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PDF Drawings online

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  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Florida, USA
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PDF Drawings online
Posted by Narrowgauge on Thursday, February 6, 2014 9:46 PM

Rene,

There is an online drawing set entitled "Build an Icing Station in 1:29".  The PDF files are full size for 1:29, which is OK if you are going to build in 1:29.  I am a 1:20.3 modeler and up sizing each of those individual sheets will be a pain to be polite, not to mention the additional distortion that would be introduced.  Would it be possible to acquire a PDF scan of the original magazine article drawing at whatever scale the original drawing was produced and allow us, the modeler to work from the original?  I am a professional draftsman, so making the scale conversion would be a piece of cake. Not to mention I do not use the drawings as an underlay. I do understand that there could be copyright issues, however I believe that publishing the already up sized version mitigates that problem.

Thanks for looking into this request in advance.

Bob C.

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: North, San Diego Co., CA
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Posted by ttrigg on Saturday, February 8, 2014 12:16 PM

Bob

The easy answer is, set your printer to the percentage in the chart. Each set of plans has a listing of the most common scales and the printer percentage for the other scales. As you start to print the plans simply go to the "Print Percentage" box in your printer instructions and it will produce the plans if full scale for your particular scale. In your case it is 143%. Trim off the edges (or fold back) of the plans and tape them together.  There is a new printer on the market, that I'm thinking of getting, that handles paper up to 11x17 which will allow MOST plans to be printed on a single sheet.

Tom Trigg

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Florida, USA
  • 100 posts
Posted by Narrowgauge on Saturday, February 8, 2014 9:01 PM

Tom,

I am full aware of the scaling on the printer.  For that matter I have an Epson 18 x 24 printer.  I was looking for the original drawing at the original scale.  I have a scale ruler for just about every common scale there is.  The reason for the original is, I would like to put the 'fudge factor' where I want it, not where the printer/scanner puts it.  I have scaled many a drawing from some other scale to my scale.  I would also like to see the entire article if that would be possible. A small fee to do so would be perfectly acceptable.

Bob C.

  • Member since
    February 2004
  • From: North, San Diego Co., CA
  • 3,092 posts
Posted by ttrigg on Sunday, February 9, 2014 2:44 PM

I see now that I misunderstood the intent behind your question. Sounds to me as if you want to go much further into the details of the print than most of us in the hobby. You are beginning to pique my interest. 

As I had said, I'm looking into the Epson 11x17, having absolutely zero experience with Epson, I would like your opinion on their durability. Your 18x24, is that a "Home quality" or a "Business grade" printer? I would be much interested in your thoughts before I make the purchase.

Tom Trigg

  • Member since
    April 2002
  • From: Wisconsin
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Posted by Rene Schweitzer on Monday, February 10, 2014 10:35 AM

Hi Bob,

I'm sorry, but I'm not able to give you the original pages, as they belong to Model Railroader and they own the copyright.

Rene

Rene Schweitzer

Classic Toy Trains/Garden Railways/Model Railroader

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Florida, USA
  • 100 posts
Posted by Narrowgauge on Monday, February 10, 2014 9:14 PM

Rene,

Thanks for your response.  I had hoped that since Kalmbach owned both publications a little 'brotherly love' might be available.  One can only hope.Big Smile

  • Member since
    January 2010
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Posted by homo_habilis on Tuesday, February 11, 2014 10:15 AM

Bob:

Perhaps (unless you've already decided to do so) you could make your request directly to MR or Kalmbach publishing. This might even offer them a potential revenue stream by creating a chargeable downloadable library of original plans and drawings.  There is already something similar in the Subscriber Extras and the Shop Kalmbach Bookstore, but make something much more complete and searchable.  

As they say "you can't strike out unless you get up to bat!"

  • Member since
    December 2008
  • From: Florida, USA
  • 100 posts
Posted by Narrowgauge on Tuesday, February 11, 2014 8:20 PM

Excellent thought, however MR already sells a DVD of all their mags back to the very early days for $100 or so.  I doubt they will damage that revenue stream by providing a searchable/downloadable data base, although I also like the 'pay as you go' idea instead of the 'get it all' concept. And I doubt I am the only hobbiest that thinks like that. I believe there is a tremendous revenue stream for all the magazines to digitize the back issues and offer them for a fee.  With all the new web technology, I am sure there is a way to provide a downloadable PDF file with a web based key so only the purchasing person can open it.

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