Not having been out cycling or kick scooting very much these past 10-days or so, which was pretty much all due to a very painful dodgy knee, I’ve spent a fair few hours on the Internet, particularly watching Facebook reels and the equivalent on YouTube. And it would be fair to say much of it is total crap, doom and gloom stuff, and just about everything bad, mean and nasty you can imagine. Like watching Eastenders on the Beeb. However, I did come across something that caught my attention.
It was a channel on YouTube called Wheelie Yellow and was based around some videos of a home-made character in a very speedy and crash-prone home-made radio-controlled car/van. I just loved the cheeriness of the action clips, not so much the voice over from the puppet character. So, I thought, I could do that, or at least something of my own.
As I started thinking about this new project, it was clear I required a few basic elements. One was a radio-controlled car of some description and the other a character or two to feature with the car. For the latter, I did not have to look very far, as sitting on the window sill above the computer desk was our very own Shaun the Sheep. He would be the perfect candidate for the project.
As to the former, the r/c car, it took a day or so to discover the perfect model. With Shaun the Sheep coming from Mossy Bottom Farm, what better farm vehicle than a Land Rover 90. And finally, though there are a few other elements I need as well, I also wanted a villain as well. And who was standing next to Shan the Sheep, none other than Feathers McGraw. Mind you, I have no idea how all this would come together. Going to be quite a challenge bearing in mind that I’m unable to animate the characters but I am thinking about how to add armaturres to all the characters, which will allow, at least, some small ability to create poses.
So, that’s the bare bones of an idea. To create some short video clips with Shaun the Sheep, and a few friends, out have adventures with a toy r/c 1:10th scale Land Rover D90. However, at this early stage one rather major issue was apparent, that of scale. My model of Shaun the Sheep is far too large for anything other than to sit in the open rear of the Land Rover. Ideally, I’d like him to actually be seated inside the cab, in the driving position. Fortunately, after much deliberation and head scratching found the solution in keyrings with a smaller version of Shaun the Sheep, size in the region of 5 to 6″ inches tall. I was also able to find similar sized Gromit and Shirley the Sheep as well. Gromit is that little larger and fits better behind the wheel.
Ideas soon came think and fast and I sourced a suitable 1:10th scale trailer for the Landy, though creating the hitch may require some minor engineering as it’s for another brand other than the Rc4WD model I’ve purchased. All these ideas are jotted down in a notebook, yes, a proper analogue paper notebook. And you even get to use a pencil again!
As to the camera equipment I already have most of what I need, a GoPro Hero 10 along with the GoPro Max 2 360-degree cameras. For longer shots, I also have a Canon camcorder. All of these also allow for slow-motion recording, which will allow for some amazing footage. For audio, I’m trying to decide between the natural sounds of the electric r/c Landy or to dub with actual engine sounds from a real Land Rover, perhaps a nice rumbling throaty V8!
It’s amazing when you start thinking about this type of project how ideas spring to mind, particularly when watching Tv programs and movies. Thigs like camera position and angle, choosing suitable locations, for example the sand dunes at Aberlady and the limestone slabs and rocky shores of East Lothian. Then there’s the time of day, sunsets for backlit silhouette shots and even shooting at night, this last one a good excuse to add additional lights to the Landy. It comes with the usual side, tail and headlights, though a few roof mounted spots would not go amiss.
So, that’s where we are at the moment, a few parts still to arrive though nothing that would stop me getting out there and shooting some footage. However, my dodgy knee makes kneeling down something of a challenge at the moment, so waiting for that to subside before getting cracking, as Wallace might have said. Could have been about cheese mind you! By the way, the Land Rover above has fully functioning independant suspension and four-wheel drive, so should be fun as well. Back soon.
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