Taking videos of your submarines

[Kazzer]

There are many of us who like to video our boats in the water and it is certainly a great help to potential customers when they can see these, - however!

We have no consistency in these videos and many of them are downright boring. They remind me of the joke - Submarine races - and there is a photo of water.

What I intend to do in future is put models I video through some simple steps and hopefully be consistent with the format.

1. Circle in the pool slowly on the surface
2. Circle the pool slowly under water
3. Do a figure of eight on surface
4. Do a figure of eight under water
5. Do a rapid static dive
6. Do a rapid dive at speed.

Repeat the process filming under water - or at least film the two dives and a figure of eight underwater.

If there are any other features of the boat, such as torpedoes, then a clip of them in action could be tagged onto the video.

If this became a sort of standard, I think it would make the videos much more interesting and especially helpful to people wishing to purchase certain models.

Would anyone like to add their ten cents worth please?

[greenman407]

Mike, I think that this would be a great standard or ideal to strive for , however, sometimes , due to circumstances, what you get is all you can get.

[Outrider]

The PR types love dramatic surfacing--usually the kind done at speed, but also the kind that involves approaching a target. Not sure how practical either of these are, but Hollywood uses them whenever possible.

My son thought a depth charging or a cruise through a mine field would be good...

[Rpmtech1]

Subs are a pain in ass to video, and you're right, its easy to make a booring video of these things! You need lots of camera angles, and underwater as well to make it interesting to watch. Just one guy standing there with a camcorder doesent cut it.

We need to get together and do some pro camera work sometime of all these subs we deal with.

[He Who Shall Not Be Named]

Agreed!......

I would add this as the preamble to Mikes list of shots:

1. with the camera on a tripod or in a set of very steady hands take shots of the assembled model, well lit, on the table as you pan around it with an off-camera narrative of what the subject is, scale, special features, performance, and maintenance issues.

2. Same set-up as above. Removing the models upper hull as your off-camera voice describes the inner workings. Turn on the r/c system and operate it, explaining what does what.

3. Static shot of the assembled submarine as you explain the pre-mission, mission, and post-mission checks unique to that particular r/c model submarine.

4. Tracking shot as you turn on the readied model, take it off the table, proceed to the pool/lake, put it into the water and get it underway.

David,

[Kazzer]

Agreed!......

I would add this as the preamble to Mikes list of shots:-------------------etc

David,

OK! It will read like this --

1. with the camera on a tripod or in a set of very steady hands take shots of the assembled model, well lit, on the table as you pan around it with an off-camera narrative of what the subject is, scale, special features, performance, and maintenance issues.

2. Same set-up as above. Removing the model's upper hull as your off-camera voice describes the inner workings. Turn on the r/c system and operate it, explaining what does what.

3. Static shot of the assembled submarine as you explain the pre-mission, mission, and post-mission checks unique to that particular r/c model submarine.

4. Tracking shot as you turn on the readied model, take it off the table, proceed to the pool/lake, put it into the water and get it underway.

5. Circle in the pool slowly on the surface

6. Circle the pool slowly under water

7. Do a figure of eight on surface

8. Do a figure of eight under water

9. Do a rapid static dive

10. Do a rapid dive at speed.

11, Repeat 6, 9 & 10 filming under water.

Does anyone have any more input for videos? Lighting, zoom etc. etc?

[Albion]

zoom out not in
use led light or HID, halogens will make it all yellow, but at normal sub operating depths probably don't need anyway