I have been looking in on the Web cam build that MR is doing and so far just a lot of talking and pointing as far as I can tell looks like they are filming this probly for a video to sell later. They have as much done as me and they have more people and money.
As this week unfolds I thought it would be nice for us to have a place to talk about whats going on and keep it in one place. So with that lets have our on weblog of there project.
I’m going to be checking in on it frequently myself. I was hoping it was going to be a live “streaming” broadcast. But I’m still going to watch it anyway. Should be interesting.
I too wish it were a streaming web cam with a better position but to see any detail we have to wait a year till the article comes out on the project. Its a great idea and I am impressed they are doing this maby they will stop in on the forum and tell us whats going on from time to time. I know they have a web log but I like the forums better.
I’ve been watching most of the morning. The last half hour the image has slowed to updating about once a minute. My browser is trying to refresh every 5 seconds. They must be encountering technical difficulties (too much traffic?).
Well with so many people listed as members and most probly get the newsletter it has probley stirred some inters so we will have to wait and see how there servers hold up.
Its a great idea and MR deserves a big Thank You. Its too bad that the camera is so far away from the work area; is there any possibility of zooming? With approximately 1/8th of their available time now gone, I’m a bit surprised that they are not further along with the framing. I’m also surprised that they don’t appear to have a proper work bench. While I know enough about the publishing business to know that there must be a fairly substantial lead time, I am still somewhat surprised that the lead time here is about nine months from doing the work to first article sent to the printer.
For some reason a small layout appeared on the set over the weekend – perhaps to test photography? Anyway as of Monday afternoon they were dealing with a finished flat table, so it hasn’t been all talking and pointing obviously. I recognized Jim Hediger and I think David Popp, and it looked like Popp was attacking one edge with a saw or belt sander. Don’t forget they also have a magazine or two to put out.
I do not know if it is easier or harder for a group or a person to build a small layout. I am reminded of Mark Twain’s famous quip: that a camel is a horse, designed by a committee.
Dave Nelson
Dave Nelson
I fail to comprehend the need for disparagement of the MR offering. As one who spends the better part of a week building a properly done structure kit, the concept of a group getting together to create a finished layout, let alone one with newly built structures, right before the public eye is simply amazing.
If I were to have any complaint it would certainly be voiced after the presentation was completed and not during the initial six hours of the journey.
dw - I think that, rather than disparaging remarks, viewers are simply voicing their observations, perhaps hoping that the MR staff will take notice and make some adjustments to the situation. Personally, while I think today’s offering went well because it involved large scale construction work, as one starts to lay roadbed and track, streets and groundcover, and place structures, our viewpoint is going to be far, far too distance to be of any value. I suspect that an HO scale building at the current viewing distance is going to be hardly visible!
That’s exactly my point. What was being accomplished today was of a scale that distance was required. These folks are professionals and I’d have to accept that they understand how to put scenes in proper perspective and give the viewers proper access to what they’re doing on the layout.
I misread the original post, fiatfan is right, the downloadable part won’t be avaiable until noon the day after it happens. The live view is the one I was trying to access but had no success at. I will have to try the downloadable one tomorrow on the dialup to see if I get it to go.
I too viewed the build via the webcam and found it to be very herky-jerky even using hi-speed DSL. As far a offering premature criticism, what I think is being offered by some viewers is only constructive comments on things that can be corrected before this goes to far. If we offer no comments/critiques it will be too late to correct. My understanding is that this will be offered for sale on DVD and be featured in MRR starting with the Jan. 2007 issue. All things considered I applaude thier efforts in making this available to the enthusists.
As my earlier post said this is for us to dicuss what we see and what we think of this project. I dont believe anyone is short changing ModelRailroader on this wonderful idea and project my concern is I simple can not see that much we are too far away. I would like to see the video after completion. Since this is Model related and my post I feel we can critsize as long as we are all nice in how we do it. Letting MRR know what we think and wont might help them understand us the consumer…