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Once Upon a Time in the West (video)


Mikkel

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Here's a little video showing scenes and train movements at Farthing station - including the arrival, shunting and departure of the Westbury stopping train. It's 2,5 minutes long. Be warned that it features music, although only a quiet piano.

 

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21 Comments


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  • RMweb Gold

Mikkel :icon_clap: :icon_clap: :icon_clap:

 

What a delightful video. Not too long, very atmospheric and great attention to detail.

 

I love the 'black n white' old movie effect - I had the impression the screen was going to go black and some Charlie Chaplin style white text on black background was going to appear!

 

Very inspiring - thank you for sharing.

 

Pete

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  • RMweb Gold

Many thanks Pete and Martin. It was fun to do, I've never tried this kind of thing before but was quite taken by the simplicity of Windows Movie Maker. I'm not a big fan of Microsoft and didn't even realize this programme was on my computer, but for a novice it seems quite intuitive and with some nice options.

 

Must get some better equipment though, my cheapo point-and-shoot camera is being stretched to the limit!

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  • RMweb Gold

Well it's amazing how many different aspects there are to this hobby, isn't it. And the scope just keeps growing with all the new technology becoming available to the un-trained. Very easy to get distracted from good old-fahioned modelling wink.gif

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That's really quite delightful Mikkel! I really enjoyed that and it brought a smile to the face, thanks for putting the time into doing that.

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Hello Mikkel :)

 

I just had to add to all the praise for a fantastic video. Thank you for sharing that with us, absolutely brilliant!

 

Missy :D

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  • RMweb Gold

Thanks both :) Actually it didn't take that long to do. The fact that the footage follows a standard operating sequence on the layout (arrival of train, run-round, adding stock, departure) made the "scripting" straightforward.

 

It's extraordinary just how much the music means though. I tried a heavy metal soundtrack just for the fun of it, which gave a completely surreal impression :D

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Lovely stuff, Mikkel. I've seen so many model videos that just fail to inspire me, so I admit that my first thoughts on seeing this entry were "Oh no, why is he wasting time on this?" Then I pressed the play button...

 

It didn't take long to realise this was a bit different and that you've brought your story telling skills to a new medium. Just as with your photos and stories, the video succeeds in evoking the Edwardian atmosphere with your usual humour. Well done :icon_thumbsup2:

 

Nick

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  • RMweb Gold

It's a fun way to waste time though Nick :D , although I'd agree it's sometimes more fun for the maker of the film than the audience :)

 

One thing I like about videos is how they show that the stock actually runs and the layout is operationable. I personally think there's a fine but important line between a model railway and an actual diorama, and videos can help bring out the operational aspect here on the web. Although I would hope it doesn't spell the end of exhibitions!

 

Not that there's anything at all wrong with dioramas as a hobby in itself, of course, which I greatly admire.

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5 stars !! And that was your first attempt ?!?!!!!

 

Using the postcard images at the beginning really set the mood, I also like the transition from black and white video to colour back to colour. Reminded me of the film Phantom of the opera !

 

I really think the video allows remote viewers more feel for a layout than a photograph, thanks for taking the time to let us in !

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  • RMweb Gold

Thanks halfwit and John, I guess the play with colours could have been taken much further by someone with experience in these kind of things.

 

There's something about those coloured-in postcards from Edwardian times that I find very appealing, even if the colours are sometimes rather unlikely! I tried to recreate it in the stills from the station shown in the video, but it's still not entirely convincing and needs more practice I think.

 

The transitions between black & white and colour are fairly easy to do in Windows movie maker, eg the last sequence is just two identical clips in which one is colour and the other is black & white, and these are then set to overlap in the "timeline" of the programme. Again, I'm sure someone more experienced could have made the transition completely smooth.

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  • RMweb Gold

Mikkel.If you don't watch out you will become a GWR legend.Absolutely superb.

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  • RMweb Gold

Thanks Rob, although that is quite an overstatement :lol:

 

A friend of mine saw this video and gently accused railway modellers of hopeless nostalgia. I then showed him photos of some great layouts featuring grotty diesels and grimy grafitti walls. That helped, but it doesn't get us steam modellers quite off the hook :D

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  • RMweb Gold
...a finer era...

Hi Bill, yes Edwardian times certainly seem to have been quite sophisticated in some respects. Although of course this kind of modelling shamelessly romanticizes things. I'm sure all those trapped in poverty at the time would gladly swop with us :mellow: But I guess most of the really poor back then never did have much to do with the railways anyway?

 

I don't know if you have seen this but i was sent it today and it is really very interesting... http://www.flixxy.com/san-francisco-1905-historical-footage.htm

Chris, that is amazing footage! Many thanks for sharing. Rouge driving was obviously also an issue then, witness eg the horse carriage which emerges suddenly from between two streetcars at 00:41! In fact, people are so daring I'm wondering if the camera was using a tele lens of some kind - or were they just not so health & safety conscious :)

 

As for the additional links beneath the video, the ride through Barcelona is quite fascinating too, although I can't seem to get the London one to work.

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  • RMweb Gold

That was really nice Mikkle, could you produce a small running sequence with some other items of stock?

 

Regards,

 

Nick

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  • RMweb Gold

Hi Nick, yes will do, just need to get some other tasks finished first. I'd like to make a video showing the "Racing Day special" - but that means I have to paint the horseboxes first! biggrin.gif

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