For those interested in industrial switching layouts, I posted a short clip of my Downtown Spur Layout in action on YouTube here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=eGw5EwqwIzM
This was shot with an inexpensive micro recorder no larger than a pack of gum. It was my first video attempt (it shows) but I think with a few more trys and some practice I can clean up the transitions and some of the chop. I marched the recorder around by hand to simulate a crew member on the ground. For some of the other shots I taped it to the end of a boxcar to give a cab view.
I can see how lighting is a real challenge for this type of work. With still photography your subject is stationary and lighting is hard enough. With video…well…the subject moves a lot
Thanks guys. Video does take some playing around with to get used to it. I’ve got some major learning to do. It’s fun though. The fusee’s are from LogicRailTech http://www.logicrailtech.com/ (called 'fusee animators). They can be activated by infrared but I use what is called a ‘key switch’ (5 bucks from Parts Express). When the train comes to the street I stop, pull a key from a hanger and turn the fusee on. Doing it that way sort of lets you play brakeman. I did a full article on these in MR in January of this year.
As I railfan I’m seeing the modern crews use the flares a lot more on streets in industrial parks.
Great modeling as usual. You have managed to capture the feel of an industrial district perfectly. The empty boxes in the weeds as the loco approaches the reefer…pure magic. I have followed your articles for years in MR. Always impressed with your work. Thanks for posting.
Very creative video, and excellent modeling. I don’t like listening to music though, I would rather here the roar of the engines. (unless you don’t have sound)
I know Michael. I had a hard enough time with the video, let alone the audio. My first run I had the sound decoder on and it sounded awful. I think the right way to do it would be to have a tsunami equipped loco on another track nearby but assigned to the same decoder address and see if the microphone picks it up better.
I don’t see getting the diesel sound sorted out in the next several weeks. Music is always a risk since personal tastes are all over the place. Informal poll here, should I:
a) go totally silent until I can get the diesel sound worked out or
b)
leave music and let people mute/non mute as they choose?
d) Informative: Use a voiceover narrative either describing the movement from the POV of the brakeman taking the video, or from the model builder’s perspective explaining your techniques and philosophies.
Frankly, I think you should make several copies of the same video, each with one of the options listed so far.
Thanks. I did re-shoot a lot of the video today now that I’m getting the hang of it. I found that by turning the overhead fluourescent lights off and bouncing a single tungsten bulb off the ceiling it made an astounding difference. Here’s the url for the revised video.
Nobody will mistake this for a Hollywood production but I’m a little surprised at the quality of images coming from a $30 micro camera, particularly with the tungsten bulb providing light.
On a related subject, a few weeks back on another thread (here or atlas) asked about sound effect downloads. I found the site here: http://www.sounddogs.com/sound-effects.asp
Nice, the video highlights your modeling skill, conveys the feel of the area modeled, and show cases the stunning results that are possible with some of your “non-standard” modeling techniques. I particularly like the appearance of the autos. Looks like one could dart across the crossing at any second. I did get a chuckle that the reefer was off the track at first. Shooting video is quite a bit harder than still frames. I haven’t shot a video yet that I think is worth sharing and I found yours very entertaining. As for the sound question, I think one that was narrated by the brakeman would be fun.
Boy, you guys don’t miss a thing :). Yes, it is inverted. The pin hole lens is at the upper end of the ‘gum stick’ so to speak. This makes it too high to look like a ground level view. I had to flip it which makes editing a pain because I then have to rotate every segment with the video editor. The music is from the soundtrack to the Miami Vice movie.
I just uploaded another video, “Workin’ the Canyon” which should show up on the YouTube channel by morning. For that one I downloaded actual diesel sound clips from Sound Dogs. The sound synchronization is off a hair but close enough for an amateur.
Great choice on the music in the first video! I had just commented to my wife earlier today that train videos Always seem to have banjos or other country music. The music does fit the local as well.
The layout is totally amazing, and what a fun concept for the video. I’ll surely watch it over and over
