The big build the forums perspective.Our Weblog.

[Anonymous]

I have been looking in on the Web cam build that MR is doing and so far just a lot of talking and pointing as far as I can tell looks like they are filming this probly for a video to sell later. They have as much done as me and they have more people and money.

As this week unfolds I thought it would be nice for us to have a place to talk about whats going on and keep it in one place. So with that lets have our on weblog of there project.

Rules:
keep it clean no Flaming.

No trolls

No Feeding Trolls.

[Anonymous]

I'm going to be checking in on it frequently myself. I was hoping it was going to be a live "streaming" broadcast. But I'm still going to watch it anyway. Should be interesting.

[Anonymous]

I too wish it were a streaming web cam with a better position but to see any detail we have to wait a year till the article comes out on the project. Its a great idea and I am impressed they are doing this maby they will stop in on the forum and tell us whats going on from time to time. I know they have a web log but I like the forums better.

[brothaslide]

It would be nice if we could somehow ask questions (via instant messaging).

[fiatfan]

I've been watching most of the morning. The last half hour the image has slowed to updating about once a minute. My browser is trying to refresh every 5 seconds. They must be encountering technical difficulties (too much traffic?).

Tom

[bcammack]

My conjecture is that the unanticipated response to the event is going to eventually cra***heir server.

[Anonymous]

Well with so many people listed as members and most probly get the newsletter it has probley stirred some inters so we will have to wait and see how there servers hold up.

[Anonymous]

Its a great idea and MR deserves a big Thank You. Its too bad that the camera is so far away from the work area; is there any possibility of zooming? With approximately 1/8th of their available time now gone, I'm a bit surprised that they are not further along with the framing. I'm also surprised that they don't appear to have a proper work bench. While I know enough about the publishing business to know that there must be a fairly substantial lead time, I am still somewhat surprised that the lead time here is about nine months from doing the work to first article sent to the printer.

[dknelson]

For some reason a small layout appeared on the set over the weekend -- perhaps to test photography? Anyway as of Monday afternoon they were dealing with a finished flat table, so it hasn't been all talking and pointing obviously. I recognized Jim Hediger and I think David Popp, and it looked like Popp was attacking one edge with a saw or belt sander. Don't forget they also have a magazine or two to put out.
I do not know if it is easier or harder for a group or a person to build a small layout. I am reminded of Mark Twain's famous quip: that a camel is a horse, designed by a committee.
Dave Nelson
Dave Nelson

[dwRavenstar]

I fail to comprehend the need for disparagement of the MR offering. As one who spends the better part of a week building a properly done structure kit, the concept of a group getting together to create a finished layout, let alone one with newly built structures, right before the public eye is simply amazing.

If I were to have any complaint it would certainly be voiced after the presentation was completed and not during the initial six hours of the journey.

Just my viewpoint.

dwRavenstar

[CNJ831]

dw - I think that, rather than disparaging remarks, viewers are simply voicing their observations, perhaps hoping that the MR staff will take notice and make some adjustments to the situation. Personally, while I think today's offering went well because it involved large scale construction work, as one starts to lay roadbed and track, streets and groundcover, and place structures, our viewpoint is going to be far, far too distance to be of any value. I suspect that an HO scale building at the current viewing distance is going to be hardly visible!

CNJ831

[loathar]

Before I waste time going to see it, can anyone tell me if there is a downloadable option for dial up?

[fiatfan]

Tomorrow there will be clip of today's acvtivities.

Tom

[dwRavenstar]

CNJ,

That's exactly my point. What was being accomplished today was of a scale that distance was required. These folks are professionals and I'd have to accept that they understand how to put scenes in proper perspective and give the viewers proper access to what they're doing on the layout.

dw

[bryanbell]

QUOTE: Originally posted by loathar

Before I waste time going to see it, can anyone tell me if there is a downloadable option for dial up?

I tried it but it didn't work for me, see my postings in the Live webcam build thread.
You may have better luck than me with it.

Bryan

[fiatfan]

QUOTE: Originally posted by bryanbell

QUOTE: Originally posted by loathar

Before I waste time going to see it, can anyone tell me if there is a downloadable option for dial up?

I tried it but it didn't work for me, see my postings in the Live webcam build thread.
You may have better luck than me with it.

Bryan

Today's activities won't be available for download until about noon tomorrow. Hope that helps.

Tom

[loathar]

Thanks Fiatfan.

[bryanbell]

QUOTE: Originally posted by fiatfan

QUOTE: Originally posted by bryanbell

QUOTE: Originally posted by loathar

Before I waste time going to see it, can anyone tell me if there is a downloadable option for dial up?

I tried it but it didn't work for me, see my postings in the Live webcam build thread.
You may have better luck than me with it.

Bryan

Today's activities won't be available for download until about noon tomorrow. Hope that helps.

Tom

I misread the original post, fiatfan is right, the downloadable part won't be avaiable until noon the day after it happens. The live view is the one I was trying to access but had no success at. I will have to try the downloadable one tomorrow on the dialup to see if I get it to go.

Bryan

[billlong]

I too viewed the build via the webcam and found it to be very herky-jerky even using hi-speed DSL. As far a offering premature criticism, what I think is being offered by some viewers is only constructive comments on things that can be corrected before this goes to far. If we offer no comments/critiques it will be too late to correct. My understanding is that this will be offered for sale on DVD and be featured in MRR starting with the Jan. 2007 issue. All things considered I applaude thier efforts in making this available to the enthusists.

[Anonymous]

As my earlier post said this is for us to dicuss what we see and what we think of this project. I dont believe anyone is short changing ModelRailroader on this wonderful idea and project my concern is I simple can not see that much we are too far away. I would like to see the video after completion. Since this is Model related and my post I feel we can critsize as long as we are all nice in how we do it. Letting MRR know what we think and wont might help them understand us the consumer.....

[simon1966]

Watching this web feed is like watching paint dry.......you know, I think we are watching paint dry!

[ereimer]

QUOTE: Originally posted by polizi

As my earlier post said this is for us to dicuss what we see and what we think of this project. I dont believe anyone is short changing ModelRailroader on this wonderful idea and project my concern is I simple can not see that much we are too far away. I would like to see the video after completion. Since this is Model related and my post I feel we can critsize as long as we are all nice in how we do it. Letting MRR know what we think and wont might help them understand us the consumer.....

i would like to see the video as well , but it's a "dream it plan it build it" video which will only be available to subscribers . i see this as a mistake , this video should sell for $9.95 at bookstores , magazine stands , at hobby shows (even non-railroad shows) , at hobby shops etc. so people who don't subscribe to MR get a chance to see what building a layout is like . selling this video only to subscribers is preaching to the faithful , some may get some useful techniques out of it , but anyone who subscribes has read about everything they're going to do in this video already , and many have done it themselves (and much more!)

i see the online version of this as a 'trailer' or sneak preview of what the video is going to be . maybe MR thinks i'm going to subscribe so i can buy this video . in my case they're wrong , i've been buying MR for 20 years and never had the desire to subscribe

MR advertised this as live video . it's not . it's a still shot every 12 seconds or so (that's what i'm getting right now anyway)

and the camera position ... too far away , bad angle , and the real camera and cameraman get in the way of what's happening


so far i'd say
A+ for concept
D for execution

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by ereimer

QUOTE: Originally posted by polizi

As my earlier post said this is for us to dicuss what we see and what we think of this project. I dont believe anyone is short changing ModelRailroader on this wonderful idea and project my concern is I simple can not see that much we are too far away. I would like to see the video after completion. Since this is Model related and my post I feel we can critsize as long as we are all nice in how we do it. Letting MRR know what we think and wont might help them understand us the consumer.....

i would like to see the video as well , but it's a "dream it plan it build it" video which will only be available to subscribers . i see this as a mistake , this video should sell for $9.95 at bookstores , magazine stands , at hobby shows (even non-railroad shows) , at hobby shops etc. so people who don't subscribe to MR get a chance to see what building a layout is like . selling this video only to subscribers is preaching to the faithful , some may get some useful techniques out of it , but anyone who subscribes has read about everything they're going to do in this video already , and many have done it themselves (and much more!)

i see the online version of this as a 'trailer' or sneak preview of what the video is going to be . maybe MR thinks i'm going to subscribe so i can buy this video . in my case they're wrong , i've been buying MR for 20 years and never had the desire to subscribe

MR advertised this as live video . it's not . it's a still shot every 12 seconds or so (that's what i'm getting right now anyway)

and the camera position ... too far away , bad angle , and the real camera and cameraman get in the way of what's happening


so far i'd say
A+ for concept
D for execution

You dont have to be a magizine subcriber you can get signed up for the videos and buy the ones you like I have signed up just waiting for the first to arrive. I think the camera position should be changed so we can actually see I dont care a lick about that camera guy. Oh well I guess like bergie said you cant make everyone happy!

[cwclark]

the camera guy needs to quit chatt'in with the layout builder or it's not going to get done in a week...[:D]...chuck

[Berwyn]

I think it’s great that Model Railroader ran the risk of putting their project railroad construction on the web. With DSL, the picture refreshes often enough on my screen to keep me informed of where they are in the work to complete the project.

Some of the comments here seem to imply that the webcast should be the finished video.

We’re watching the videotaping of the project railroad. We’re really not watching the building of the project railroad.

Seeing a professional film or video being shot is usually very boring, with lots of people standing around while camera angles and lighting and sound levels are checked, etc.

I checked the webcast site last Saturday just to see if I had my URL bookmark set correctly for the Monday morning start and was surprised to see workers setting lights and measuring levels to make sure the video production would be professionally done. It appeared to me that the small railroad was brought in to help check for lighting. The lights visible in the webcast were adjusted and a third light that is now obscured was added to the far right ceiling corner of the room. (At least that’s the way it looked to me as I checked the activity intermittently while I was doing other things!)

It seems to me that if we remember we’re seeing “The Making of the Video” instead of the “Making of the Railroad,” we’ll understand better the activities we see on the webcast.

Vern

[Tooooons]

Good point Vern. But honestly, the reasons I bookmarked this event and earmarked time for viewing this is because this has been advertised as "building a model railroad in a week," not "the making of a video of..."

If the webcam point of view does not change, there's not much left to view going forward as far as the building of the railroad. You simply cannot see anything. The event's weblog is more interesting at this point. The webcam should be turned off, as it offers no real value anymore (Ok, yes, MR is offering it free online, whereas people will be forking over $20 for the DVD later on and $5.50/month x 4 to see the project series in the print rag, but this should be beside the point, as the free weblog offers something of value).

This is a great endeavor by MR, yes... I was thrilled to see something like this proposed. However, like all first times, this one should be a learning experience for MR as well. Next time, multiple web cams should be placed throughout the project (one checking on the decoder installation, weathering, kitbuilding; another bird's eye view directly over the center of the benchwork; another from 2 to 3 ft away on a movable tripod next to the guys so they can position it on the section they are working on... get a wireless webcam for that one if there's concern over "that many more wires" in the way), and users should be able to select which feed they want to view. This kind of presentation would be great, and not too much more of a hassle.

Of course, this is most like a "broadcast," so it's in no one's interest to make it really interactive where we can ask question and whatnot. It would be neat, but no railroad could be completed in a week!

[Anonymous]

tooooons you hit it right on the nose !!
Thats exactly the reason I decided to watch in the first place. This is like being at the TV studio while they do the news. Also even if this was just a tease the least they could do is give us a better camera angle, maybe a little closer for those of us with older eyes !!

[dknelson]

Heh heh another thread has been wondering who the attractive woman is who seems to be watching the proceedings. From time to time she helps out a bit. It still looks like David Popp and Jim Hediger are doing most of the work so far. I saw Hediger doing some heavy lifting on the Monday replay. I know he has a bad back so I hope some of the younger guys are going to help him out.
It looks like Hediger and Popp are talking to the camera regularly so I assume this is eventually going to be an action- narrated DVD.
I think this is an interesting concept because as I suspect most of us know only too well, one of the hardest things to do in this hobby is to select a project and just keep plugging away at it until it is done. I doubt if many of us would want to be filmed at our workbenches or layouts! The audience would be screaming -- "put that Walthers catalog down and fini***he (^%$# boxcar!" or "make up your mind pal -- are you here to eat cookies or lay cork roadbed?"
Dave Nelson

[Anonymous]

They are taking the books of the layout now.

[ereimer]

QUOTE: Originally posted by polizi

You dont have to be a magizine subcriber you can get signed up for the videos and buy the ones you like I have signed up just waiting for the first to arrive. I think the camera position should be changed so we can actually see I dont care a lick about that camera guy. Oh well I guess like bergie said you cant make everyone happy!

i didn't know that and i don't think it was ever mentioned on the thread where we discused the videos . thanks for the info !