Posts: 2272 From: Bellevue, NE, USA Registered: Aug 2007
posted 08-19-2011 07:27 PM
Hey guys. With access to a camera that shoots decent video, I went ahead and shot a five part video series documenting the history of space shuttle model kits available for over the past 30 years. It actually showcases the different box arts more as opposed to the kits themselves since the plastic for the most part never changed.
I hope to shoot some companion videos that showcase some of the choices from foreign manufacturers and the kits available in other scales (1/200, 1/100).
Forgive the lighting and the jerky pans. It takes practice to get good at shooting video and I'll improve as things go on.
Jay Chladek Member
Posts: 2272 From: Bellevue, NE, USA Registered: Aug 2007
posted 08-19-2011 08:20 PM
Jerry Brouillette Member
Posts: 147 From: Louviers, CO Registered: Jul 2006
posted 08-19-2011 09:58 PM
Nice work!!
Model kit box art provides a good history of any subject, I would think the Shuttle might hold the record for the most kits produced in various scales/configurations, by so many model makers over a 30 year time span.
While many model car, aircraft, ship etc. box art had/has simple photos of completed models, others are real works of art. Heller and others have great images, I say go International.
Good research and deVille would be proud.
K2Pete Member
Posts: 29 From: near Niagara Falls Registered: May 2011
posted 08-20-2011 05:21 AM
Not bad Jay... not bad at all!
But let me offer a quick crit. I watched three of your videos and would love to see the boxes fill the screen. Visually, I want to be able to see the details you're referring to. (We don't need to see the furniture.)
And with the decals, I'd love to see them. All the details on the RoG sheet... Zoom in on 'em. Don't be scared.
You're filming for visual interest, you'll want to make the videos visually interesting. Verbally, you got my interest, but you have to think visually too.
All in all, well done!
Jay Chladek Member
Posts: 2272 From: Bellevue, NE, USA Registered: Aug 2007
posted 08-20-2011 03:52 PM
Big problem is the camera I have doesn't have an autozoom and only locks onto one focus setting when you start shooting (because it is normally a still camera, NOT a video camera), so I can either use my hands to work the camera, or fondle the parts, but not both. I'll work at it though and come up with something that works around the limitations. Other thing is for something like this, there were big boxes and not so big boxes and to get them all in frame, there are gaps. As for zooming on decals, if I do that, I'll be better off editing still pictures of decals into a video as the camera doesn't really have a macro setting when it shoots video.
I have had people say I should film the parts, but white parts do NOT shoot well and even with high res video, Youtube's video compression tends to wash out things a bit. I could try a different hosting site I know, but Youtube is like the McDonalds of video sharing, it can be found EVERYWHERE and people go there, even if the quality isn't great.
Besides, I mainly did this as a side project for something else to get some practice on the camera skills. After I am finished with my book project this November and get a better paying job, I'll consider getting a better camera (this one was borrowed) but not before then as the money I have is going to other needs right now (such as paying my bills from the STS-135 trip).
Spaceguy5 Member
Posts: 427 From: Pampa, TX, US Registered: May 2011
posted 08-20-2011 04:07 PM
Yeah, I'd suggest just editing pictures in. There's plenty of free and simple video applications floating around, although even Windows Movie Maker would work.
astro-nut Member
Posts: 946 From: Washington, IL Registered: Jan 2006
posted 09-09-2011 11:39 AM
Jay, excellent videos. Thank you for sharing memories of the models. Your videos brought back a lot of memories. I, too, had a lot of the models that you had in the segments.
Thanks for the trip down memory lane with Space Shuttle model kits.
Shuttleman Member
Posts: 117 From: Huntsville, Al. USA Registered: Mar 2007
posted 09-09-2011 01:08 PM
Great job... I built a lot of those models years ago. This was early training ground for my art models today. Keep up the good work Jay.
Jay Chladek Member
Posts: 2272 From: Bellevue, NE, USA Registered: Aug 2007
posted 09-11-2011 02:49 PM
Thanks guys, I appreciate the comments a lot as I knew others would get a kick out of this stuff. One of the weird dreams I have in the back of my mind is to do a temporary exhibit at a museum, showcasing ALL the space shuttle model kit boxes that have been done over the years, from the 1970s to today. Granted other programs like Apollo have had a lot of kit issues as well, but I think the shuttle program is unique in the sheer number of subjects that have been done over a three and a half decade period (if you include Enterprise's first rollout).
Even I don't have EVERYTHING that was done as there was just so much stuff. And when you throw in the support equipment (such as Revell's Space Operations Center, the Revell launch pad, the Skilcraft Hubble telescope kit) it makes for a very interesting tapestry of model kit history.
As for future videos, I'll likely shoot at least one more series that covers some of the foreign issued shuttle kits (such as the Hasegawa, Tamiya and Union offerings) and some of the kits I didn't cover before (like Lindberg and Monogram's snap shuttles). But I am pretty deep into writing the space stations book right now before my deadline this winter. So that could be awhile.
posted 08-19-2011 07:27 PM
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