Adventures in Rigging Model vehicles

[Speedster502]

This thread is essentially dedicated to finding a effective way at creating a rig for model cars. I personally have began experimenting with different materials and different ways of making this "rig". I've also been searching on the internet to find if anyone else has done what we are trying to achieve. To be perfectly honest there aren't many people who have attempted it.

I found a couple of shots to show the kind of thing we are trying to eventually achieve.

B-Photo from FlickR

I have contacted B-Photo, to see if he is willing to give us a couple of hints of how to do an effective rig but I'm not sure he will want to give his secret away! There was another person but the photos are too large to post here I'll give a link though.

http://immerse-photography.deviantart.com/art/coming-through-144908133

He also provided a shot of his rig setup.

http://immerse-photography.deviantart.com/art/coming-through-setup-144905210

I've been attempting to recreate his rig over the past day or so, but I can't get enough structual ridgity to make it work. It just seems to fall apart. Anyway, this thread is for our adventures in trying to discover a effective rig setup that can be used for our model cars. Feel free to post images that you have taken, pictures showing rigs! Or even successful shots!

I know this rigging buisness is possible, the evidence is here to support that. It's trying to recreate that which is the difficult part.

Here are two of my attempts, sadly when I did the rig I placed the camera to close to the car for me to be able to focus, despite checking it before I started! Perhaps more planning is needed before I make the rig. And the background isn't really blurred sufficiently, but then again the slower the shutter speed goes the more the vibrations start to show.

Another thought to bear in mind is that once you've made a rig you might not neccessarily want to make it again, so perhaps a re-useable rig might be something to consider? I think that once I've got a good design then I'll go down the shed and create something strong and easy to take on and off the car and apply to different vehicles.

Good luck!

 

[Boffin]

I HAVE to get myself a model car.....if not to compete in the MPC, than to do this.

 

[boiltheocean]

The final image from B-Photo seems to use quite a simple solution of running the rig down the left side of the cars then bringing it round the back of the ring taxi and attaching it to the camera. The others aren't as obvious (in technique) though.

 

[LongbowX]

They have the advantage of wider angle lenses than me...but I have some idea how they achieved it (though actually constructing what they have may be difficult). They aren't moving it very far (as shown by the R8 and Murcielago). My side rig works, mostly. I can get clear photos from it, as I've shown. But I'll try again...maybe tomorrow - I have to work on a project now. >_< Unless I finish early tonight. Then I will construct today!

I'm not surprised many people haven't attempted it. It's tricky - and getting backgrounds right is even harder.

Just so we have this in the thread instead of the Model competition poll. :

 

[MinoltaMan89]

I tried making a rig and using the P&P method both last night, and both failed. I think my stupid camera is the problem...I need a better one.

 

[LongbowX]

I tried making a rig and using the P&P method both last night, and both failed. I think my stupid camera is the problem...I need a better one.

Perhaps, I don't know what kind of camera you have.

The focus is really important - have to make sure the entire car is covered. Structural rigidity is another critical element. I built one (using parts from my previous efforts) when taking a break now from my project and despite not being terribly strong seems to work alright.

Some unedited shots (I apologize for how noisy they are, I accidentally underexposed them. ):

I also took some front shots, but the only good one I cut off. But it is possible. I just don't have the time today. Tomorrow I will work outside probably. Natural light for the win!

 

[MinoltaMan89]

I have a really crap Nikon Coolpix 5600...it really sucks. I'm looking to get a new one in the near future though.

Anyway, more great stuff Longbow. Have you tried it on any other cars beside the 360?

 

[LongbowX]

I have a really crap Nikon Coolpix 5600...it really sucks. I'm looking to get a new one in the near future though.

Anyway, more great stuff Longbow. Have you tried it on any other cars beside the 360?

I'm sure it's not that bad...but I don't think it offers much in terms of adjustments. So that'll make it difficult - I doubt it offers a long exposure setting.

I like the 360 for a few reasons. The first is ground clearance: it offers a good amount of it. And the other reason is the weight - it is a relatively light model. The lighter the model, the easier it is. I'll try tomorrow with another model, though.

 

[MinoltaMan89]

Yeah, it hardly lets you adjust anything. No shutter speed, no aperture, no manual focus even. Plus it's slow as crap. I got it a few years ago before I got into photography.

 

[LSX]

The outcome looks cool. I'm just having a hard time understanding exactly what is going on here. What does the rig do? Allow you to rotate of move the camera around the car with a slow shutter speed to get a blur?

Are you pushing the car with the camera? Using the rig is there to keep them at a set distance from each other?

I'm not big on photography, I've never seen anything like this, but wheels are spinning, cars look like they are driving and there are sticks attached to cars and cameras

I'd just like to know a little bit about what is going on here if you don't mind. Thanks.

 

[Frizbe]

The outcome looks cool. I'm just having a hard time understanding exactly what is going on here. What does the rig do? Allow you to rotate of move the camera around the car with a slow shutter speed to get a blur?

Are you pushing the car with the camera? Using the rig is there to keep them at a set distance from each other?

I'm not big on photography, I've never seen anything like this, but wheels are spinning, cars look like they are driving and there are sticks attached to cars and cameras

I'd just like to know a little bit about what is going on here if you don't mind. Thanks.

the rig allows the camera to be in the same frame of reference to the car the entire time, while something pulls the car along to make the back ground blur, other wise the photographer would have to try and move (pan) the camera at the same exact speed as the car is being moved, which is really hard to do.

 

[LongbowX]

The outcome looks cool. I'm just having a hard time understanding exactly what is going on here. What does the rig do? Allow you to rotate of move the camera around the car with a slow shutter speed to get a blur?

Are you pushing the car with the camera? Using the rig is there to keep them at a set distance from each other?

I'm not big on photography, I've never seen anything like this, but wheels are spinning, cars look like they are driving and there are sticks attached to cars and cameras

I'd just like to know a little bit about what is going on here if you don't mind. Thanks.

the rig allows the camera to be in the same frame of reference to the car the entire time, while something pulls the car along to make the back ground blur, other wise the photographer would have to try and move (pan) the camera at the same exact speed as the car is being moved, which is really hard to do.

Yes, that does answer the question, mostly. Though that "something" that moves the car (and camera) along is the photographer, usually.

A good thing to note is that the rig has to be photoshopped out afterwards. I haven't done that yet, these are just "let's see if this works!" shots.

This also operates on the same principles as real car rigs. However on much smaller scale. That's where the idea is from.

 

[LSX]

I see, thanks for the explanations guys. Very interesting stuff. 👍 Do you photoshop in a background like the picture with the Audi and Lamborghini?

 

[LongbowX]

I see, thanks for the explanations guys. Very interesting stuff. 👍 Do you photoshop in a background like the picture with the Audi and Lamborghini?

While we could photoshop the background - mostly we don't. The Lamborghini and Audi image I believe (as I didn't take it, I don't know) is the actual background. The way the Lambo is blended with the background leads me to believe it was set up there.

--

I took this yesterday and photoshopped it today. I really have to stop shooting in such bad light. (Reminder to myself - shoot in the morning.)

 

[LSX]

Ah, I see well that picture is just very well done then.

Your photo looks very good as well Longbow. I see what you mean about the background now, it looks like big trees. 👍

 

[CTznOfTime]

Very nice Thread, i will come back here once at home...

hopefully i will be able to contribute to this

What camera are you using Speedster509/Longbow?

very nice attempt with the Ferrari 👍


EDIT: NEVER MIND. I FOUND THE ANSWER HERE "https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=108394"

 

[LongbowX]

Ah, I see well that picture is just very well done then.

Your photo looks very good as well Longbow. I see what you mean about the background now, it looks like big trees. 👍

That is a very well done photo - a bunch of things coming together perfectly. The surface is also well done - sometimes normal roads can be too rough.

Those are my bushes. And thank you. ^^

Very nice Thread, i will come back here once at home...

hopefully i will be able to contribute to this

What camera are you using Speedster502/Longbow?

very nice attempt with the Ferrari 👍


EDIT: NEVER MIND. I FOUND THE ANSWER HERE "https://www.gtplanet.net/forum/showthread.php?t=108394"

I use the same camera essentially. Minor changes, mine is a 400D/XTi.

Ferrari was just concept shots. ^^ But thank you.

 

[Mustangmiha]

R8 on first picture seems it's very slow.

 

[CTznOfTime]

it's all relative
The Diablo wasn't probably going that fast either




i have basically the same thing : 450D/XSi
can't wait to play with it tonight ...

 

[Speedster502]

Aha! I have a rig which finally works! Didn't have time to try it out during daylight, and for some bizarre reason decided to take them on a glass table which means edited out the pole would be a true pain. I need to fiddle around with focus'ing and trying it out on different surfaces to edit the poles out.

I got some more too, but they're all pretty similar. I'll give a small tip, for fixing the rig to the car try to use the screw holes that car has that mounted it to the display box when you first purchased it. I'll eventually post the whole rig proabably, but I want to iron out any probelms with it. The only thing to bear in mind using the screws is that different cars vary where the screws are.👍

 

[LongbowX]

R8 on first picture seems it's very slow.

it's all relative
The Diablo wasn't probably going that fast either
i have basically the same thing : 450D/XSi
can't wait to play with it tonight ...

Heh. *Murcielago All of them were going incredibly slowly.

Have fun!

Aha! I have a rig which finally works! Didn't have time to try it out during daylight, and for some bizarre reason decided to take them on a glass table which means edited out the pole would be a true pain. I need to fiddle around with focus'ing and trying it out on different surfaces to edit the poles out.
I got some more too, but they're all pretty similar. I'll give a small tip, for fixing the rig to the car try to use the screw holes that car has that mounted it to the display box when you first purchased it. I'll eventually post the whole rig proabably, but I want to iron out any probelms with it. The only thing to bear in mind using the screws is that different cars vary where the screws are.👍

Hehe. Congrats! Yes, the glass table would make things difficult. And who is watching you on the couch? Rigging is incredibly boring to watch.

The surface thing is the hardest part...a smooth realistic surface is hard to find.

Also, the thought to use the screw holes is pure genius, I'd like to see yours. I guess I should post mine too. But mine is very unre-creatable K'nex creation (it also needs work). I have some more too of the Elise...but I probably won't edit the rig out of them if I do post them. I just liked that shot. ^^

 

[Speedster502]

Hehe. Congrats! Yes, the glass table would make things difficult. And who is watching you on the couch? Rigging is incredibly boring to watch.

The surface thing is the hardest part...a smooth realistic surface is hard to find.

Also, the thought to use the screw holes is pure genius, I'd like to see yours. I guess I should post mine too. But mine is very unre-creatable K'nex creation (it also needs work). I have some more too of the Elise...but I probably won't edit the rig out of them if I do post them. I just liked that shot. ^^

Cheers! It's my brother, I think in a couple of shots you can see the PS3 controller in his hands so he wasn't really watching My rig isn't quite finished yet, but I'm trying to create one which can fit to most of the cars, I've found AutoArt screw holes are in relatively the same place but the cheaper models seem to vary from car to car. So I may need 2 or 3 "rigs" for the cars. Funnily, when I saw your K'nex creation I immediately thought about using lego or Mecano

I must also say that the Elise shot is very impressive, it'd be interesting to see how the rig does look for that shot though, because its a relatively high angle compared to my lower down shots.

Just something to mention in passing too, that B-Photo person hasn't replied and I'm not expecting one anymore. I checked out his photos again and he never seemed to reply when people commented on how he did it, and another thing I noticed was that he doesn't ever do rig shots of the front of the car...Weird.

 

[LongbowX]

Cheers! It's my brother, I think in a couple of shots you can see the PS3 controller in his hands so he wasn't really watching My rig isn't quite finished yet, but I'm trying to create one which can fit to most of the cars, I've found AutoArt screw holes are in relatively the same place but the cheaper models seem to vary from car to car. So I may need 2 or 3 "rigs" for the cars. Funnily, when I saw your K'nex creation I immediately thought about using lego or Mecano

I must also say that the Elise shot is very impressive, it'd be interesting to see how the rig does look for that shot though, because its a relatively high angle compared to my lower down shots.

Just something to mention in passing too, that B-Photo person hasn't replied and I'm not expecting one anymore. I checked out his photos again and he never seemed to reply when people commented on how he did it, and another thing I noticed was that he doesn't ever do rig shots of the front of the car...Weird.

Yeah, I thought it was a PS3 controller. Good to see he was entertained in some way. And I trust you didn't get in the way.

Your rig sounds much more advanced than mine. The only thing I can claim is advanced about mine is it has a working suspension. My shots ae higher because I place the camera somewhere on the structure. I could custom make a flat rig...but I re-used this from a past project. So more advancements are necessary. In fact I just grafted on a piece from the last rig I made with it too.

Hmm. Yeah. Well I guess those secrets will remain hidden. It is usual about the front of the car... I don't think it's much if any harder... IT may be because then he'd have to put a fake driver in the car...

Anyway, a few more relatively unedited Elise shots (included a photoshopped less of the previous) and a shot of the rig.