In the third chapter of Kevin Costner’s series, “Horizon: An American Saga,” the set creators sought a period-correct windmill to anchor the town scenes. Big Sky was entrusted with this task, and we delivered with precision and historical accuracy.
The Eclipse wood windmill, originally in use by the mid-1860s, served as our inspiration. Instead of finding and restoring an original, we reproduced a wooden wheel and wooden tail vane, integrating them with a modern oil bath gearbox. This hybrid Eclipse/Aermotor style windmill combines the authenticity of a century-old design with the low maintenance and reliability of contemporary technology.
We designed a large spread base tower using 8” x 8” Douglas fir timbers to support the windmill. Fabrication took place at our shop in Victor, MT, and we installed the windmill and tower on-site. The accompanying photos showcase the journey, ending with a shot of the windmill and tower in pieces on a trailer in the desert, ready for installation.
ClientTerritory Pictures/Kevin CostnerLocationNorthern ArizonaDateMay, 2024Share
