ASK & DISCUSS
INDEXWhat sort of smoke machine do we need to recreate steam train?
4 years, 2 months ago - Steven Jeram
Looking to recreate the look of a 1930's steam train in a locomotive hangar at a railway museum. Anyone have any idea what sort of smoke/fog machine would be best to use and/or where is best to hire from? Thanks very much! Stevie
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4 years, 2 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin
Depends on the shot. If it's a "station" wide shot kind of thing, I would get a stadium hazer to fill the bulk space (run it for a couple of hours) so you can see the lighting rays. Or a hot oil based (probably gas powered handheld) device and give it dissipation time.
If you're looking for plumes of smoke in a close shot, pretty much any cheap and nasty home disco smoke machine will give you enough.
Here's the difference - particle size. Hot oil or oil hazer will tend to have small particles which hang well and so don't dissipate without a breeze. A hot handheld oil unit can make a woodland look amazing, you won't need to run it too much, but they're fiddly to avoid blockages. Stadium hazer will be simple and economical to run. The disco machine will use atomised glycols in steam - the particles are very large and heavy, they fall to the ground quickly.
Worst of all are the cans of bedroom disco "smoke". Massive, heavy particles. They may even work for your close ups and are very convenient.
Have a look at https://smokemachines.net/ which will give you some ideas of professional smoke/fog/haze machines.
Response from 4 years, 2 months ago - Paddy Robinson-Griffin SHOW