Does anybody know how to make or where to buy this marvellous flying model, featured in the '80’s film “Birdy” (with Matthew Modine)? This is not the mass-produced plastic & Mylar $10 toy, sometimes called the “Tim Flying Bird”; nor is it either of Leonardo Da Vinci’s “flying machines” (one, a bird-like flying machine for a man to operate, which would never work; the second, a crude flying screw that sort of anticipates helicopters). I’ve searched these boards and Google, without any luck.
Modine’s model bird appeared to be made of balsa wood, a rubber band, and the wing materials, and maybe a metal hook or screw or two. It flew very slowly, with a jerking, yet graceful, series of movements – jerking forward, then hovering/gliding, followed by another small jerk forward, etc. This was almost more “fluttering” than “flying” per se, if you know what I mean… It might stay up in the air for a couple of minutes or so, while advancing forwards relatively little, in contrast with the “Tim Flying Bird,” which is said to travel as far as 50 meters (perhaps in only 10-20 seconds?). I’ve never seen the mass-produced toy in action, but I’m guessing that it flies much faster and more purposefully forwards, then glides/crashes to a halt, without those periodic little hovering moments that made the “Birdy” model so intriguing.
Info on this model would have made an excellent “extras” feature on the “Birdy” DVD, come to think of it. Unfortunately, the DVD edition I’ve found on the web doesn’t list any such extras. 
I didn’t see the movie. Do you have a photo of the model? There used to be a lot of balsa model manufacturers. Guillow’s is probably the best-known, but most of the Guillow’s line are scale models. Sterling is another company that makes scale models. Midwest used to make free-flight models (I’ve just recently obtained plans for their Sniffer and Super Sniffer), but I think those were pretty much engine powered. But I think they might have also made rubber-powered models. There are a bunch of other companies whose names I don’t recall that made balsa models.
Of course, the airplane may have been designed for the movie. Although I’ve only built flying models from kits, I’m sure I could design one that would fly. I think virtually anyone could after building a few kits. Maybe the filmmakers found plans in a 1960s or earlier magazine. If so, you might find the magazine.
Sorry I’m not much help.
I’ve been racking my brain trying to remember where I saw a program about models like the one you mentioned. Basically, these models (with flapping wings) were both a hobby and career for the scientist who was developing them. The only thing I’ve found that comes close, is the Reciprocating Chemical Muscle Drone (try a google search on “R. Michelson”) being developed for future NASA’s Mars missions. These drones resemble insect flight as opposed to a bird’s flight, but the general idea is there.
I’m sure I saw the program on PBS but can’t remember which program. If I find anything at their site, I’ll post it here.
Those kinds of flying aircraft are called “ornithopters”. There used to be a plastic ornithopter kits for sale in toy store, but I have no idea how well it flew.
Here are some links to toy Ornithopter manufacturers:
This site has some videos which look pretty cool:
http://members.tripod.com/ornitech/products.html
Here’s a kit overview site: http://indev.hypermart.net/suppliers.html
Ornithopters have good potential for very tiny flying vehicles, because airfoils scale differently at very tiny sizes. Check out this one: http://robotics.eecs.berkeley.edu/~ronf/mfi.html
Thank you very much for your replies and links. Those ornithopters are definitely in the ballpark, but the one in the movie had a weird way of practically just hovering up there. I think its wings were shaped more rectiliniarly (I don’t recall them having the long, swooping lines of the Ornithoper models), only splayed out laterally and further from the body. It definitely wasn’t the “Swallow” model – that seems to fly more more speedily and aggressively, like an actual swallow. And I don’t think it had two sets of wings (like the “Dragonfly” model), either. I bet the kid in me would have a blast with either of those, though.
I actually rented “Birdy” a couple of years ago just to see that model in flight, and I tried to craft one on my own, but couldn’t. There wasn’t quite enough footage, no helpful lateral closeups, and the videotape quality was crappy. (Hey, those are my excuses, and I’m sticking with them.) IANA mechanical engineer, unfortunately…
Maybe it was crafted exclusively for the movie. I’m going to go back to that Ornithopter site and ask them about this; if anyone knows about it, or how to reverse-engineer the movie prop, they can!
Talk about taking flights of fancy! 
An ornithopter! Well, I was way off base. I was thinking of the traditional balsa-and-tissue models (specifically, the earlier non-scale type).