this concept? For some reason, it infuriates me (which is odd since it has nothing to do with me personally).
Bremen_Koenigsegg
February 4, 2009 1:11 AM
Simmons: Why Warthog, sir?
Sarge: Because M12 LRV is too hard to say in conversation, son.
Simmons: I know, but why Warthog? I mean, it doesn't really look like a pig.
Sarge (after a brief pause): Say that again.
Grif: I think it looks more like a Puma.
Sarge: What in Sam Hell is a Puma?
Simmons: Uh...you mean like the shoe company?
Grif: No it's a big cat, like a lion.
Sarge: You're making that up.
Grif: I'm telling you, it's a real animal!
Sarge: Simmons, I want you to poison Grif's next meal.
Simmons: Yes, sir!
Edited by user on February 4, 2009 at 1:12 AM
Bremen_Koenigsegg
February 4, 2009 1:13 AM
I remember seeing this in the Halo: Landfall short film! That was a while ago... like, a year or so.
jai_mav
February 4, 2009 1:27 AM
Red vs Blue!! this is pretty ridiculous, some people jsut have too much time on their hands.
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