Musings

Joe:

The “Musings” was great but the audio on the YouTube was extremely poor - so difficult that I could couldn’t finish. 
 

I followed this by watching Ken Patterson’s “What’s Neat”. What a difference. It is nearly 2020 and I think Ken should invest in some wireless lapel mics but the current audio is fantastic despite a mic in his face. 
 

What is the difference between the two? Mic or live stream? Curious minds ...

Following up here June 2023 and boy have things changed for the better. Thanks Joe!

Skype audio

Dear Neil,

Skype audio doesn't really have the kind of Gain controls required to guarantee a clean, adequate-amplitude audio stream, (it _can_ do it, but it doesn't happen by _default_),

and even if Joe's Skype rig did have the required controls and audio-recording setup,
there's no control or compensating for whatever S.U.C.y * setup and lo-bandwidth connection config was at the "source end"...

FWIW, I find having even a cell phone with a " voice recording" app,
set for "max resolution" recording,
left running on the desk of the "source interviewee" out-of-shot,
(remember to do a "sync clap" before starting the interview with BOTH Skype rig and the cell phone in REC),

often will give a useful better-res audio which can be edited-in if the Skype feed is un-usable...
(also helps if the Skype feed glitches or otherwise hiccups...)

Such a "on-the-desk location recorder" also captures the acoustic environment of the interviewee,
so doesn't sound like an environmentally-disconnected "post-op voice-over" 

Getting the audio off the phone can be as easy as plugging in a USB cable to the phone,
(straight "file copy" and transfer)
or downloading it from the relevant iCloud or Google account...
(which also takes care of having to manually "upload and transfer" between Interviewee and interviewer/producer/editor)

A quick trip thru IzoTopeRX is sometimes helpful in post,
and correct Gain Staging cannot be over-emphasised,
but in this case, I suspect that the S.U.C.y * audio was out of Joe's control...

Happy Modelling,
Aim to Improve,
Prof Klyzlr

* "S.U.C." = "Sounds Under Constraints"

Recorded Skype call

What about the Source?

Dear Joe,

Whatever you record at your end will already be damaged by both any Skype-based degradation,
and any inherrent limits in the Interviewee's rig...
(...let alone adding an additional Digital> Analog> Air> Mic/recorder to the signal path at your end)

...I strongly reccomend attacking the problem right at the source,
even a basic cellphone Voice Recorder capture from the Interviewee is going to provide an alternative "clean feed" with a lot shorter signal-path, and guaranteed free of any 'net-streaming vagaries or VOIP/data-compression.

Happy Modelling,
Aim to improve the signal path,
Prof Klyzlr

What about Deluxe Materials?

Plastic Magic

5 Stars, A+

I bought a bottle of Deluxe Plastic Magic 40ml.  It is now my first choice in plastic solvent cement.  It handles more like Tenex than other cements I've used.  What I bought is the flammable type.

Pluses:

The squat bottle, no need to fit a base to keep it from tipping over.

The brush in the bottle is small enough to be useful for many tasks.

A smaller brush comes in the box.  Still use a 000 or 0000 brush for fine work.

Minuses:  (Really just nits)

Was hard to find when I bought mine many months ago.  Probably better now.

It is a big bottle, a lot more cement to lose if the cap is not screwed on tight.

Same problem as with Tenex and some others, it evaporates so fast you have to be quick to get the brush to the joint.

Neck of bottle is small compared to other cements.

Tip:

I use a Dappen Dish.  They're glass, about an inch in diameter.  The lid is not airtight but slows down evaporation, keeps parts out of the cement, lifts off easy.  Use disposable pipette to put in a small amount.  Much easier than dipping a small brush into the bottle.  They cost less than $2pp on eBay, 2 for $7 +S&H on Amazon.

Try the 10s version

Good point ... try the 10s version, it has almost zippo evaporation.

Plus 10s is non-flammable and has no odor either.

Who would have thought you could even get a plastic cement with all those great characteristics? I have to hand it to John Bristow, that's impressive.

Very impressive

I am impressed with the Roket Card Glue. I will try it to see if it eliminates the problem I had with card stock modeling glues (Elmers white glue and CA/Super glue) causing printed ink running. I am also impressed with the Looks Like Glass product to restore plastic windows on my rolling stock, et al.

BTW, I have been watching much of UK produced videos for over 10 years now and find that it is more words and pronunciation than audio quality that is a problem for US natives. I also have been working with a UK software company for over a decade, My experience lent itself well to understanding John Bristow in spite of the Skype effect on audio quality. It was a very informative video that I will review a number of times in the future. (sorry, I felt compelled to comment on the audio quality, even though being nudged away from it)

“England and the USA... Two

“England and the USA...

Two great nations separated by a common language.”

One of my favourite quotes. I wish I could remember who said it.

Interesting ...

Interesting observation. When I mentioned to my wife Patty that some were struggling with the audio quality on the John Bristow call, she immediately remarked, "I bet it's the accent that's actually the trouble ..."

Patty proofed the video for me, so she's watched it through several times already.

Availability

Both Walthers and Horizon Hobby are distributing the line. I've seen it lately in a HobbyTown and my neighborhood train store.

There's a Liquid Gravity product demo at

About the products

Living in Europe - France - I came across these products and use them.

Quality is very good compared with the other 'stuff' around. And they have these 'specific' products no one else has.

My only observation is the rather 'high' price tag....but ok,  that keeps you from 'getting high' !

Thanks for sharing Joe.

greetings,

filip

Yeah, the audio on that is

Yeah, the audio on that is actually pretty good for Skype...  I'm sure it's his accent throwing people off. I had no trouble at all understanding him...  My girlfriend is British, and we communicte via Skype regularly.

O/T Trying to let it go

Dear Barr, MRHers,

I want to believe it's all just down to the average US ears being incapable of handling a UK accent without straining, but even cursory investigation of the YT shows that's not the whole/only issue in-play...

(IzoTope RX images available on request) 

In the meantime, the Deluxe Material distributors listed for Australia are roughly 150kilometres in either direction North and South of Sydney, so I'll definitely look them up the next time I'm on the road...

Happy modelling, 

Aim to Improve, 

Prof Klyzlr 

Stinky vs Sticky

Prof, maybe take the fancy graphs to a separate thread so we can keep this one about the products?  The audio quality wasn’t superb, but I’ve been on worse conference calls and I had no trouble understanding the guy as I skimmed through the video.

A basic rule of thumb that seems to hold pretty well (up until now?) is the stinkier the glue/paint/whatever, the better if adheres.  I’m sure this oderless CA is fine for MR applications, I’m wondering if it’s good enough to use in critical strength areas of R/C planes as well.

I couldn’t find what the density of the liquid gravity is?

Interesting Products

I'm very glad to see the video and the other products he mentioned too.  I'm going to be trying some of these out. The odorless CA, Glass, and the putty.  The info sheets he held up for water and the other glue ones....those viewable some place? 

just and FYI - Tacky Wax, there is a USA product call'ed Brad's Tacky Wax...basically same stuff they are selling.

ROKET CARD GLUE

I'm one of the third readers outside the USA in New Zealand. I first heard about Roket card glue from my son in law a very keen N gauge modeler. I used it extensively on a scale house build and found it lived up to all expectations. It held many different types of cards and held strong with butt joints, overlay paper to card and on corners. A great alternative to PVA

Try it.Regards 

Paul P

My experiences

As noted above, I "bit the bullet" and placed an order and received the items. An item I was interested in trying was the Liquid Gravity. I have posted my experience in another thread - read it here:

I am trying Deluxe Materials Liquid Gravity

I also bought 5 other Deluxe Materials products, all in stock at Hobbylinc (97 of the Deluxe Materials product are listed there). I am trying the Roket Odourless CA, Roket Card Glue, Tacky Wax, Sticky Mat Adhesive and Looks Like Glass - all of interest to my activity in the hobby.

Good stuff

Several of their products I have used are great, I flip between their putty and Tamiya super fine white, both very good. I really like their version of the glass tube applicator for liquid glue - the replaceable tips are great not only to cover damages, but also they offer different sizes.

Very interested on any reports for the liquid gravity, got several flat cars coming up.......????

DM Track Magic...

Got some last week. Stuff works good. Instead of using the orange foam applicator I used it with Woodland Scenics track cleaner. Even after going through my usual track cleaning procedure, it got a lot more crud off the rails. Much smoother switching. I'll probably use more of their products. Thanks MRH!

Separated by a common language

Attributed to George Bernard Shaw.

DrJolS

Audio quality

Hi from Brisbane, Australia. Thanks Joe for the interview, it was very informative. Cardboard glue looks  amazing,ssues as does the track cleaning fluid. No issues with the audio, but maybe years of watching UK you tube railway videos has given me an ear for the English accent.

Cheers

Peter