James May The Reassembler - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2016, 07:28:37 am
content: In rather the reverse of Dave's motto ("Don't turn it on, take it apart!"), we appear to have a new UK TV series called "James May The Reassembler". In the first eposide (which I am watching instead of sleeping as I ought) he re-assembles a power lawnmower. Brings to mind one of my old favorites, "Secret Life of Machines"https://youtu.be/giZgEI626KwThe Secret Life Of Machines Complete Serieshttps://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLByTa5duIolYRtq45Cz_GmtzfWJyA4bik

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2016, 07:40:29 am
content: I've already seen that but it is rather dull which James May is well aware off.

author: Flipflop
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2016, 08:31:46 am
content: Quote from: Richard Crowley on May 26, 2016, 07:28:37 amThey were great when they done them, I don't live too far from Tim Hunkin either. He also drew the cartoons on the secret life of machines too.

author: imidis
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2016, 08:59:37 am
content: I find James May more interesting to watch than Richard Hammond. Maybe I'm wierd but I find him more entertaining. I like the series he does, also did I think it's called Cars of The People, pretty good to watch as well.

author: XOIIO
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2016, 09:24:45 am
content: Saw this pop up a few times but never bothered with it yet, looks like I have a reminder now lol

author: Tandy
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2016, 10:08:47 am
content: I'm not sure who it is aimed at, it doesn't really show anyone how any of it works or anything. I think it would be far more interesting if they explained a bit of the history behind why something was made that way or some other interesting facts rather than just watching him stick the odd part together.

author: Richard Crowley
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2016, 12:07:20 pm
content: Quote from: Tandy on May 26, 2016, 10:08:47 amYes, exactly what I was thinking. Not being a Brit, I'm not really sure who James May is or why he is "famous"(?), but I believe I have seen or heard of him before. Alas, he comes off (at least in what I watched) rather on the boring side of puttering around. And the camera-work (or editing?) drives me batty. We see lots of close-ups of his face which doesn't seem all that expressive, and virtually nothing of what he is actually doing.The concept could be good, but it looks like it was produced by some Gen-X kid with no imagination.Ah, I just went and looked up James May. He was one of the principal guys on Top Gear. Which was perhaps a bit OVER-produced. So maybe this show is pennance for Top Gear in a modest attempt to normalize the universe.

author: Flipflop
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2016, 12:13:52 pm
content: Richard, James May did do some quite good programs on his own about various things. This Re-assembler series was as boring as British TV could get. I watched about 5 mins of one of them and wondered how the heck it ever got air time.

author: rrinker
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2016, 01:03:53 pm
content: I generally like things that May does, but I've watched 3 episodes of The Reassembler so far and I've been pretty much bored to tears. I did like Hamster's Engineering Marvels series, there was some good stuff on there, by May is my favorite, especially his series Toy Story. May is both a train nut and a car nut, which pretty much describes me as well, and how can you not like the concept of putting together a Scalextric slot car set mimicking the actual original Brooklands racing circuit - full size.

author: nctnico
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2016, 04:08:52 pm
content: Quote from: rrinker on May 26, 2016, 01:03:53 pmYeah, 'the Reassembler' is definitely James May's low but still you have to give him an A for effort to try and show people you can take things apart and back together again.

author: CJay
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2016, 04:20:23 pm
content: Quote from: Flipflop on May 26, 2016, 08:31:46 amTim Hunkin is a lovely bloke, I've chatted briefly via email to him.There was a pop up shop with a good collection of things he'd made in BLoomsbury, London last year, he's got a few exhibits in the Science museum, London and also MOSI in Manchester.i've 'bumped' into his stuff in a few more places too, Brighton springs to mindHe's made the original 3 series of 'Secret Life of Machines' available for download (legally) via torrent on his website as well, highly recommended.

author: Yansi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2016, 05:38:38 pm
content: Just why the hell is it all in that awful 360p resolution

author: donkey77
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2016, 07:00:02 pm
content: I wasn't sure if it was a bit of a piss take on James behalf. It's his kind of sense of humour as this story shows.http://oppositelock.kinja.com/james-may-got-fired-from-autocar-because-of-this-1478843381.comThere were only three episodes in this series so maybe the tv execs sussed his game.

author: Koen
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2016, 07:38:47 pm
content: Don't expect too much of it, it was an easy and cheap (as in equipment and crew) last show from May for the BBC.

author: apis
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: May 26, 2016, 11:01:30 pm
content: Quote from: CJay on May 26, 2016, 04:20:23 pmI love that show!There's a website for the show:http://www.secretlifeofmachines.com/index.shtmland Tim Hunkin's website:http://www.timhunkin.com/