The great model railway challenge

[dynax]

To be brutal, my first thoughts in the first few minutes was what a load of garbage, but i continued to watch it, and as usual with these situations, the knowall's rear their heads, and the i'm better than you personalities reveal themselves, but all in all, the layouts were good in their own rights, and personally the right team won the first heat, i will continue to watch, as there are more teams competing, so should have more variety to offer, it will be a marmite type of program for most viewers, so until next week, i have my own challenges to deal with.

[Hound Dog]

I watched the first episode last night and was very disappointed - It had very little to do with railways and the fact that a train was going around was incidental to the side show animations........ why don’t they call it the “Great Modelling Challenge”......... also appeared that the female judge thought she was on the “X-factor” or “Strictly” by her sharp and trying to be controversial type feedback, although to be fair she called it right and the correct team won the day.

Will probably watch next week etc to see if it improves and we get to see something relating to trains, or I might take the dog for a walk via the pub instead, or perhaps both.

[cadman]

The programme is about a Competition between modellers to create a finished and working model railway within certain parameters which is exactly what was was portrayed. All credit to the contestants for their efforts and to the production team who had a very difficult job in selecting just 45mins footage out of several hours worth of filming. I found the programme both interesting and entertaining which is more than I can say about some of the negative and contentious comments both here and on the Hornby Forum.......yes, I know, everyone to their own opinion....... .........HB

[IanS]

I too watched the programme. I found it strange and difficult to understand the attitude of the team that had brought masses of houses - 4 rows and other 'scenic' items pre-built when they were only allowed 5 items - the houses themselves added 80 items. If the streets had been put onto one pre-built section or module (they appeared to be separate rows) then I could at least understand their strategy. They appeared not to have even made an effort on certain sections citing lack of time, but with the mass of pre-built items they should have had enough.

In the end, the best layout and team won, but even if the pre-built items had been allowed, they still would have won as the best most interesting layout out of the three. I shall watch the next programme with interest to see if anyone 'dares' break the rules so obviously again!

[Hugha]

I watched and was a bit disappointed, the female judge I thought was very blunt with the contestants but my main grumble was the music, it downgraded the whole programme. Thought the best layout won though but not sure I like the novelty themes, surely would be better to have real modelling themes such as building a small branch line terminus or something like that.

[Mountain Goat]

I have to admit that I had a little chuckle with the scratchbuilding challenge. The shoe that was simply covered in green... (Reminded me of the cookie monster!)
I also have to agree with the judges in that the one team was bending the rules far more then a little bit. Good modelling tough.
It is all good fun. I do think it will spur on others to enter into the hobby and it would be very interesting to find out if any new members on this site (And other sites like this one) who have joined after watching the programme.
A very good part of the programme for me was watching the various ways employed to speed up the scenery. I have to say that I was very impressed with the Porthcawl group who were amazingly quick to convert their white scenery (Plaster bandage) into a lovely green creation in what I believe was an hour by employing spray paints. And the results actually looked good!

[Steve M]

I was determined not to like the program but I actually quite enjoyed it (and I really don’t know why) and will give it another try.
I can’t say I listened to much of the commentary as I spent most of my time watching the techniques used and comparing them to how I have undertaken similar tasks. I came to the conclusion that much of what the teams did was to save time and definitely not to build longevity into their layouts.
I think the ‘scratchbuild challenge’ approached the task from the wrong angle - their approach was to take a couple of objects which had to be incorporated in the layout. Whereas I believe modelers actually start from wanting to include a feature on the layout and then see what bits they have to hand.
I think the ‘best’ layout was the one that was thrown out for the excessive pre-building but It was quite entertaining to see their arrogance bring about their downfall.

[Conn-rod]

Recorded the show and watched it last night. Overall, enjoyed it. Agree with some other comments that the music was awful. Detracted from what was being shown. I also agree with dynax, the know alls emerge. It's a case of my way or no way! It was exactly this attitude by a member of a local model railway club at one of their shows that stopped a friend joining them.

[yelrow]

I did not mind the know alls, they occur everywhere, even on forums. Usually they have become that way, because of an immense amount of model knowledge, which they are only too willing, to share. what irritated me was Dinosaurs. When they were around, railways, were not. I think they tried to be all things to all ages of audiences. pity

[Rog (RJ)]

The dinosaurs were supposed to be part of the film set for Jurassic Park on a railway film studio tour so weren't out of place or in the wrong time. They did look ridiculous though