Great Model Railway Challenge 2019

[red_death]

S. Flint was clearly biased in favour of Corby right from the start. A tailor's dummy would be more telegenic.

Come off it - Steve is one of the nicest people out there! I haven't seen this series yet, but it sounds like careful editing or an act Steve has been asked to perform...

[Railwaygun]

next week's show is Saturday, 1945- set the video to stun!

[zwilnik]

S. Flint was clearly biased in favour of Corby right from the start. A tailor's dummy would be more telegenic.

Come off it - Steve is one of the nicest people out there! I haven't seen this series yet, but it sounds like careful editing or an act Steve has been asked to perform...

I get the impression Steve has a few 'scripted' soundbites to add to the tension. Some of them definitely sound like he's acting rather than giving his own advice.

[Pjlons83]

or are there only so many layouts with effects that viewers would like to see?

To be fair I'd have said the same about cakes a few years ago but the Great British Bake Off still seems to be doing ok.

[guest311]

I would love to see ...

1. gagged talking heads so no  puns
2. scratch build challenge replaced with a section where items are explained , ie building card kits, don't really think a pair of flip-flops and a bottle of oil [?] would appear very often
3. more time spent asking contestants how / why they are doing what they are, the way they are.
4. CAN THEY PLEASE JUST SAY "THE WINNERS ARE XXX" WITHOUT THE DRAGGING OUT.
no wonder they need a longer time slot for this series.

[Chris Morris]

S. Flint was clearly biased in favour of Corby right from the start. A tailor's dummy would be more telegenic.

Come off it - Steve is one of the nicest people out there! I haven't seen this series yet, but it sounds like careful editing or an act Steve has been asked to perform...

I get the impression Steve has a few 'scripted' soundbites to add to the tension. Some of them definitely sound like he's acting rather than giving his own advice.

As with all TV shows, they will have plenty of film and just use the small sections they want to create the impression they want. Agreed that Steve would never make a professional actor but, perhaps because he isn't an actor, I think he makes a great judge,

[Chris Morris]

I would love to see ...

1. gagged talking heads so no  puns
2. scratch build challenge replaced with a section where items are explained , ie building card kits, don't really think a pair of flip-flops and a bottle of oil [?] would appear very often
3. more time spent asking contestants how / why they are doing what they are, the way they are.
4. CAN THEY PLEASE JUST SAY "THE WINNERS ARE XXX" WITHOUT THE DRAGGING OUT.
no wonder they need a longer time slot for this series.

Terrestrial TV is about attracting as large an audience as possible. Whilst I agree your suggestions are what those really interested in model railways would want, it just wouldn't be entertaining to the public at large. In fact I don't think I would watch it because I already have my views on how to build things, what materials to use why I do things the way I do. The scratchbuild challenge is something that I hate and love at the same time. Yes it is an annoyingly ridiculous list of materials but some of the contestants do some great work with what they are given and that is impressive. It kind of goes back to the roots of model railways where trying to make something out of whatever you could find was the only way of making most scenic items. It can be useful to think that way even today although I always revert to plasticard and balsa wood for anything I need.

[kirky]

Does anyone have a link for the viewing figures? In the thread of the previous series I seem to rmember someone posting regular links to updated viewing figures?
Thanks
Kirky

[guest311]

I would love to see ...

1. gagged talking heads so no  puns
2. scratch build challenge replaced with a section where items are explained , ie building card kits, don't really think a pair of flip-flops and a bottle of oil [?] would appear very often
3. more time spent asking contestants how / why they are doing what they are, the way they are.
4. CAN THEY PLEASE JUST SAY "THE WINNERS ARE XXX" WITHOUT THE DRAGGING OUT.
no wonder they need a longer time slot for this series.

Terrestrial TV is about attracting as large an audience as possible. Whilst I agree your suggestions are what those really interested in model railways would want, it just wouldn't be entertaining to the public at large. In fact I don't think I would watch it because I already have my views on how to build things, what materials to use why I do things the way I do. The scratchbuild challenge is something that I hate and love at the same time. Yes it is an annoyingly ridiculous list of materials but some of the contestants do some great work with what they are given and that is impressive. It kind of goes back to the roots of model railways where trying to make something out of whatever you could find was the only way of making most scenic items. It can be useful to think that way even today although I always revert to plasticard and balsa wood for anything I need.

trouble is, are we going to create the impression that a 'proper' layout needs exploding things, lots of volcanoes and smoke, and alien tripods ?
oh, and a load of old tat.

might make good tv, but will it attract new people to the cause ?

[port perran]

I would love to see ...

1. gagged talking heads so no  puns
2. scratch build challenge replaced with a section where items are explained , ie building card kits, don't really think a pair of flip-flops and a bottle of oil [?] would appear very often
3. more time spent asking contestants how / why they are doing what they are, the way they are.
4. CAN THEY PLEASE JUST SAY "THE WINNERS ARE XXX" WITHOUT THE DRAGGING OUT.
no wonder they need a longer time slot for this series.

Terrestrial TV is about attracting as large an audience as possible. Whilst I agree your suggestions are what those really interested in model railways would want, it just wouldn't be entertaining to the public at large. In fact I don't think I would watch it because I already have my views on how to build things, what materials to use why I do things the way I do. The scratchbuild challenge is something that I hate and love at the same time. Yes it is an annoyingly ridiculous list of materials but some of the contestants do some great work with what they are given and that is impressive. It kind of goes back to the roots of model railways where trying to make something out of whatever you could find was the only way of making most scenic items. It can be useful to think that way even today although I always revert to plasticard and balsa wood for anything I need.

trouble is, are we going to create the impression that a 'proper' layout needs exploding things, lots of volcanoes and smoke, and alien tripods ?
oh, and a load of old tat.

might make good tv, but will it attract new people to the cause ?

Imagine what a 8/9 year old child wants. He or she wants action such as exploding trains, volcanoes, spaceships, earthquakes, burning houses, etc etc.
And 8/9 year old children just might become the modellers of the future.
Similarly Mums and Dads being badgered to build such layouts for their children may well "get the bug" and be inspired to build something more realistic for themselves.
Just a thought.

[zwilnik]

Imagine what a 8/9 year old child wants. He or she wants action such as exploding trains, volcanoes, spaceships, earthquakes, burning houses, etc etc.
And 8/9 year old children just might become the modellers of the future.
Similarly Mums and Dads being badgered to build such layouts for their children may well "get the bug" and be inspired to build something more realistic for themselves.
Just a thought.

exactly this. At some point we all started in the hobby playing with toy trains, we just forgot once the full scale enthusiasm set in.

[Chris Morris]

Imagine what a 8/9 year old child wants. He or she wants action such as exploding trains, volcanoes, spaceships, earthquakes, burning houses, etc etc.
And 8/9 year old children just might become the modellers of the future.
Similarly Mums and Dads being badgered to build such layouts for their children may well "get the bug" and be inspired to build something more realistic for themselves.
Just a thought.

exactly this. At some point we all started in the hobby playing with toy trains, we just forgot once the full scale enthusiasm set in.

Some of us still like exploding wagons when we aren't  making thunderstorms.
Go to 1:10 on the video.

[Bealman]

Thanks, Graham - just caught this. Too busy emptying kitchen cupboards before the whole lot gets ripped out.

Will have a look soon. 

George

[Bealman]

Thanks to the link provided by  Graham (thanks again, mate), I finally got to see Episode 1 last night.

I see what people mean about volcanoes and Metcalfe houses falling down holes. 

I really don't think it's much different than last year's offerings, and certainly no great improvement. I do agree that one presenter instead of two would probably put an end to the stupid trying to out-pun each other business.

The editing is slick - so much so that it's brutal in parts and becomes a bit obvious.

While I wouldn't say it's as bad as, say, Love Island Australia, like all reality shows, it's of the same ilk.

Still, I'll be watching the rest of the series, and that's what it's all about, I suppose....

[Graham]

whilst I found the link, I have not had time to watch it yet. planning on doing that next week sitting in a hotel room with the alternative being Cambodian tv.