Wagon Works (Distraction no. 2)

[Petersfield]

At the moment, time (and tide) is against me getting on with the bigger projects. Instead, I have to snatch an hour or two here and there when I can. I've been to some of the local area group meets and there's been talk of filming some of the lines and doing pieces on specific issues for YouTube and when the publicity stand goes to exhibitions. Which got me thinking about some of the publicity work I used to do and the scope for suitable clips.

I don't have a camcorder, just a compact digital camera, with a video option. This is around 20 years old and is starting to slow down a bit now. But I've had some good results from it an thought I'd try a little experiment. As well as shooting the odd clip of trains passing, I thought a driver's eye view could be interesting. So I took the 'honey wagon' one plank used in the last quarter's gallery entry and removed the timber insert. With care, the compact camera will fit on this. For obvious reasons, I had to build a cradle for it to sit in - this time, I used some spare plastic sheet and Plaststruct as an insert.

The cradle is rather basic and crude but holds the camera securely in place. I tried it on my shunting puzzle layout and then on a neighbour's line at his next steam up. The footage came out well, it shows the camera's age but was well received by the others attending. Our 'official' group cameraman has used the idea since with better and more modern equipment and is threatening to show some at the Exeter show next month.

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Best not ask how 'Bill' got the wagon load out of the wagon - and I think 'Ben' is going to start barking at it any moment now...

[Petersfield]

I won't post the You Tube links (yet?) but took a few screengrabs:

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I coupled the wagon to a battery 'diesel' loco and ran this as smoothly and steadily as possible round the line. This shot is coming 'off shed'.

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And then further round the line.

[Petersfield]

One idea I had was to do something a bit different - reverse the direction of travel and get another group member to drive a train behind me, to get some footage of a train from a train. It took a little practice but this gave some interesting angles.

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Anyone for a remake of 'The General'?

[Bad Droid]

Awesome, can't wait to see the videos!

[Old Man Aaron]

A very "scale-looking" camera mount there. Bit of paint and weathering, and it wouldn't look out of place on a railway if left on the wagon. You could even make a lift-off "crate" to cover the camera - with the lens peeking out of course.

See if people spot the hidden camera.

[LNR]

I do like the ground level shots with plenty of depth of field, always adds to the realistic effect.
Grant.