Now we're flying through it

Progress is good. The scenes are coming together, and I'm just about finished with this Sopwith Camel model for a fly-through - when we're tracking an overhead shot of the dawn assault.

It'll be on screen for all of 3 or 4 seconds, but hopefully add to the impact.

'The devil is coming'

That's what German infantry were heard to say when they saw a British tank for the first time - as it crested the trench they were defending. I'm re-creating this iconic scene for the Gilbert's War trailer.

These scenes will be very brief, but hopefully convey the mood of the final film.

Giving the beast a voice

Since there are no handily available good quality recordings of what a MarkIV tank sounds like, I'm creating my own. I do have a few clues, in how it has been represented in films etc in the past.

A lot of what is available is no good for me - I need a clean sound, ideally built up from elements that I can mix myself, so that I can create a horde of bellowing behemoths. I can't wait to hear it.

One of the sounds I DO have sorted is that of the trench whistle, a haunting double-tone whistle used to signal a call to action - usually to leave the safety of the trenches and go 'over the top'.

The battle of Cambrai took place on a foggy dawn in November, so there'll be an odd dead echo to the soundtrack, adding an eeriness to it - until all hell breaks loose, of course.

I'm also on the lookout for a Sopwith Camel engine noise.*
*Just sorted the above, via email. Fab!

I have plenty of gun sounds and some explosions - but I need to draw up a list of other audio I'll need, specifically for the trailer.

EDIT: Following on from a suggestion by an ex tank commander (of both Chieftain and Challenger main battle tanks) I asked Bovington Tank Museum if they had any audio of their Mark IV, and they're sending me a recording this weekend. So, Gilbert's War will feature absolutely authentic tank sounds!

Lights, camera, action!

Please view the video below in full screen and HD - and it's not pink, honest (dodgy youtube framegrabber).

Currently testing lighting a low resolution/low framecount version of Gilbert's walk cycle, carded onto a polyquad via an animated texture sequence. Alpha works fine, as do lighting keys. Happy chappy!

War - the great leveller

Currently watching the BBC's Who Do You Think You Are? about hugh Dennis (on iPlayer). His grandfathers' experiences in WW1 mirror what I've found - and how I feel about it - whilst researching for Gilbert's War. http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/b01mmlx5/Who_Do_You_Think_You_Are_Series_9_Hugh_Dennis/

Getting there

I have a title sequence planned, and all my main scenes are at least blocked out, and some are finished.

Not long to go now until the trailer is released in November. Still plenty to do of course, but I'm happy with how things are shaping up.

I don't want to post much of the action scenes until I can post the whole trailer, but it'll be worth the wait.