Over the past couple of months I've been watching a lot of Youtube videos on modelrailroads.
What I can't beleive is the sheer amount of modelrailroaders on Youtube! I had no idea, I mean in the past I would watch how-to videos and such on youtube, but only when I was looking for tips, etc. I'm watching all these on my tv btw.
Its just hard for me to believe that you retired folks (Im 50) have youtube channels. Not only here but a lot in England also!
Some things I have noticed:
1. Everybody has huge 50x50 ft basement filling railroads. But thats not big enough so they have 2 or 3 levels. I know most of these are built for having operating sessions with lots of other people. But that is just too much for me to fathem and enjoy.
2. Way too many trains. Every staging track and yard is just packed with trains. Again how do you enjoy and operate these.
3. Benchwork required and amount of time. I can't think about the amount of work it must take to complete benchwork. Either they have lots of friends that are general contractors, or you hire general contractors to do benchwork.
4. Over use of the bell and horns. Ok every modeler must think keeping the bell on for 10min at a time while in a yard swiching. And blowing the d*** horns every 5 seconds. That is really annoying and I have to mute the speakers.
What are your guys thoughts on youtube, do you have a channel. How do you have the time or knowledge to produce/edit videos for youtube.
I worked in I.T. for the past 20 years, and I don't even upload videos to youtube, too much work. lol
[Michael - Please refrain from using explicatives (e.g. d***) in your posts. Thank you for your cooperation. ~MR Moderator]
Michael
CEO- Mile-HI-RailroadPrototype: D&RGW Moffat Line 1989
I have a Youtube channel
search for trevorsmith3489
My early videos used a camera and the video had to be prepared in laptop or PC software before uploading.
I now use an i phone and this allows you to take high definition still photos and 4K videos. The phone software makes the images into a video and the press of one icon uploads the video to Youtube.
I keep a visual record of the development of my layout in a blog so that friends and colleagues can keep track of my progress, uploading to Youtube just adds a few seconds to the time it takes to create the blog
https://kaleyyard.wordpress.com/
Trevor
Motley What are your guys thoughts on youtube, do you have a channel. How do you have the time or knowledge to produce/edit videos for youtube. I worked in I.T. for the past 20 years, and I don't even upload videos to youtube, too much work. lol
It turned out to be a whole lot easier than I thought to edit a raw video from my phone and upload it to YouTube. No, it wasn;t as polished as the 'professional' YouTubers, but I was able to cut out the unwanted junk, flip the whole thing (bewcause it was filmed using the iCar which films through a mirror. And add captions to point out what you were looking at. Of course I never did another one...
As for benchwork - it doesn't take me that long to put together some wood. It also goes faster for NONE flat construction - open grid and/or l-girder with risers, because the base does not need to be carefully measured to be level, and even the risers aren't super critical because you can clamp them and adjust so the track is level or at the desired grade before screwing them on.
--Randy
Modeling the Reading Railroad in the 1950's
Visit my web site at www.readingeastpenn.com for construction updates, DCC Info, and more.
I have a video channel that I started when someone asked me for a track plan of my layout years ago, I didn't have one and just did a video of the layout from afar. I now have many videos and they are all crap but they were fun to make and I at least will have a record of my layout with moving pictures no less. I enjoy seeing pics of my layouts from when I was a wee lad and I am sure the kids will get a kick out of the videos 20 years after I am torched.
Why anyone watches them is beyond me but I have 44 subscribers whatever that means. At Bat Productions we only use the latest technology.
Here is my latest offering, I won't be offended if you don't stick it out to the end.
Brent
"All of the world's problems are the result of the difference between how we think and how the world works."
While I have my own YouTube channel (Chatanugadotorg) with lots of videos of my layout (among other topics), I wish I had a 50x50-foot basement. In some cases like the video of my layout below, you shoot video to hide the true size of the layout, making it seem larger than it really is.
The issue of too many trains on the layout does happen from time to time for me. When trains get to the staging yards, I try to pull them off as soon as possible to make room for the cars getting cycled back onto the layout.
As far as benchwork goes, I got mine through Seivers. Everything was pre-cut with all of the screws, bolts, etc. needed to put it all together. It not only saved time, but living in a two-bedroom townhouse, I doubt my neighbors would have enjoyed hearing power tools on the other side of their walls.
As far as over use of the bell and horns, I run DC so the only sounds are the ones in my head or the ones I dub in on the videos.
In my original videos on my channel, I was doing simple runbys of the trains. Lately, I try to do videos like the one below where I show an actual activity such as trains meeting or doing switching or something along those lines. Making the videos isn't a whole lot of work since I now have a fast computer that can process my HD videos pretty quickly.
Kevin
http://chatanuga.org/RailPage.html
http://chatanuga.org/WLMR.html
Motley Over the past couple of months I've been watching a lot of Youtube videos on modelrailroads. What I can't beleive is the sheer amount of modelrailroaders on Youtube! I had no idea, I mean in the past I would watch how-to videos and such on youtube, but only when I was looking for tips, etc. I'm watching all these on my tv btw. Its just hard for me to believe that you retired folks (Im 50) have youtube channels. Not only here but a lot in England also! Some things I have noticed: 1. Everybody has huge 50x50 ft basement filling railroads. But thats not big enough so they have 2 or 3 levels. I know most of these are built for having operating sessions with lots of other people. But that is just too much for me to fathem and enjoy. 2. Way too many trains. Every staging track and yard is just packed with trains. Again how do you enjoy and operate these. 3. Benchwork required and amount of time. I can't think about the amount of work it must take to complete benchwork. Either they have lots of friends that are general contractors, or you hire general contractors to do benchwork. 4. Over use of the bell and horns. Ok every modeler must think keeping the bell on for 10min at a time while in a yard swiching. And blowing the damn horns every 5 seconds. That is really annoying and I have to mute the speakers. What are your guys thoughts on youtube, do you have a channel. How do you have the time or knowledge to produce/edit videos for youtube. I worked in I.T. for the past 20 years, and I don't even upload videos to youtube, too much work. lol
4. Over use of the bell and horns. Ok every modeler must think keeping the bell on for 10min at a time while in a yard swiching. And blowing the damn horns every 5 seconds. That is really annoying and I have to mute the speakers.
A few thoughts:
Everytime I have talked about the number of people with large layouts I have been told I was nuts - maybe Youtube proves me correct.
Building a large layout is not hard, I built a layout at age 15 that filled a 15 x 30 space, and then another that filled a 24 x 24 space. Built those with just a power saw, jig saw, electric drill and a brace and bit to drive screws. It is easy now with modern tools......
My next one will fill nearly 45 x 30, I'm 62, but I do work with power tools for a living.......
Too many trains? No such thing, my next layout will stage about 30 trains, each able to be 35-50 cars long.
How do I enjoy that? How do you not enjoy that?
I don't have DCC or onboard sound, so bells and whistles are not an issue here.
As for Youtube, I don't spend much time on there, and I doubt I would ever be posting anything on there.
Sheldon
I made a couple of short videos of various layouts I built in the past, which I uploaded to my channel on Youtube, just to be able to share them with my friends. I don´t maintain a Vlog, though.
Just a few examples:
The rather bad quality is owed to the camera I used for the video - a still camera and not a camcorder. The video shows a scene on my Japanese N scale mini-modular shelf layout.
A short sequence on my Swiss narrow gauge micro-layout, this time with a better camera.
Finally, an experiment with 50 year old Marklin HO tinplate trains.
Happy times!
Ulrich (aka The Tin Man)
"You´re never too old for a happy childhood!"
MotleyWhat are your guys thoughts on youtube, do you have a channel. How do you have the time or knowledge to produce/edit videos for youtube.
I have a little used channel (search: Paul Ahrens trains) where I posted some videos of various DCC with sound conversions I had done. I'm not doing much of that recently as I have largely rounded out my loco roster with many of the UP loco types I like. At this point, I would have to check which video software I last used for editing.
As far as some of the large or complex layouts you note, whatever fits someone's pistol is great as far as I'm concerned. I have limited space, so not sure what I would do if I had large, unlimited space. I do not do operations, just mostly like to build, tinker, and sometimes run a train for myself (as often as not, for kiddies visiting). If I had a large space, I would probably build a layout with a fairly long run, dual mainlines and a service yard with turntable and roundhouse. If we contemplate moving...
Paul
Modeling HO with a transition era UP bent
I will add there is a lot of switching layouts in HO and N scales on YT.. I have a channel as well but,due to health issues I haven't added anything new in years.
My plan was to share my railfan trips and some videos on switching Slate Creek but,those plans never fully materialized.
For those that would like a peep at what was hope to be look for
Brakie44820.
Larry
Conductor.
Summerset Ry.
"Stay Alert, Don't get hurt Safety First!"
I mainly use my channel for various train projects, with a few other things thrown in here and there. I don't have the space for a really large layout, so I don't put much focus into the details of the layout in my videos.
_________________________________________________________________
Some interesting replies. Another thing I didnt mention was there is also a lot of club layouts, which are crazy huge and usually in large buldings.
And another cool thing I thought is the professional channels like "whats neat this week in modelrailroading". And lots of locomotive reviews channels.
Walthers, Trainworld, Scaletrains, and a bunch of other companies have their own channels also.
There's just a lot of modelrailroading on youtube now, I just had no idea of the amount until recently.
I like the Ferromex layouts on Youtube.
Russell
I have a YouTube channel (two actually, but only one related to model railroading):
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuOlbeEGtYH63XuaN9dT8pA?
It doesn't feature me, it features my layout (far too many layout videos do just the opposite).
You'll find primarily construction updates and very short videos about layout details, like checking for track irregularities. There are one or two other railroad-related things in there, too.
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
I a very small channel which has a couple uploads that mostly I share with family I think the video of my son eating a live octopus in Korea is there.
As there is no barrier to entry, there are a lot of poor quality videos out there.
I agree there is a too much horn blowing and bell ringing out there.
That said, there is money to be made if you go full professional. Luke Towan has some videos with a million views each. If you can get a sponsor, that'e even more income and free or discounted test items.
Henry
COB Potomac & Northern
Shenandoah Valley
MotleyAnd blowing the damn horns every 5 seconds. That is really annoying and I have to mute the speakers.
You wanna hear annoying? Check out the Rolling Thunder system from Broadway Limited.
Rolling Thunder
Marlon
See pictures of the Clinton-Golden Valley RR
I thought I was the only one who hated sound. I have searched high and low for the rule that says that EVERY time a switcher changes direction, it must blow two or three short blasts of the horn and, keep the bell ringing the whole time. The local law enforcement would show up to (a) issue a ticket for creating a public nuisance, and (b) find out which member of the crew clocked that fool engineer with pipe wrench. Annoying, annoying, annoying! If I select a youtube video and it starts off with hornblowing, I quickly move on to something else and, I do not and, never will I own a tiny plastic locomotive with a tiny, little speaker playing locomotive sounds.
BATMANHere is my latest offering
Hi Brent,
How many cars did you have in that train? I think I counted 50!
Dave
I'm just a dude with a bad back having a lot of fun with model trains, and finally building a layout!
Hi Dave, if memory serves ( and that fails on a regular basis) there were 48 with one or two mid-train helpers.
NHTXI have searched high and low for the rule that says that EVERY time a switcher changes direction, it must blow two or three short blasts of the horn and, keep the bell ringing the whole time.
Actually the horn blowing is not needed during normal switching moves.
In short terms the bell is to be used as a warning device before a grade crossing,entering a station or while passing workers.
However,quiet zones and ETT affect the use of horns as well.
NHTX I thought I was the only one who hated sound. I have searched high and low for the rule that says that EVERY time a switcher changes direction, it must blow two or three short blasts of the horn and, keep the bell ringing the whole time. The local law enforcement would show up to (a) issue a ticket for creating a public nuisance, and (b) find out which member of the crew clocked that fool engineer with pipe wrench. Annoying, annoying, annoying! If I select a youtube video and it starts off with hornblowing, I quickly move on to something else and, I do not and, never will I own a tiny plastic locomotive with a tiny, little speaker playing locomotive sounds.
Every time it has been specificly discussed on here, the percentage of people who like/must have sound is actually similar to the percentage using DCC.
While totally informal, the responses typically indicate about 60% for sound and DCC and 40% for DC and no sound, witth a few DCC users who also have have no interest in sound, and a few DC users that use some sort of sound effects system.
In fact it appears that sound is just a big a factor in choosing DCC as any of its other operational features.
ATLANTIC CENTRAL While totally informal, the responses typically indicate about 60% for sound and DCC and 40% for DC and no sound, witth a few DCC users who also have have no interest in sound, and a few DC users that use some sort of sound effects system.
This is true. I'm a DCCer who has no interest in sound (decoders). And I'm an N scaler, so that goes double.
I actually like the sound produced by twenty freight cars passing by. That's 20 cars, 40 trucks, 80 axles, and 160 clean metal wheels on clean track . . . humming along in a very pleasant harmony.
Just my opinion, of course.
Robert
LINK to SNSR Blog
As I said, I have searched 10 rulebooks from a 1937 New York Central to a Uniform Code of Operating Rules, Revision of 1962, plus employee's timetables of the B&M, Central Vermont, NYC, New Haven, Erie-Lackawanna, PRR, C&O, Southern, Central of Georgia, L&N, ICG, MoPac, Kansas City Southern, Frisco, Santa Fe, Katy, SP, and Quanah, Acme & Pacific--Nothing requires the horn to be blown EVERY time the locomotive moves. Obviously the hornblower has never been around a real railroad, or watched switching operations anywhere. Maybe it's too much Hollywood. They seem to have the same disease, anytime there is a train in the scene. For those who have sound and enjoy it--fine, this is still America. If you want to put your railroad on Youtube and others to watch your video, learn to use the horn and bell prototypically. Maybe MR ought to do an educational article on the use of such devices, and maybe more modelers need to study the prototype, and operate realistically.
Some people tend to forget that this is a hobby, which has the sole purpose to please you and nobody else! If you like to ring your bell and toot your horn - fine. If you film that and put it on Youtube - fine as well. Do as you please and don´t let any semi-professional grouch tell you what you should do or shouldn´t do.
NHTXObviously the hornblower has never been around a real railroad, or watched switching operations anywhere.
And to gain that knowledge all they have to do is to watch railroad switching videos by typing in (say) GP38-2 switching cars.
Of course my BLI SW7 came with "prototyically correct" horn sounds which really means every time you reverse direction the fool horn will blow!
Thankfully you can silence that unnecessary horn tooting by turning the CV off..
A lot of engineers I worked with on the PRR would give two short toots if he didn't understand the hand signal.
I have both a YouTube Channel (nealstrainlayout) as well as a blog of my model railroad atlanticpacificrailroad.blogspot.com). Both fun to create and update.
I have some sound engines and I turn off the sound when I don't want to hear it. For the people watching a YouTube video, if you don't like the sound on the video, just turn the sound off. It's located on the bottom left of the video. Easy peasy!
My layout is not large but on the channel, it looks big. The wonders of modern technology!
Whatever size layout you have, just enjoy running your trains!
Neal
I love watching Train/Model Railroading related YouTube! I watch at least 40mins everyday (though not all of that is trains...). In this age I honestly think the concept of are chair modeler has been superseded by computer screen modeler!
Anyway I love the YouTube videos model railroaders make. I usually look for channels that are model railroading related that frequently (as in once/month or more) release videos and make stuff that I will always like. I subscribe and then look in the subscriptions bar for new videos to watch. I only subscribe to Train related YouTuber to filter my videos that way.
My favorite YouTubers are the guys without any real video experience, who just use whatever they have one had to showcase their layouts. I really like when people do layout updates, I don’t know why but I find them entertaining and informative. I don’t mind a bit of shaky camera or slightly hesitate voice if the other content is really good.
I do also watch some of the “professionals”. You know, like Luke Towan or Marklin of Sweden, the guys who do a whole bunch of editing for each video. There is a place for them and the deserve appreciation for what they do, however I also like the normal guys who don’t get money out of it and do it just to share their layouts.
YouTube is really a great way to see others modeling, and often the modeling of those with different ideas. I think it is a great place for modelers to share there hobby.
Regards, Isaac
I model my railroad and you model yours! I model my way and you model yours!
I doubt I will ever do narrated videos of any of my stuff, although never say never. I definitely don't speak smoothly enough to just go through something and talk about it, and I don;t have the time to do multiple takes and edit it tooegether so it SOUNDS like I talk smoothly the whole time. And I hate the way I sound oon a recording, although I've had actual musicians tell me EVERYONE hates their recorded voice. And unlike some of the electronic channels, I can't just ramble on talking while the camera is focused on me soldering a circuit board, though I probably should do something with the controller boards I'm designing.
As for the manufacturer's YouTube channels - the best has to be Rapido. They clearly have a lot of fun with them. And being a Dr. Who and Star Trek nerd like Jason (maybe not as bad - I do not and have never owned a Starfleet uniform!) just makes their videos even more fun.
rrinker As for the manufacturer's YouTube channels - the best has to be Rapido. They clearly have a lot of fun with them. And being a Dr. Who and Star Trek nerd like Jason (maybe not as bad - I do not and have never owned a Starfleet uniform!) just makes their videos even more fun.
Oh yeah, I forgot about the Rapido vidoes! I kind of don’t like the other manufacturer’s videos, Walthers and ScaleTrains videos are always just “hey look at this great new product we got in, come buy it, while Rapido is like ‘here come be entertained by us looking at the crazy over the top detail we put into this new product and have some fun at the same time”. I haven’t looked but I bet Rapido gets way more view that the other manufacturers with YouTube videos. Though I must admit I really don’t get any of the Star Trek jokes... (your talking to a Star Wars fan here!)
Most of the stuff I have tried to watch on Youtube regarding model trains, and a lot of other stuff for that matter, just bores me silly, leaving me thinking "just get to the point already".
I use Youtube when I need to disassemble something I have never worked on before, even then I find myself fast farwarding to the important info to get past the "fluff".