John Harris Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 (edited) Did anyone see last night's "McDonald & Dobbs"? The plot featured Brunel's 'Box Hill" Tunnel, and a version in miniature. As the model railway is so central to the story, the McDonald & Dodds production team actually built a model railway to film with, part of the storyline is all about a model railway a character has in his home, which is a replica of the Bath countryside and one of Brunel’s tunnels, where the body is found. The layout was the size of several snooker tables. It's not a bad detective series, a bit lighter than the unrelenting gloom of "Vera". jch Edited March 8, 2021 by John Harris 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Phil Parker Posted March 8, 2021 Administrators Share Posted March 8, 2021 Thread title edited for accuracy. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 88C Posted March 8, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 8, 2021 I couldn’t help noticing that they had placed a bus on a bridge. Brian. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Harris Posted March 8, 2021 Author Share Posted March 8, 2021 46 minutes ago, Phil Parker said: Thread title edited for accuracy. Thanks , I wonder if was thinking of the Chief Superintendent who is, undoubtedly, a complete Nobb? jch Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
John Harris Posted March 8, 2021 Author Share Posted March 8, 2021 (edited) There was also an impressive collection of what looked like G scale locomotives and rolling stock in cabinets around the model railway room. The layout was obviously created to suit the story and plot, the (railway) lines did not seem to join up. jch Edited March 8, 2021 by John Harris 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIK Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 Hi, Does anyone know which real tunnel was used for the filming?. My guess is the Bluebell's Sharpthorne tunnel as it appeared to be dripping water from the roof and had some concrete sleepers. Also its UK preservations longest tunnel which might help in trying to double for Box Tunnel. It had bullhead rail but many preserved lines use that. * I think the twin tracks in long shots were CGI (but not as bad as the green screening behind the balloon basket in the previous episode). Funny how the design on model railways in TV shows is becoming a trope. Hinterland was the only TV drama where I've seen a modern standard scenic model railway but that was where the countryside shown helped with informing the plot. Regards Nik 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Barry Ten Posted March 8, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 8, 2021 23 minutes ago, NIK said: Funny how the design on model railways in TV shows is becoming a trope. Hinterland was the only TV drama where I've seen a modern standard scenic model railway but that was where the countryside shown helped with informing the plot. Regards Nik Hinterland was the only one where the detective actually knew something about model railways, too, correctly identifiying the loco as a Bachmann City. I think the explanation was that his brother had been a railway modeller. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 The model featured quite heavily. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 Greet Tunnel was used. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted March 8, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 8, 2021 8 minutes ago, Tim V said: Greet Tunnel was used. Aye it were. Mike. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 Overall shot of the model. 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted March 8, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted March 8, 2021 Hmmm, not sure about Cocktail Corner! Mike. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIK Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 1 hour ago, Tim V said: Greet Tunnel was used. Hi, That would make more sense as its nearer to Bath than deepest Sussex. Regards Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bomag Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 Given they entered the tunnel via a fabled 'secret' entrance I was wondering if they found the Strategic Reserve. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 There are 'things' under Corsham that I believe still fall under the Official Secrets Act! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
steve1 Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 That's not a bad attempt, considering. Wonder what it's fate will be? steve Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 I was told it was being donated to a museum in Bath. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJS1977 Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 9 hours ago, NIK said: Funny how the design on model railways in TV shows is becoming a trope. Hinterland was the only TV drama where I've seen a modern standard scenic model railway but that was where the countryside shown helped with informing the plot. Regards Nik There was a modern standard 00 layout on an episode of Father Brown a few years back. Unfortunately that series is set in the 1950s.... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
5050 Posted March 8, 2021 Share Posted March 8, 2021 1 hour ago, RJS1977 said: There was a modern standard 00 layout on an episode of Father Brown a few years back. Unfortunately that series is set in the 1950s.... Discussed on another thread. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIK Posted March 9, 2021 Share Posted March 9, 2021 Hi, Now that a rare type of meteorite has been found in Winchcombe there may be a plot for the third series of Macdonald and Dodds. Someone plans the perfect murder by bonking someone on the head with a meteorite. The dead person has been left in an open space near Bath and is found via their phone and a helicopter search. Plot twists could include why the new UK meteor tracking array didn't pick up the fireball and the strange state of the magnetism of the supposedly pristine meteorite. No railways need be crowbarred into the script, one can have too much of a good thing. Regards Nick 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ben B Posted March 9, 2021 Share Posted March 9, 2021 It's quite impressive as a bespoke piece built for a TV production. It also follows in the Gerry Anderson/Derek Meddings tradition of any model built for a TV show has to have Dapol/Airfix kit parts creatively re-used, in this case the turntable kit sides inverted as a bridge at one end Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Administrators Phil Parker Posted March 9, 2021 Administrators Share Posted March 9, 2021 1 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveyDee68 Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 I wonder how much the Metcalfe Brewery set them back?! Steve S 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIK Posted March 14, 2021 Share Posted March 14, 2021 Hi, There is a non working model of Bath gasworks in the Museum of Bath At Work. It is festooned with railway tracks including a circuit going round the gasometer, with sidings off including to various chemical processes. I was very tempted to make a model of it if I could get hold of a copy of the plans. Might have been able to use RTR industrial steam locos id I made it in OO, but it would be a biggish layout. Regards Nick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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