How-To Video Series

[DennisB]

I have emailed Kalmbach Publishing to see if there is an interest for a How-To series on garden railroading. The idea is to keep each half hour video shot in a television show format. That is, it will have a cohesive format just like a regular tv show. Each half hour segment will cover more than one topic and will be shot in various locations. Each half hour segment would have an affordable price tag, under $10. Question?? Is there a demand for such a product, would it fly? I am retired and live on a fixed income. Before I commit to this I need serious feedback. Your comments would be appreciated. Regards, Dennis Brown.

[Coogler Rail Line]

I would enjoy it if it was available on DVD.  I have been re watching the DIY series for the last six months!

[altterrain]

I'm not sure how much demand there would be for such an item or how many you would need to sell to make a profit. It is something our club would be interested in as we often show videos (usually the National Convention tours) during our displays.

 -Brian

[dwbeckett]

There is a Dream Plan Build series out it cover's all scales EXCEPT G (Large Sacale). So far I have all the DVD's albeit i have not wactched the last three, they keep getting put in our box that go's to Reno, AKA Reno box east bound, Oakley box west bound. Lot's and lot's of good ideas.

Dave 

[DennisB]

Dear Charles, unfortunately this DIY seies is not available here in Canada. I read a lot about it on some of the posts. Is this series available on dvd, or is there an email address where they can be contacted? Thanks for your input, Dennis.

[Coogler Rail Line]

The DIY series is just a few episodes of "Working on the Railroad" where the built a garden railroad at the Oak Ridge Children's Museum, located near Knoxville, Tenn.

 

http://www.diynetwork.com/diy/shows_dwrr/episode/0,2499,DIY_23302_44307,00.html

I do not know if it is available on DVD or tape.

[kstrong]

There are a handful of "how to" videos out there right now that seem to enjoy decent sales. You're not going to get rich off the proceeds, but extra cash is extra cash. And once the show's put together, there's no work involved for the extra cash, either. Demand depends largely on content. If the content is strong, then the demand will follow.

Why not put one together to see how it goes? You don't need much to put together such a "pilot" show. Get going with that, get some feedback from others on what works and what doesn't, and go from there. You don't need much to get going. The cheap/free video editing software that comes with many Macs and PCs is sufficient to put together something simple. More complex software (e.g. Final Cut Express) is still relatively cheap, but may require a more robust (read "expensive") computer to run. Even the top-tier editing software (Avid Xpress, Final Cut Pro, Adobe Premier) costs less than most live steam locos. The learning curve may be a bit steeper, but there's not much you can't do with those packages.

My one bit of advice--invest in a good wireless microphone (and make sure your camera has an external microphone input). Clear, consistent audio is paramount.

Keep us posted.

Later,

K

[Anonymous]

I am in for it! Would like to see others help out in this.

What is your "thing" or planly put the best thing you do in G gauge like make Mills, People, Design Bachmann inside Cab, anything in Track (layn or tricks, even wiring), Block Signals, Sound Hook Up (all the companies).

Do it on master DVD and then ship it to him, boom, you have a G Gauge Series!

Just my 3 cents.

Toad in da Swamp 

[Tommy0218]

Hi Dennis,

I agree with Kevin, I think you should come up with some ideas on paper and then put the ideas into action if you are convinced that it would go. Kalmbach may decide to make another series similiar to what you referencing however, they would probably want to take a poll to find out if there are enough individuals interested before starting this process.

It is almost similiar to companies that decide on which model trains to build and then market. There has to be the demand before going forward with the project. You never know what can come out of it. Best of Luck !

[hoofe116]

KC:

I think it'd be worth a try.

Here's some criteria that would be of interest to me. Others have already given some of theirs.

1) DVD.

2) Have excellent sound. (I am somewhat hearing impaired).

3) No more than $10/disc. (I am very financially impaired. )

4) Cover subjects not easily found elsewhere, perhaps such as

      A). Wiring a loop/wye

      B). Show the different scales in 45mm, i.e. 20.3 boxcar sitting next to 24.x boxcar, etc. To be effective, this would require a near-identical item in all the common scales. (And expensive).

      C). Illustrate the size of G gauge buildings by including 1:1 people in the picture. This stuff gets big fast, with a more complex industry. (I'm thinking of Jones' steel foundry).

      D.) Discuss things like storage issues for rolling stock when not in use.

      E.) Be up front about costs for this particular gauge. I was shocked when I actually began acquiring stuff. But a bit of consideration of increase in size = increase in cost will show it's actually priced about right, though I suspect prices would fall if demand rose. Some prices, anyway. A way to positively emphasize G gauge might be to show how (relatively) easier it is to build from scratch rather than in the smaller gauges. This would lead naturally to Disc 2, "Scratchbuilding, Kitbashing, and ... stuff." I dunno. Something along those lines. I suspect a goodly amount of material could be gotten from people who only want recognition in return.

Yes, I'd definitely buy a copy. But I'd want to see more than nice-looking trains moving along well-senicked layouts.

Les W.

 

 

[Anonymous]

Les, you read my mind and said it better than I could!