LocoLaurie

10 hours ago, Phil Parker said:

If you work in N gauge, there are loco kits...

 

That is very interesting. I'm not alone lol. 

Laurie 

Hello,

Some of you may know me, Laurie Calvert, as the creator of a science-fiction model railway called Cato Pass. Built in Nov 2015 it has displayed at 61 shows, been in several magazines, been on TV, BBC news, and been lucky enough to pick up an award or two. It has been a wonderful ride culminating in me working with a team from Hornby to produce some of the sci-fi Steampunk designs in 2020. 

This year I have managed to make not one but two sequel layouts to complete the trilogy, for future exhibition display, using the same 6x2ft format of an underground cavern set on a moon of Saturn. These are imaginative designs, hopefully inspiring a different type of modeller into our wonderful hobby. These especially seem of interest to families, and there are even audience buttons for them to control certain things. So I hope some of you can appreciate the angle I am coming from. 

The first is Cato Cove, an underground dockyard set on Titan, where the Steampunk Junk Collection Ship is under dinosaur fish attack, whilst the Steampunk locos race around, and aliens attack on the surface. Search on YouTube 'Calvertfilm Cato Cove Pt17 Running Session of Sci-Fi Model Railway'

The Second is Cato Inferno, an underground ice cavern on Mimas, with a Dropship landing pad which is on fire after being attacked by Dragons. It also features a huge loco called Colossus which spans three adjacent tracks and shuttles back and forth trying to escape the Steampunk retaliation. 

I could only managed to attach one video/YouTube link to the finished models but on my 'Calvertfilm' channel you will find build videos if you wish to know how I achieved any of the effects, such as the large realistic fire effect, which wasn't cheap but the most realistic way I could achieve the effect I wanted. Still most hobbies aren't cheap are they? lol. I will also attach some images for your perusal. 

I make regular layouts too, and I know Sci-Fi and Steampunk are not everyone's cup of tea, but hopefully there is room in the hobby for these imaginative and detailed models, and that you can appreciate the modelling and the ideas. I hope to see some of you in the future as I display these at shows. Please enjoy. 

Regards, Laurie 

Dangerous for me to visit this shop because it has such an extensive range I might not come out for hours. Friendly people too. I needed a Steampunk loco fast, and managed to contact them through social media. They were on the ball, posted the item fast, and I got it the day before I urgently needed it. Massive thanks to Ken and Heather. 

4 hours ago, PaulRhB said:

Hi Laurie

I do hope it’s a success, as we’ve seen your layout is popular, but I do think they need to push more towards some of the more elegant designs and even mix it up with the Airfix range yo provide customisation. 
I just feel they needed to grab it by the horns and truly do something WOW rather than dipping in one toe  

As you’ve shown we can all take standard models and customise them, which providing a basic shape and a set of parts that popped in pre made holes would allow truly unique creations and interaction and be really different. I just feel they’ve limited things by providing it ‘done’. 

Fingers crossed the popularity makes it a success that prompts some investment in special tools  

Hornby also want to give people the idea, and then see what they come up with. Over to you folks really......

Hi Splendid People 

I'm Laurie Calvert (aka Cornelius Chuddery) the designer of the Steampunk product for Hornby. The was tasked with using existing product, and giving it a Steampunk make-over. So bear in mind those constraints, although I am very happy with the designs. I am really pleased with the results on the Locos, Wagons, and Coaches. The buildings I had lots of thoughts over. I really wanted to do something wacky, overbalanced, and almost falling over but had to modify existing items. So two of the sides have detail on them and two of the sides just cogs and gears as a Steampunk motif - the idea being they could be instantly recognisable as Steampunk. No matter what a steampunk song says, you do actually needs cogs and gears. Otherwise they would look like buildings but not really Steampunk. I have many more ideas if they are needed. This also has a narrative to it, to get imaginations going. Bassett-Lowke was used as that company was founded in Victorian times 1899. Seemed apt in a way. Hornby designers have done a great job on the art for the models. The interest grew in the product as the months rolled on. I have built two demo layouts, one for America. 

The investment wasn't too high but the idea here is to bring in other modellers into our hobby. I applaud Hornby for giving this a go. To broaden it's appeal. Ask your children or grandchildren what they think of these locos racing around dinosaurs, and you may find you have to have these as visitors to your own layout when the grandkids come round to visit. The hobby after all is meant to be fun. 

I am making a series of videos for daily release on YouTube for those interested in seeing how this product was developed, and give you an insight. Here is the first. 

I hope this interests people. If it's not for you fair enough. I don't like every loco I see. That's not the point though - the idea is to appeal to new modellers, so well done Hornby management for giving this a go. 

For me this was a dream come true - I got to design a Hornby product. How cool is that? 

Regards, Laurie  

Hi all. Thanks for you comments. 

I'm Laurie the designer of this product for Hornby. The was tasked with using existing product, and giving it a Steampunk make-over. So bear in mind those constraints, although I am very happy with the designs. I am really pleased with the results on the Locos, Wagons, and Coaches. The buildings I had lots of thoughts over. I really wanted to do something wacky, overbalanced, and almost falling over but had to modify existing items. So two of the sides have detail on them and two of the sides just cogs and gears as a Steampunk motif - the idea being they could be instantly recognisable as Steampunk. No matter what the song says, you do actually needs cogs and gears. Otherwise they would look like buildings but not really Steampunk. I have many more ideas if they are needed. This also has a narrative to it, to get imaginations going. 

The investment wasn't too high but the idea here is to bring in other modellers into our hobby. I applaud Hornby for giving this a go. To broaden it's appeal. Ask your children or grandchildren what they think of these locos racing around dinosaurs, and you may find you have to have these as visitors to your own layout when the grandkids come. The hobby after all is meant to be fun. 

For me this was a dream come true - I got to design a Hornby product. How cool is that? 

I am making a series of videos for daily release on YouTube for those interested in seeing how this product was developed. 

Regards, Laurie Calvert (Cato Pass model railway). 

As a primarily Sci-Fi Steampunk modeller, Steampunk Laurie from Team Steampunk Series 1, I have to say how much I enjoyed Heat 5 and the creativity that shone through from all teams. There were elements of each model I really found entertaining. 

In fact this series of GMRC seems more about fantasy based modelling than I was expecting, with sci-fi elements creeping into many designs across the heats, and it makes me wonder if more show layouts will reflect this in future? For me the hobby needs to evolve a little bit (still keeping its core modelling) so as to attract new people. 

So well done to all teams on GMRC2 and especially this heat that had some wonderful interpretations. Steampunk models, TB1, and some great buildings. This is my first post on GMRC2 as these modellers fired me up! 

Steampunk Laurie 

Just noticed this topic. Fantasicgorical stuff. Really glad others are having a go. 

For figures I get mine from eBay. They are a bit larger than normal but they still work for me. Just search Steampunk figures. 

Here's an example: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-28MM-STEAMPUNK-TUNSTALL-TORCHER-METAL-FIGURE/123465908999?hash=item1cbf244307:g:eg4AAOSw~ztbOQO9:rk:17:pf:0 

Laurie Calvert 

Channel 5 link to appear on the show for Series 2. Same address as elsewhere on this thread. 

http://www.channel5.com/apply-to-be-on-the-show/ 

It says: 

Teams of modellers or individual modellers are welcome to apply.

Please send your name, location and contact details to casting@knickerbockerglory.tv

Backstories: This message is really to the Teams. We were all filmed before the show, and these Backstories were going to be used on the show originally. But now they are due to be published on the Channel 5 web site I think Pat said.

http://www.channel5.com/show/the-great-model-railway-challenge/ 

But does anyone know where they are please? 

Laurie  

p.s. here is our own 3 min video made during that backstory filming featuring Bryher and Marko: 

Hi All,

 

I’m at Fawley today and we have just noticed an - er - infestation...

 

07CE6944-172B-42F7-959C-F836CBF51B4F.jpeg

 

If anyone would like to claim said beasts then applications should be forwarded to:

 

The RSPCD (Royal Society for the Promotion of Children’s Dinosaurs)

Fawley Hill

C/O Me

 

This has been a public service announcement to reduce the threat of dinosaur infestation in workshops everywhere.

 

I’ll get my coat...

 

All the best,

 

Castle

Great very funny, you know if memory serves me correctly, I think my Team Steampunk left some behind in our box of goodies (inc paints, and scenics) for other teams to use. 

I'm not sure we left that many. 

As they say in the movies 'Life finds a way' lol. 

Steampunk Laurie. 

Well done to all teams. Great modelling on RVD, and Aberdeen won with an imaginative model. 

Where on earth did the producers get the idea for 'Journey through time'. Our Team Steampunk would have been stumped lol. 

Really good to see Bryher from Knickerbocker is glancing over this thread.

I doubt I can submit a team for series 2 due to personal issues but may I make some suggestions? 

1: I would like to see a general sponsor that can supply other types of modelling materials such as sci-fi models, and all sorts of other things. Someone like Hobbycraft for example. This is because I found for some strange reason Hornby, Bachmann, Peco, and all the others were devoid of sci-fi items :-) It restricted my build considerably in series 1 on the 'Time Travel Train'. 

2: The Pre-Build rule (if allowed, and it seems most teams need it to be) should be very clear, so they all do more or less the same amount in terms of time and money. 

3: How about a guest star viewing the models and giving opinions? Could be quiet entertaining or informative depending who it is. Just a thought. 

Cheers, Steampunk Laurie 

Good to meet you at the show Saturday, I enjoyed the layout, did the cow get run over eventually?;-) and enjoyed chatting about your model. Hope to see you at one of the other shows.

Steve.

Great to meet you too. Thanks for having a chat about the show. And yes the cow did eventually get hit by the loco but only because I moved it backwards on the rails to build up excitement for the viewing public. Cow survived and so did the loco.

Layout run all day fully automatically without a single stop, problem or derailment. Those inexpensive (£25) analogue SS2A shuttle + controllers from Block Signalling do a great job accelerating and decelerating the trains. If I did a series 2 of GMRC I think I'd put some in. 

Again, the pre-build rule really needs to be firmed up one way of the other.

A lot of money was spent on some of those pre-build items tonight in Heat 5 for one team in particular. Both time and money spent on pre-builds throughout the series varied an awful lot. I do hope Knickerbocker read this thread. I will chat to Producer Pat about it too. We did hardly any pre-build wanting to actually fulfil the challenge as set. But knowing what I know now we would do a load more. Only the teams competing really know what happened in each heat. But we do talk to each other you know ;-) 

On a positive note, some wonderful layouts and ideas in Heat 5. Last minute running was exciting and I was rooting for that team to get going. Other teams had great animations and wonderful ideas. Very competitive heat I thought. 

They are doing this hobby proud. And so is the show. 

Pat Doyle won't mind me saying that he will be looking for new teams for the next series at Warley on Sat 24th. So go chat to him if you are interested.

I was emailing him today, as I may well turn up in my outfit on the Sat 24th too, (no layout - that's 2019) and I wanted to pre-warn him :-) But if I can help promote the show, and the hobby in my own little way, then all well and good.

If there are a few of us there from the show, then we can have a mini reunion. Sort of lol. Or is that llooll 

Steampunk Laurie 

It's catching. Today I've been offered some sci-fi modelling for Garden Rail...

Lol, well I'm not trying to change things of course, just to add strings to our bow. The wider the appeal, the better. I'm sure we'd all agree. There is room for us all I hope. Plus I bet there are many more inventive ideas to come. 

Sometimes I feel as if I'm swimming against the tide and I have no intention of upsetting anyone. Thanks for the supportive comments. It really helps. 

The attached screen grab shows the Fawley Fliers layout (youtube grab) at the beginning of day one and ours, the Diesel Dynamos. Given their workshop was the building we were shooting in they didn't have to move it far. I know from speaking to the team members they pretty much the entire layout working a week or so before the shooting began. One of their pre-built items was the entire upper section of the layout. Measuring roughly 8ft by 4ft (on a 10x5 layout), ballasted, wired and just requiring some scenic detailing. Kudos to them for; planning very well, interpreting the pre-built rules and getting it past the judges. The Railway children baseboards were totally clean when they arrived!

 

This is why I will be very interested in the final. If no prebuilding is allowed, as Laurie mentions, that will separate the men from the boys. I suspect the quality of finish on the final layouts will be substantially less than those in the heats. I'll be proved right or wrong on the 10th Nov

That is very interesting. Plus frustrating lol. 

I hope people appreciate how well The Railway Children did. Plus they were most creative with their idea. They really, really tried, and took on the challenge head on. Full marks for effort. 

Here is a little more background information you might find interesting reading:

My Team Steampunk also started with totally blank baseboards. We pre-built six single buildings only. Our base boards were empty as we wanted to do it all from nothing. We did indeed complete a layout in the time alloted. Ours was made in 23.5 hours only. I am proud of my team. We did the challenge for real. It was a personal choice from me, as I wanted to show what could be achieved. Fair enough if other teams built more because they could. But in the end the amount of pre-building variation is not being fully revealed. Let's face it some of the pre-build hours are adding up. That's film-making. So we can assume there is variation in all Heats.

Plus as Steve Flint said at the end of Heat 3 that Team Steampunk had it 'Professionally finished off'. I am thankful for Steve saying that because it did fully stand up to close scrutiny by cameras. It was finished. We sat around more or less tidying up and drinking tea for the final half hour. We could have added more mountains and elevation but it was a creative decision to make it flat (turns out it cost us, so lesson learned is build elevation). The mountains we added and the raised tracks were always part of the original design, not afterthoughts, and not rudimentary when finished.

But there's more :-)

We were told we were 'too extreme' with our design at the very end. Once some of my team realised we never stood a chance they questioned why we were allowed to build this model. We all had to submit our designs weeks beforehand. I figure the production company made the decision, not knowing how the judges would vote. Funny though that Kathy said 'They could have gone out of this world' on TV. I really do not know what they wanted now as that would have been more extreme. So, upon hearing that four of my team went home very disgruntled indeed (the other one could not be there the final day). They refused to do further interviews. I had to dismantle the Time Travel Train alone. In the end Knickerbocker crew helped me too (thank you to Pat, Daniella, Bryher and the team). Bit of a sad end but bear in mind my team had all worked their little socks off, and they were exhausted. I think it was all a misunderstanding myself. These things happen. 

I hold no ill feelings at all to Knickerbocker of the judges, and did not at the time. Why? They are entitled to their decision. All judges vote differently. Plus I thought the animations were so good on the Globetrotting Santa that I felt they deserved the win on that basis. I wanted my team to deliver more animations. But we had more detail, and a more creative interpretation of 'Globetrotting'. It was close to be fair. 

If we had got further we had already decided to go traditional next time. For the Heat we thought we could push the boundaries. We pushed too far. 'Too Extreme'. 

Still I've shown that I make sci-fi railways - on TV. This is what I am getting known for. Our aim for the show was to make something sci-fi on TV. Job done. I am actually a happy loser at the end of Heat 3 as we had no need to build anything further. Anything else was a bonus - we got nothing else. You know what? I'd rather make a sci-fi railway that loses than a regular one that wins. I'm happy. We got to showcase what we do. 

I thank Knickerbocker and the judges for giving us the opportunity to entertain the masses with something different. 

Rats! If I knew you were there I would have made the effort to visit.

Ok well don't know if any of these are near to you. I'm displaying 'Cato Pass' at all of these except the first one:

Romford Nov 3 2018 (this weekend) with 'Dunmovin Mine' 

Royston Nov 17

Guildford 20 Jan 2019 

Tenterden 23-24 Feb

Trainwest 13-14 Apr

Basildon 7-8 Jul

Medway 7-8 Sep

Sudbury 5 Oct

Warley 23-24 Nov 2019 

More dates to be added throughout the year no doubt. 

Do say hello. Is always great to chat to people and I can give them some behind the scenes information ;-) 

No, as posted earlier in the thread, the Peco stand will have the Basingstoke layout, the winner will be on the Bachmann stand:

 

http://news.Bachmann.co.uk/2018/10/Bachmann-products-as-seen-on-screen/

So Basingstoke didn't win then Phil? Or maybe they did and they have their Heat layout on one stand, and their final layout on the other? ;-) 

On another note as one of the competing teams, one thing that is not very clear on TV is the level or pre-building (or not) that went on. There were huge differences, representing a massive differential in hours. This happened in Heat 4 (so I'm told). This was not properly taken into account in the judging I feel. The rules will have to be locked down much more clearly if it ever happens again. Or no pre-builds allowed. That would sort the men out from the boys. 

I was at a show in Whitstable, Kent over the weekend, with some of the items rescued from our Team Steampunk model (layout was taken down an hour after filming). People were really pleased to see us, the show is getting a very positive reaction in the main from those who spoke to me with sentiments echoed on this thread, and the kids loved meeting a real 'TV star' - T-Rex not me lol. 

 

 

please shoot the pianist

I think the show needs to re-think it's music. Just my own opinion but that is one element that could have got people running to the TV screens - a great theme tune. Just ask Gerry Anderson :-) 

I think if they do a second series they could have a celebrity judge thrown in. Who would you choose? If you fancy the idea that is lol. 

If Signals were amenable to the idea, it would be nice if it could be kept on display until at least the following weekend (100th anniversary of the Armistice).

That is a great idea. Callum's 'Amiens' WW1 layout inspired me to build 'Aftermath' WW1 layout. After six shows I have donated my model to Stow Maries WW1 airfield museum (last weekend). They have invited me to attend and demo the model on Sunday Nov 11th. It is really special to use these special models this year I think. 

Incidentally myself and Callum know each other fairly well. We have displayed at the same show, and I think I might have tipped him off about the GMRC if memory serves. He's a terrific modeller with his team. They deserve to do well on this show. 

Not restricting the teams to a defined 10' x 5' space might allow a bit of variety. Several teams would have preferred to rearrange the baseboards to 3'4" x 15'.

 

I think that there is an appreciation that more modelling needs to be shown hence why all the backstories got abandoned in the final cut. They have to set the scene, and introduce the characters, but there is no need to show endless views of Fawley Hill - just a bit at the beginning is enough. I am sure that peoples' attention span will run easily to ninety minutes and a bit more judge's deliberations showing the points allocated for each item would be a nice thing to give the viewers something to agree or disagree with.

 

If Four in a Bed can run to two and a half hours just showing little more than the judging and deliberation of four B&Bs the public's attention span will take things being a bit more in depth.

Good points made here. We wanted our model to be end-to-end as it suited the design better and emailed Knickerbocker with that idea but were told we had to make it 10x5ft. Later on the producer mailed me to say that another team had made it end-to-end without asking and their pre-building on two baseboards with the track could not be undone, so it is probably the only one. I also suggested smaller 4x2 boards and then the teams could decide how many to use and it what configuration they wanted? 

There was a lot more to our model that was cut. So yes, less Fawley and maybe they could have shown our forced perspective raised N Gauge loco that was running in the background? We had five locos moving, three at any one time. Was that clear? 

The raised tracks were always part of the original design submitted before the show, yet the edit made it seem an afterthought. I'll attach the Photoshop image I sent them. 

Other editing included me saying 'it's rubbish'. The sequence seemed harsh as there was actually more context to that. Plus it was edited so you think the girls made that model - they didn't. The editor probably didn't know who made it. Plus that engine shed was rubbish for that section because it didn't match but was great on the sci-fi Steampunk section at the end. 

Our demo ran smoothly, and was very slick and fast. I think it was the best in this respect but editing makes the others run slicker too. We also had some cuts here as the sequence was longer. But they don't want you to think we might have been more of a contender maybe? Having said that I thought Basingstoke deserved the win as they had more animations than us and I'd already been told ours was too flat for the judges. So I felt they had it. One of them said they thought we did.

I think we did ok. Especially as most of the team were newbies. When Steve Flint came over to me and talked about managing the team more and delegating, I wasn't sure where that came from, as everyone was busy. It makes sense now having seen the show as they discussed between themselves how I was going to manage it. This created further jeopardy that wasn't there. On day three I said I was delegating more but it wasn't the case really and situation was normal. It worked as we finished with time to spare (you can see us sitting down on a bench is some end shots drinking tea). The design had been met. We made ours from a set of three blank baseboards in 23.5 hours with just a few pre-built buildings. We really did it in the time. I'm really proud of my team. 

As a film maker I appreciate the power of editing, and it did make for a good program. I'm sure many teams could explain similar things. So please be aware when you see the shows, you are being led to vote for your winner. Although I still think Basingstoke beat us on animation and scratch built, yet we were much more creative on the brief. I think it was closer than it seemed. Tonbridge were attempting some clever track work too, much cleverer than ours. 

So yes less Fawley Hill please lol. 

One final thing. We were told at the end our design was too extreme ever to have won, and this upset my team as we were allowed to build knowing that beforehand. I didn't mind as I'd rather build a losing extreme sci-fi model that showcased what I do, than a trad model that won. I think our was extreme. But I see their point. To be fair to the show, they did not know how the judges were going to vote did they? p.s. Steve put my sci-fi Cato Pass in Oct Railway Modeller too, so he does see the value in broadening the appeal. 

So there are a lot of things going on you don't know. Main thing for me was we put sci-fi model railway in front of a million people, thanks to Knickerbocker & team. Job done. 

Regards, Laurie