Public Enemies

One of my favorite aspects of a good movie is the set design. It's not unlike scenery and structure building for model railroading. Through research and creativity, a plausible reality is created and viewed through a calculated perception; like a cropped photo.

The new Johnny Depp film, directed by Michael Mann, Public Enemies; features first rate set design. As with most Michael Mann films, scenes and buildings are portrayed with intense precision. The final scene, where Dillinger meets his fate at the Biograph Theater has been recreated so accurately, even rails were imbedded in the street for passing street cars. Most mediocre films would forgo a detail like this. But its inclusion creates a richer texture. Just like in scale modeling, it's the layering of detail that makes the scene.

From what's been said online about the set design for this film, the viewer will only see about half of the detail put into the sets. It's the sign of a good film, when the director's intention isn't showing off the money spent on the set, but instead, character and story. The background is just matter of fact, meticulously researched - but it's not the plot. 1994's Shawshank Redemption comes to mind; few people probably realize that the interior scenes of the cell block were a complete fabrication, and not shot in a real prison. Again, it wasn't about the set. But it still did it's job with subtle accuracy.

Public Enemies is like that. You're taken into the Depression Era 1930's and it all seems real; every block, every car and every costume. As for it being a great film, I leave that up to you. Personally I liked it, I like all of Michael Mann's movies; Heat, Collateral, The Insider, etc... he's one of the few directors that actually has a signature style, where the camera is always somewhere for a reason, the characters always driven towards something; for better or worse...and the sets are there as tools to support the story.

So, if you're a 1930's modeler or just appreciate some well crafted movie magic, check it out.

Have a Happy 4th of July!

Weather It

We recently added some more Bragdon Weathering powder products to our site. They're individual containers of Light Rust, Soot Black, Weathered Brown and Lime Mortar White. If you haven't already tried Bragdon powders, consider them, especially if you're reluctant to try any weathering. With these powders it's easy to do. Just apply as little as possible at first and add more until you see the results you want. Even try it on scrap first. Probably the best advantage, for me anyway, is that I can keep Satan's little helper ( my airbrush) locked up in the basement where he belongs, with no food or water, or paint...my point - these chalks can give you that airbrush look without the hassle. Subtle fading of color or streaks of rust, it's the simplest and easiest way to age something. I haven't trie dthe Lime Mortar White yet but anxious to try, it looks like it'd be a great way to streak that white effervescence that leaches out of brick work. I'll keep you posted once I give it a go.

Good Smell, Bad Smell...

So today we began work on what we are calling the Podcast Layout, a 4'x 8'

project collaboration by Dave Frary, Jimmy Deignan, Scott Mason and myself. The intention is to complete the layout before CSS and raffle it off at the show with the proceeds going to charity.

When I arrived at Scotts, so much preparation had already been done, each peice of benchwork wood was numbered and precut. Scott had even layed out a full brunch buffet in his garage. He'd prepared omlettes, fresh bacon, stacks of pancakes that could have filled a paint bucket - the garage smelled like deluxe home cookin'. There was even a red carpet in front of the buffet table ...it was like the Plaza Hotel meets IHOP. What a guy. I couldn't believe my nose and eyes...

....hmmm, OK I might be exagerating. So when I arrived, there was no wood and no delux Plaza Hotel breakfast. Instead, Scott and Dave and I took a trip to the local lumber yard, in Dave's truck. I got to sit in the middle, with Mom(Scott) and Dad( Dave) on either side. I think at one point I should have said "Are we there yet?". It couldn't have been soon enough. Dave explained to us before we got in that he'd left some fresh fish guts in a bag, in the back of the truck over the weekend - what an amazing smell. Powerful. Ripe. The kind that, even after you leave the truck stays with you. I can still smell it in the back of my head. It was almost as if he'd left fresh fish guts in the bag over the weekend...oh right, he did. Anyway, we got some overpriced lumber and headed back to Scott's garage where we unloaded the fish scented wood...which was fine, it's supposed to be a waterfront layout; very authentic.

Jimmy arrived soon after with a pile of track and turnouts for the layout. As Jimmy approached the garage he inquired about the smell.

A few hours later, four knuckleheads managed to complete some benchwork, some foam landforms in place and track secured. In the next few weeks we'll get to structures and scenery. As it progresses, I'll post pics here. You can also follow along on Dave's new blog:

http://tracksidescenery.blogspot.com/

Working on a 4'x8' layout sure brings back memories, the only other 4'x8' I ever worked on was my first layout, when I was 11. Plywood, wrapped with the grass mat, stapled. Single loop of track with one siding. Lots of green lichen. That's a great smell. Atlas telephone poles with plastic bases and that foam tunnel most of us had. Building kits by Lifelike and Tyco. But, at the time, that was the greatest thing on earth. I've never looked at another sheet of plywood without thinking about it.

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The pic above is from Old Sturbridge Village in Massachusetts. Nice clapboard...