Forums
| Model-Trains-Video.com :: Forums :: Expert how-to tricks forum :: Scenery and structures expert tricks |
|
<< Previous thread | Next thread >> |
| NEWS: Status of video volume 4 (Scenery and bridges, part 1) | ||
| Go to page [1] 2 | |
|
Moderators: site admin, Joe Fugate, Spinpuff
|
| Author | Post | ||
| Joe Fugate |
| ||
   Registered Member #3 Joined: Fri Sep 08 2006, 01:59PMPosts: 148 | (As of October 11th, 2006) Volume 4 is coming along nicely with good momentum, I'm pushing for a December release at this point. It's almost totally step-by-step content, which is tediuous to shoot since you have to shoot "before doing the step" footage, "while doing the step" footage (often from several angles so we've got both closeup and distant shots to work with in editing), and then "after doing the step" footage. All that shooting, moving the camera around, and figuring out how to capture the same process (or apparently the same process) from several different camera vantage points can be time consuming. Much slower than concept or demo/hints & tips content. With concepts you can just blast through the dialog (usually Rick and me discussing the concepts and me illustrating them) and it comes together pretty fast in the editing phase. Demos and hints and tips takes a bit longer, but not much more than conceptual stuff. However, step-by-step is really slow and tediuous to do, and it also tends to take more screen time than concepts or hints and tips stuff. But there's nothing better for seeing how something is done than step-by-step. So we're biting the bullet on volume 4 since it's almost totally step-by-step. But the end result ought to be some of the most useful how-to video on scenery that's ever been produced. It will document every little step along the way for folks. Makes a great learning tool.  Volume 4 is unique too in that we're taking one location on the layout (Tenmile Creek), starting with bare benchwork all the way through a completed scene with all the goodies. You get to see the whole thing develop as we go along, which should really help people see how it's done. Tenmile creek has it all -- a stream (water chapter), bridge (bridge chapter), backdrop (backdrop chapter), terrain, dirt, grass, bushes, trees (all those chapters), and even a road and a tunnel. In case you're wondering, Tenmile Creek is between the bottom tunnel portal of the helix and the east switch of Camas Valley. [ Edited Wed Dec 26 2007, 10:46PM ] Joe Fugate http://siskiyou-railfan.net - 250,000 hits and counting!  | ||
| Back to top | | ||
| Joe Fugate |
| ||
| Registered Member #3 Joined: Fri Sep 08 2006, 01:59PMPosts: 148 | Oh yes, one other thing ... unlike the previous volumes, volume 4 is being totally mastered in High Definition 1920 x 1080 interlaced video, then down converted to standard definition DVD. (720 x 480). Footage that's been mastered in HD and downconverted comes out very crisp and clear. So far we're very pleased with how excellent the final video is looking. The DVD will have some HD footage of the finished scenery that you can play on your computer in 1280 x 720 HD progressive -- really crisp and clear. Of course once HD DVDs catch on more, we could produce an HD version of the volume as well. We'll see. But at least the SD video is looking great.  [ Edited Wed Oct 11 2006, 02:16PM ] Joe Fugate http://siskiyou-railfan.net - 250,000 hits and counting! | ||
| Back to top | | ||
| Joe Fugate |
| ||
| Registered Member #3 Joined: Fri Sep 08 2006, 01:59PMPosts: 148 | Here's a video volume 4 tidbit. There's a tunnel portal in the example scene at Tenmile Creek. I've modeled the portal after an actual portal on the Coos Bay branch ... here's the prototype photo:  And here's the model portal I'm scratchbuilding that's patterned after this portal:  (click image for a larger version) This portal is not quite done yet ... I still want to draw some form joint lines on it with a pencil and a straight-edge, then I will blend the entire weathering job in by dusting the portal with some gray-brown tempera-plaster powder mix, and then spraying it with some dullcoat. But you should get the idea. The secret to getting this sort of realistic look to a concrete tunnel portal is to model from prototype photographs, and to weather the portal in layers using poster paint acrylics. I first painted it a basic light tanish gray, then I proceeded to brush on lighter and darker tones in another layer after the first was dry. Next I dry brushed some of the original medium gray along the edges of the ligher and darker colors to get a mottled edge look. Next, I dry brushed on some darker and lighter colors, following the photo as a guide. Finally, I flowed on some very thin paint as a light wash and a dark wash -- and this is the result in the photo above. I show more about how this portal was constructed and painted in video volume 4, as well as installing and detailing the portal area with moss, bushes, weeds, and roots, after the prototype.  [ Edited Mon Nov 13 2006, 11:34PM ] Joe Fugate http://siskiyou-railfan.net - 250,000 hits and counting! | ||
| Back to top | | ||
| Joe Fugate |
| ||
| Registered Member #3 Joined: Fri Sep 08 2006, 01:59PMPosts: 148 | (As of November 28th) After much soul searching and finding I need to take more time to explain things carefully via step-by-step video, I've decided we'll need to split the scenery volume 4 up into TWO volumes. This will mean the operations volume will become Volume 6: Operating like the prototype. More on that later. Okay, here's how the the scenery volumes break out now: Volume 4: Scenery and bridges - Part 1
Volume 5: Scenery and bridges - Part 2
As you can see, the chapter numbering will continue right on between the two volumes so they will truely be one mega-DVD two-volume set on scenery construction ala the HO Siskiyou Line. This should also give you a sense of what I've been struggling with because there's been *so much* I wanted to say that I felt like I just wasn't doing this segment of layout construction justice with only one volume. It was really starting to feel rushed and more superficial than I was comfortable with if I really wanted to teach you the techniques well. I'm feeling much better about the new freedom this approach gives me to DO THE SCENERY SUBJECT right. I hope you'll agree ... although it does mean you'll have to wait another 6 - 9 months for chapters 8-15.  I'm guessing you should see volume 4 begin shipping in January. This website will be updated in the next day or two with all this new information -- so you read it here first! [ Edited Tue Nov 28 2006, 02:38PM ] Joe Fugate http://siskiyou-railfan.net - 250,000 hits and counting! | ||
| Back to top | | ||
| Joe Fugate |
| ||
| Registered Member #3 Joined: Fri Sep 08 2006, 01:59PMPosts: 148 | (As of December 27th) The estimated release date of volume 4 has now been set at January 29th. [ Edited Wed Dec 27 2006, 09:34PM ] Joe Fugate http://siskiyou-railfan.net - 250,000 hits and counting! | ||
| Back to top | | ||
| site admin |
| ||
   Registered Member #1 Joined: Sun Mar 12 2006, 11:44PMPosts: 34 | Video vol 4 preorder now open! Save $10 by ordering before the release and using coupon code: V4MS73 Don't delay -- the coupon code is only good between now and the release date of January 29th. [ Edited Fri Jan 19 2007, 01:40PM ] | ||
| Back to top | | ||
| Scruff |
| ||
 Registered Member #9 Joined: Mon Oct 02 2006, 12:06AMPosts: 6 | Ummm ok, yeah I just brought the dvd, cool but was less than amused so to speak at the ordering system. It just gobbled my money via paypal and no where was i asked for shipping or contact info during the ordering process, nor did i see any info on what happens next except what felt like "yadda yadda yadda thanks for the money"Im assuming that its going to use the paypal address and contact info but there was no where to change shipping as based on what i was charged for shipping, it assumed i am in the USA, not New Zealand, unless its one price for everywhere? Perhaps a note somewhere on how the ordering process works unless i missed it somewhere but i couldnt find it.... Anyways, I cant wait to get my dvd and look forward to progressively ordering the rest cheers Dave Hancox | ||
| Back to top | | ||
| site admin |
| ||
| Registered Member #1 Joined: Sun Mar 12 2006, 11:44PMPosts: 34 | Dave: Yes, we use your Paypal or credit card address -- if you are already set up in Paypal with this info, then it doesn't ask for it again (although you can change it if you want, but Paypal doesn't make this as obvious as they could). And yes, one shipping price for everything, worldwide. The folks in the US get it shipped premium priority (a bit spendy, but they get it in a day or two), while we use a slower, cheaper method to ship overseas orders (can take 10-14 days). DVDs don't weigh much, so it's just simpler all the way around to charge the same for shipping, worldwide.  Hope you enjoy volume 4! Our preview testers tell us this is the best DVD yet -- and they said they absolutely can't wait for volume 5!  [ Edited Sat Jan 20 2007, 04:55AM ] | ||
| Back to top | | ||
| Scruff |
| ||
| Registered Member #9 Joined: Mon Oct 02 2006, 12:06AMPosts: 6 | Yeah I was alittle taken aback with how "hidden" the whole process was so to speak. Every other online order I have done has had like a confirmation page that show shipping address, what you are buying and costs etc and who you are buying from. I almost didnt order because of it, and in end decided that I place a little trust in you  cheers Dave | ||
| Back to top | | ||
| site admin |
| ||
| Registered Member #1 Joined: Sun Mar 12 2006, 11:44PMPosts: 34 | Scruff wrote ... Yeah ... in end decided that I place a little trust in you cheers Dave Dave: Glad we got the vote of confidence after all. Do let us know how you like volume 4. | ||
| Back to top | | ||
| Go to page [1] 2 | |
Powered by e107 Forum System