I want to get a copy of the Cyclopedia by Bob Hayden. There are publish dates from 1980 to 1991. Does anybody know if there is any advantage to the newer copie$ of the book?
Thomas
Looks like they all have the same cover and there is nothing saying "revised" or "2nd edition" so they are probably all the same. I would get the least expensive.
I tried to sell my two cents worth, but no one would give me a plug nickel for it.
I don't have a leg to stand on.
There are numerous errors in the drawings in those books, I would look for drawings in Mainline Modeler or other magazines for the same locomotives in lieu of buying the book, I do have the book and many of the locomotive pictures are useful.
Rick Jesionowski
Rule 1: This is my railroad.
Rule 2: I make the rules.
Rule 3: Illuminating discussion of prototype history, equipment and operating practices is always welcome, but in the event of visitor-perceived anacronisms, detail descrepancies or operating errors, consult RULE 1!
The drawings in the vol 2 Cyclopedia are mostly if not entirely reprints of drawings that appeared in the magazine, often with more photos however -- if you have the all access pass to back issues you might already have access to the drawings.
As far as errors go, I am not expert enough (or fussy enough) to get into some of the heated discussions that diesel experts seem to enjoy, but I know that for years the Model Railroader EMD drawings got the Blomberg truck profile "wrong" - or rather, they got it wrong the first time and then used that same drawing repeatedly for other locomotives to save time and money. I seem to recall they caught the error and corrected it for the drawings in the Cyc Vol 2 but I may be wrong. (I remember when a reader called them on it and they admitted the error had been perpetuated for years - decades in fact.) I have always found it odd that Kalmbach allowed Vol 2 to go out of print, given how often they refer to it in product reviews in MR, but perhaps drawing errors explain that.
Kalmbach briefly promised a Vol. 3 for their Cyc but never came through with it.
You might also want to acquire Loco 1 - The Diesel, which Carstens published back in 1966. Some of those drawings are VERY simplified however, but again the photos are of value and the basic dimensions are given on the drawings. There is some overlap between the Kalmbach and Carstens books.
Dave Nelson
My copy is the Eighth printing, 2002. As mentioned above, there is no indication that this is revised or other than the 1st edition.
There is a statement in the back (p. 160) saying that "While most of the locomotive drawings have been rechecked and improved since their presentation in MODEL RAILROADER magazine, most of the credit for them is due to the original draftsmen:" I don't know if this appeared in earlier printings or not. But I assume so, or else this would a later or revised edition.
Paul
Thanks Guys for the replys.