Best of British

9 October 2011

If you haven’t heard of Cherry Red Rachy then you have missed out big time.  This post relates to the story of our most recent shoot on 9 October, but I first came across Rachel when casting for my St Trinian’s project back in July.  That shoot will be described in detail later, but briefly, Rachel came along as the head mistress, Miss Fritton, and stole every scene she was in – as well as giving the entire shoot a central character for the story to relate to.  Rachel displayed an amazing ability to slip into a character role, and has a head jam packed full of original ideas to contribute to a shoot.  As so many of my shoots involve characterisations I just knew it wouldn’t be long before we worked together again.

That opportunity came in August when together with Mistress Nightshade we created a retro beach shoot based along the traditional seaside holidays of yore at Mablethorpe.  The day was incredible fun and we produced some very strong sets.  So I was flattered to receive a message later in the month saying, ‘Hey Vossy, about time we did a solo shoot.’  Too right!

Interestingly enough – for me if not you – is that I was last known as Vossy at school many, many years ago.  So long ago that we used to dig for coal and build things.  The nickname had disappeared along with Ford Cortinas and English speaking staff in call centres.  Anyway, Rachel reintroduced Vossy to the world at large and a couple of regular models have now adopted it.

But back to the point, you will be delighted to hear.  Rachel and I decided on a loose interpretation of a ‘Best of British’ theme and decided to shoot scenes with a Harrier jump jet; a 1940’s theme at the Nene Valley Railway and an old manor house.  In the event, the weather was a bit dicey so we abandoned the manor house idea as it was miles away, and went instead to a derelict roadside diner up the A1.  This is an amazing building; built in art deco style and was used as a Little Chef for many years until closure when it was boarded up and left to rot.  At one time it was possible to gain access to the interior and indeed I did a shoot there back in November 2010.  Sadly the Health & Safety Stasi deemed that climbing through smashed windows onto missing floors and clambering around piles of unstable debris was something of safety risk – as if!  However, rules are rules so earlier this year Jewsons moved in and filled every available entry point with breezeblocks and removed the ladder that gained access to the roof.  Thanks a bunch.  Still, the exterior alone is amazing and well worth a visit; with its heavily graffiti-ed walls and run down appearance with boarded up windows and flaking paint, it makes a striking backdrop for a variety of genres.

We decided to go with a grungy theme to kick off with, so Rachy dressed up into a 1980’s style baggy tracky topped off with BIG hair in vibrant pink that looked awesome.  Gold stiletto heels set off the ‘Rita Sue and Bob Too’ appearance down to a tee!  All we needed was a Bradford council estate and our Little Chef fulfilled that role admirably.

The shoot was an excellent one for what Rachel does best – character and humour!  We set about trashing the place in fine style (simulated in case anyone of a nervous disposition is reading).  Drainpipes were pulled away, windows put in, doors kicked open and a part of the façade was wrenched off.  Pretty much like every other day in Bradford, really.  We filmed two short cameo scenes – one where Rachel is walking down the street, looking to camera and falls down an open manhole.  This is my favourite from the shoot, very reminiscent of a ‘Not The 9 O’ Clock News’ sketch.  The second cameo came at the end of the shoot when Rachel attacked a piece of fascia on the building; ripped it off but then tripped over it and fell flat on her face.  Her amazing range of facial expressions came into play here, and she delivered a fantastic set of images.

Having done as much destruction as we could get away with before the Police were called, we moved on up the road to RAF Wittering.  This airbase used to host the Harrier fleet until the Government decided in its infinite wisdom that despite going to war with everyone to the east of Ipswich, we could get away with two F16’s and a lawnmower in times of crisis.  Consequently the only plane left at the site is a preserved Harrier that proudly stands guard at the main entrance as a reminder of our heritage and ability to blow things up.  It was this plane that we planned to use for our shoot.

 Now even though we are at war with everyone east of Ipswich, and even though we have melted down all our aircraft to make fridge freezers, you still can’t turn up at an airbase and start snapping away.  We asked the guards on sentry duty if we could film, and they couldn’t make that decision but very helpfully pointed us in the direction of the offices who could grant us permission if they felt so inclined.

Now this opened up a very common problem I have on shoots.  I always ask permission to film at sites patrolled by men with big guns, and frequently come across the same issue – is it commercial (meaning how much can we charge you?)  Try explaining to almost anyone these days that it’s a hobby, something for fun and pleasure and you get looked at as if you’re gone out.  Or Nick Clegg.  Nobody, it seems, does things just for fun.  There must be money in it somewhere.  The idea that anyone could go to the time and trouble of arranging something without there being some folding involved at the end of it is lost on the Powers That Be these days – a sign of the times, sadly.

After some discussion and repeated confirmation that we were not making money out of it, the base commander allowed us to set up and get going.  Rachel had originally planned to wear nothing but heels and a huge Union Jack flag we had brought as a prop, but as we had only just got in by the skin of our teeth, we felt it would be pushing our luck to have kit getting whipped off – especially as the Harrier sits right at the side of the A1.

Rachel went for gold in every sense – the fantastic bomber jacket over black leggings set off with leopardskin heels – oh, Marlene would have killed to have attended one of Boycie’s Lodge meetings dressed like this! 

Armed with the superb flag, we set about posing around the aircraft to get a variety of shots.  There was a strong wind that caught the flag and let it billow around, thus giving many of the images an extra dimension.  Nothing worse than having it hanging all limp and forlorn around your ankles, eh?

The set was reasonably quick to do, enabling Rachel and I to return to the Nene Valley Railway at Wansford for a much-needed cuppa and outfit change.  The railway was hosting a 1940’s weekend which would be the backdrop to our third and final set of the day – a complete contrast to what had gone on before.

From grunge and attitude of Bradford and the Harrier, we adopted a much more fun and cutesy feel for the wartime set.  We had some wonderful props – steam trains, vintage cars, an old bus plus all the paraphernalia of the station and wartime displays.

This session rounded off the shoot nicely, and after another cuppa and a discussion about future shoot ideas we parted company.  With plans in place over the next month for one of Rachel’s amazing ideas, it shouldn’t be long before she graces these pages again!

View the full galleries of these sets from the links below.

 PUNK REBEL

FLYING THE CHERRY RED WHITE AND BLUE

THE FLIRTY FORTIES

How It All Began ...

I began photography back in summer 2010, so by way of an introduction to this blog I thought it would be an idea to retell the tale of how it all began, because the chance events of that meeting have a distinct bearing on everything that has happened since!  This story first appeared in my other blog ‘Steamy Scenes’ in June 2010.

It’s quite some time since I took any active role in railway modelling as my interest diverted to the real thing ever since I took up filming and then joined the NVR as a volunteer.  However, my interest in modelling was rekindled on Saturday during my shift at Wansford Station, although not in the way that might immediately spring to mind.

Although I wasn’t booked on duty, I’d volunteered at short notice to cover someone who couldn’t make it in.  I was on the relief turn, which is essentially a spare body ready for action wherever required.  It was the Family Day on the station and a beer festival was taking place in the marquee as well as various pubs in town, all linked by a free Routemaster bus service.  (More on this later).  In addition, we were running TPO mail train demonstrations along with the normal steam hauled passenger service.  Diverse events like this often need a spare body who can pitch in wherever there is a need, and as my body is more spare than most, I took on the role for the day.

As it happened, it was a lot quieter than expected – perhaps everyone in Peterborough had dashed round Asda in the morning, filling up trolleys with cheap beer ready for an afternoon slumped in the front of the World Cup.  Still, as it wasn’t particularly busy I had time to look around and chat to people.  I’d spotted a photographer taking pictures of a girl on the platform, this seemed to be a professional shoot rather than some snaps for the album.  We had a chat, and it transpired that they were doing just that.  Photographer Harry C was photographing model Siân for her portfolio, and wanted a location that would provide some interesting and different backdrops.  With many models jetting off to Barbados and Mauritius for photoshoots, Wansford certainly was different.

Harry asked if it would be possible to use the yard for some pictures – yes, of course, but only if you’ve got an authorised guide with you wearing a hi-viz jacket for insurance / health and safety purposes.  As luck would have it, I just happened to have my hi-viz jacket to hand, and I was in a position to escort the group round the yard after popping into the booking office to let Eddie know that he was on his own for a bit and good luck – see ya!

Various photoshoots were set up, with Harry requesting Bullied Pacific 92 Squadron and the brake van as scene setters – a good choice.  Harry was interested in the trains themselves and was clearly an established photographer who knew his subject well.  Siân came across as a very genuine, chatty girl who is enthusiastic about her work, professional and very personable.  They were accompanied by Siân’s chaperone, in this case her fiancé who was also interested in her work and very supportive.  It made for a friendly and pleasurable experience, the likes of which I have never been involved in before.   Siân took the unusual setting of an uneven, dirty and oily railway yard cheerfully in her stride – no Naomi Campbell tantrums here!  I asked if it would be acceptable to take photos for publication and she was quite happy to let me snap away – it is good publicity for both her career and the railway itself, so everyone came away happy.

I’ve always wanted to do a photoshoot with a model, and as we chatted during the filming I suggested some poses that would look good in the context of the railway background.  I also thought that the bulky dark green Polish tank 5485 would provide a good backdrop, as it was surrounded by spare wheelsets and bits of machinery that provided an interesting contrast to Siân’s petite figure and purple dress.  Looking at the photos, I can say that I was right.  I’m wasted driving a truck.  One suggestion that didn’t work came on the brakevan when I said, “How about a Brief Encounter pose.”  Siân replied, “What’s that?”  Ah, before your time pet.  I feel so old.

Siân herself wanted a picture with Thomas; by a stoke of luck he was shunting Wansford Yard at the time.  Oh, the gods were smiling that day.  Ironically enough, to illustrate a point in my blog post A Bird in the Hand, I’d mocked up a photo of a model giving Thomas a titillating glance to counteract his cheeky smile.  A couple of days later, a real live model was creating the perfect look right in front of me!  What are the chances of that happening?  And to think I’d only come down to Wansford to cover another volunteer who was ill.  It must be karma.  Or a reward for delivering to all those dodgy Leicester car dealers during the week.

Of course I thoroughly enjoyed the modelling experience, and Harry and Siân were fantastic people to have on the railway.  It just goes to show that there’s always something different happening on the NVR.  I personally wish Siân great success with her future career; perhaps one day she might get to star in a Grumpy Git Production, the pinnacle of any model’s career.  Indeed, I’ve already turned down requests from Cindy Crawford and Kate Moss – they just haven’t got what it takes.

If railway modelling has evolved into activities like this, I might just take it up again.