New Model RR video series coming out

[Anonymous]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jfugate

Just wanted to pass on to everyone that there's a new model railroad video series coming out on my HO SP Siskiyou Line.

My web site has been popular (over 50,000 hits since I put it up a few years ago) and the two-part article I did in the Jan and Feb 97 MR on the mushroom design concept and how the Siskiyou Line models it was well received.

The video series is being produced by MyMemoirs Video and will be the first of its kind: a thorough documentary on how to design, build, and construct a large home layout in 5 parts.

I've used the popular V&O Story series/book published by Carstens in the late 1970s as my inspiration. I'm thinking that other modelers could benefit from what I've done, what I've learned, and could benefit from a "learn by example" video series.

I'm happy to entertain questions anyone may have on the series, and since only the first video is "in the can" as they say at this point, if you have a hot topic you are curious about and would like me to cover, then speak up! I'll see if I can address it.

To see more about the series, go to http://model-trains-video.com . To see more about my layout, just use the link on my signature.

great site great layout i love it
you have given me new ideas on my SSW/SP layout
keep up the good work and ill look for the videos

[jfugate]

An outline to Siskiyou Line video - vol 2 has just been posted
on the Siskiyou Line yahoo list. Volume 2 is all about the design and
construction of the Siskiyou Line, a large mushroom layout.

See: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/siskiyouline/ for more. The
archives are visible to the public so you don't have to join the
list to be able to read postings.

BTW, volume 2 is planned to release by the end of the summer (Sept).

[Anonymous]

cool i wish i had the money to buy the set[:(]

[jfugate]

Bill:

Thanks for the kind words about the video and my layout.

Your suggestion about playing all the runbys back to back is a good one. We'll add that feature to the new master so anyone who orders the video from this point forward will get the "Play all runbys" option.

Also had enough people who just bought video 1 ask about a subscription to vols 2-5 . MyMemoirs has added that option to their web site ... see:

http://model-trains-video.com

Basically, for three installments of $26.67 each, you get the other 4 videos sent to you automatically postage paid when they are released, which is a savings of about $60 off the price of buying them individually and paying full price + postage.

[darth9x9]

Hey Joe,

First, I would like to say that I paid for the entire series up front for I have seen your work in MR and such. I received the first DVD on Saturday and watched it yesterday.

Second, all I can say is, "TOO COOL!!!" I am very impressed with your execution of the mushroom concept. I had ruled out a double deck layout as I didn't like seeing two levels at one time. The mushroom concept eliminates that and now I am very much entertaining a mushroom layout. Thank you!

Lastly, the only improvement you could make would be in the bonus material section. I would suggest you have an option to play all the segments back to back and maybe even another to play them all continuously.

I am already jonesing for my next installment of the Siskiyou Line even though I model the opposite end of the continent as you!!! Please keep up the great work!

[Anonymous]

Joe,
Thank you very much for this insightful information. I have drawn out a few places I would like to visit when I go up to Oregon this summer which will aid me in making a final decision. I have been using terraserver to get an Idea of what the locations were like. I looked up Dillard, and that mill is MASSIVE. I am eager to see what it looks like on your layout!

[jfugate]

There's a new yahoo groups list about the Siskiyou Line layout and there are many comments posted about the video and what people think of it.

If you would like to check it out, you can go to:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/siskiyouline/

The message archives are open to the public, so you can read what people are saying without having to join the list.

[jfugate]

Jarrett:

By the 1980s time frame I don't believe there are any rail-served lumber operations in McMinnville any longer in the 1980s. Perhaps a lumber reloader, which is a place where lumber is loaded and unloaded from railcars from mills in the region. Northern Oregon had fewer lumber operations than southern Oregon, and the remaining lumber operations I am aware of are almost all in southern Oregon. Roseburg and Riddle are both still significant operations today, with Dillard being the king of them all with the mill facility being over a mile in length! I'm devoting 12 feet on the HO Siskiyou Line to this one facility, which is still a 5:1 compression.

Newberg does not have much at all for rail industry. In fact, the SP used the line in Newberg to store excess railcars for several years. You could see long strings of empty box cars and chip cars just sitting on the main around Newburg for months on end.

There is one operating mill facility in Mollala, which is a branch that runs out of Canby, OR, and there's a mill in Toledo, OR on the Toledo coast branch. That's about the only lumber mill operations I'm aware of on the old SP tracks north of Eugene.

[Anonymous]

Joe,
Thank you for the hasty response! That will definitely aid me in my search of a good modeling location in Oregon. I am pretty sure McMinnville would be a good spot considering my limitations. However, I am a little worried about the industries in McMinnville. I am pretty sure there is a co-op and a steel mill, but what about forest products? I just can't have this layout without some bundles of lumber and chip cars. And, one last question: do you think Newberg would be a place to consider for a location also? Sorry, I probably got carried away with the questions and I hate to intrude on your time.
Thank you,
Jarrett

[jfugate]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mario_puzo

Joe, I loved the video! I loved the Coos Bay Hauler lugging a long train with 3 SD9E's on the point. It really inspired me to do some more design work on my McMinnville module. But, I am starting to wonder if McMinnville would be a good location for a 2x10 foot module. I am looking for a place on an SP Oregon branch that would be able to fit my space criteria. Do you have any ideas for a good location?

Jarrett:

Given your modeling interests, I figured you would appreciate what I am trying to do with the Siskiyou Line!

As to possible module locations, depends on what you want. McMinnville is good in that there's a rather impressive trestle on one side of town, so that makes a module interesting scenickly, and there's some heavier industry in the area too, kind of the best of both worlds. So it's not a bad choice.

If you want mountains, then the Siskiyou Line is a fun choice -- no bias here, of course. If you want tidewater, then there's the Coos Bay or Tillimook branches. If I was doing just a module, I would do Dillard because of the interesting switching possiblities ... one *huge* industry with that Oregon lumber mill railroading flavor ... the epitomy of the SP in Oregon.

If I was doing a 4x8 or something like that, I would put a sky backdrop down the middle and model an abbreviated Roseburg yard on one side and the Dillard mill on the other. Again, lots of operational interest is a priority for me. If all I wanted was interesting scenery, I would model the North Umpqua River bridge and a bit of the Roseburg yard on a module.

If you had two modules worth of space, then the Dillard and Roseburg modules would be fun, with the North Umpqua bridge on the far end of the Roseburg module.

Hope that gives you some ideas!

[johncolley]

Kudos for a great job on the layout and the video. Such quality makes it hard to wait for the next one.....I guess I'll have to fill in the time model railroading! I like the simplicity of the ingenious latchbolt turnout control. While waiting for the DVD to get here I re-read the articles in MR. Now where do I find the space....let's see...if I tear out that wall, and that one...oops Wife says she doesnt want to watch trains while in the shower, oh, well.
Thanks, Joe, for sharing.

[Anonymous]

Joe, I loved the video! I loved the Coos Bay Hauler lugging a long train with 3 SD9E's on the point. It really inspired me to do some more design work on my McMinnville module. But, I am starting to wonder if McMinnville would be a good location for a 2x10 foot module. I am looking for a place on an SP Oregon branch that would be able to fit my space criteria. Do you have any ideas for a good location? I will be going up to the Portland area over the summer so hopefully I can visit some places of interest.
Thanks,
Jarrett Mullen

[AggroJones]

Thanks!

[jfugate]

Aggro:

Coupon code MM0102 is good until the end of this month, May 31, after which time it expires. You'll save $10 on the purchase of volume 1 with this code. You can order online ( http://model-trains-video.com ) or call 1-800-920-6020 and mention coupon code MM0102 to get the discount.

And if you want to see what other people are saying, ask detailed questions about the series, or get advanced details on the other volumes, you can see this discussion list:

http://groups.yahoo.com/group/siskiyouline/

[AggroJones]

Hey Joe! If we call to order the video and still mention the coupon code, do we still get the $10 off? I heard someone mention their card number was stolen on PayPal.

Do you have to order on the internet and pay through PayPal to get the discount?

[jjbmish]

Just got done watching the first part of the dvd and its fantastic!! The finished scenery is spectacular and its nice to see the portions of the layout that aren't scenicked at this point. It shows some of the progession from plywood to scenery. Just goes to show that a very nice layout doesn't have to be completed to have fun operating it. I'm looking forward to watching the rest of the dvd tomorrow. To Joe and everyone else involved with the making of this dvd, CONGRATULATIONS !! I can hardly wait till tomorrow to finish watching the dvd.

John

[jfugate]

I asked Charlie Comstock your question, and true to form got a nicely detailed reply. So here's what he said (kind of long, but hopefully useful if you want a comparison to Allen Keller's videos.
===================================================================
HOW DOES SISKIYOU LINE VIDEO 1 COMPARE TO ALLEN KELLER'S GMR SERIES?

The first three scenes are definitely MUCH better video quality than the Keller DVD of John Pryke's layout. BUT I don't know what he's done with his DVD quality since then (at his prices I'm not a regular consumer of his products - and I know of no one else at all locally that buys **any** of them).

Some of Kellers videos have highly valuable information and how to's in them. Your how to on the dead-bolt switch stands was well done. Someone wondering how they were going to control a room full of turnouts might find it very interesting.

Your track warrant demo, while kind of ficticious might create some interest in operation. I don't believe any of the AK videos (perhaps Doug Geiger's Granite Mountain which has some two-way radio comm) do much to introduce the general public to operations.

Allen's sound tracks are usually bogus. For diesels it's not too bad. But his steam sound tracks are a joke with highly inappropriate chuff rates and timbres for the speed of the locomotive. Your sound track is much more appropriate for the imagery than anything I remember hearing on an AK video.

Allen never shows the warts of a layout, only finished scenery. If you're looking for eye candy or some ideas for detailing scenes they may be good for you. If a viewer has an interest in how the benchwork holding up a layout is constructed then AK is not the place to look.

Allen uses a very short focal length lens (wide angle). So short that there are definite fish eye effects. This may be necessary to shoot an entire scene where there isn't room to back away from the layout more than a few inches. I didn't notice fish-eye effects in your video.

Allens lighting is usually pretty good. But your lighting was pretty good too.

Allen shoots only in 4:3 which is sucky for anybody that's got a widescreen.

AK videos are 60 minutes. You're giving more video for that length. And for a better price.

I would say that your video compares favorably with the AK videos for anybody that wants more than pretty trains running through pretty scenery pictures. And you either match him or aren't far behind in the eye-candy department (although AK does do a lot of pan and other camera motion stuff).

I feel like I got my money's worth from your DVD.

If AK got his DVD video quality under control I might be willing to get another set but it seems kind of unlikely for the immediate future and I don't feel like risking $145 (for three DVDs with
shipping) to find out.

FWIW
---------------------------------------------------------
Charlie Comstock [e-mail] http://www.bcsj.org/rr/
---------------------------------------------------------

[jfugate]

Aggro:

I'll let others on here answer your question directly. But here's a critique I got from Charlie Comstock in my personal email. Charlie is one of my regular operators and has been giving us feedback all through this process on the quality of the video, so perhaps his comments will help.
=============================================================================
I took a look at your video last night and here are a few
comments about what I saw.

o I was viewing on a large wide screen TV

o The opening three sequences looked (to my untrained eye)
to be about as good as a well done render of a broadcast
or movie.

Grade: A

o Follow the train video quality. There were a few really
great shots of CBEUY down on the Coos Bay line in
Myrtle Point at the grade crossing (if it wasn't for the
fascia visible in these shots they would be nearly
indistinguishable from the prototype), the hwy 42
bridges, the approach to Roseburg (if not for part of
the missing backround on the right they would be
picture perfect - as is they are merely stunning!) and
Rice Hill. Oh, I forgot the Coal Bank slough.
Sometimes the camera had kind of a funny twist to it
making the horizon look "tilted".

Grade (video quality): B
Grade (appearance of trains in scenery): A+

Overall grade: A- (maybe B+) For a first outing of this
type it makes me want to see the others.

---------------------------------------------------------
Charlie Comstock
[e-mail]
http://www.bcsj.org/rr/
---------------------------------------------------------

[AggroJones]

To ALL who have the video:

Is the DVD or tape quality as good as Allen Keller's GMR series tapes? If so, I'm on board for the 1st volume. The content looks pretty amazing.

[jfugate]

More comments from the LD SIG list ...
=======================================================================
Date: 21 May 08:43 (PDT)
To: [e-mail]
Subject: [ldsig] Re: Siskiyou Line video series - any good?

--- In [e-mail], "Charles Thompson" <w3crt@c...> wrote:
Outstanding Joe, Really outstanding

I got the DVD in the mail on Thursday and after getting home from a C.A.P.
meeting I sat down to view it. (Was surprised that my wife, who has only a
minimal, but supportive interest in my model railroading, also sat down with
me and watched it and said she found it very interesting. She usually won't
sit still that long to watch most regular movies.)

On my first run-through, all the accolades I thought of have already been
well said and I fully agree. The things I picked up on that could be
improved upon have already been mentioned, so will not belabor them.

...

All in all, I can't wait for the other volumes. Keep up the good work.

Charlie Thompson
Silver Spring, MD

[jfugate]

Here's an excerpt from an email posted on the Layout Design Special Interest Group list this morning:
=================================================================
From: "Verne Alexander" <crapmanvpa@m...>
Date: Fri May 21, 2004 2:56 am
Subject: Re: [ldsig] Siskiyou Line video 1 - yay!

Joe, and all:

I viewed volume 1 tonite. My reactions are mostly highly favorable. The great
scenery I remember from my one visit photographs very well. (The scenery volume
can't get here quickly enough!) The camera is steady. The narration and the
narrative interaction is for the most part relaxed and sounds natural. It is at
all times audible and intelligible. The orientation to the layout via diagram
is excellent, and the explanation/illustration of the mushroom concept is about
as effective as I have ever seen. The operation of the hauler out of Coos Bay
and over the layout conveyed the feel of operation in a manner which I would
think would be seductive for those who have not yet participated in operation.
The tutorial regarding the mechanism for manual turnout control was excellent,
and is something I will be revisiting soon with an eye toward possible use on
[my layout] ...

Overall, I think the DVD is a huge success at introducing the scope and feel of
the layout, the type of operation that is used and the quality of the
instruction that is forthcoming. It significantly surpassed my expectations.

Verne

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jfugate

myMemoirs is a small family business with my son-in-law Bob Thurman as the main camera/video/sound guy and friend-of-the-family Rick McMurry (my co-host in the video) doing production management, video editing, and so on.

Joe,

I used to do all of the above when I was still working at my last job at a small TV station in the area. Never did it before and had no training whatsoever, but it was a lot of creative fun and apparently I had a knack for it. It was possibly the best job I've ever had.

My friend down the street has a small, one man video company he calls Video Services. Now and then when I see him, he can "talk shop" and I'm the only one who usually has a clue what he's talking about. He also does electronic work and since I went back to school about a dozen or so years ago to get a "degree" in electronics, we can put our heads together on that stuff, too.

[jjbmish]

I checked on mine and they say it shipped today and will be here in 2-3 days. I'm looking forward to watching it this weekend. The wife and kids have other plans, so I'll be able to watch in peace. From everything I've read it looks like it will be very enjoyable to watch.

John

[jfugate]

Thanks, Paul.

I appreciate your patience as myMemoirs works through the HUGE pre-order backlog on this video. Realize to, myMemoirs is a small family business with my son-in-law Bob Thurman as the main camera/video/sound guy and friend-of-the-family Rick McMurry (my co-host in the video) doing production management, video editing, and so on. And the entire office staff consists of my wife Patty, who has been making daily trips to the post office to ship big stacks of videos each day!

Meanwhile, I work at my normal day job as an Internet Software developer and come home each evening to find out what has been going on in myMemoirs-Video-land. And of course, I am writing the scripts for these videos, and standing in front of the camera trying to look pretty (which can be a challenge <grin>), mostly in the evenings after work. The myMemoirs guys (Bob and Rick) take it pretty well, since that makes them work late hours into the evening doing all the shooting.

For anyone who will be going to the NMRA National in Seattle this July, myMemoirs will have a booth at the train show, run by Bob and Rick ... so you can meet them in person! And of course they will have stacks of videos (with a sample DVD running) and would be *happy* to sell you one if you'd like.

MyMemoirs is my son-in-law's primary source of income, so let's hope it does well! And let's hope the "video magazine" format of the series will prove useful to lots of modelers.

[CBQ_Guy]

QUOTE: Originally posted by jfugate

Paul:

Get your video yet? Would like to hear from someone who has gotten a copy what they think, good, bad, or indifferent.

Most of the DVDs have shipped at this point. The VHS tapes are still at the duplicators and myMemoirs is rendering the PAL version for the overseas orders now.

Hey Joe,

No, I haven't received it yet but got an email yesterday or earlier today saying it was shipped. Who knows, it may show up tomorrow, but I'm not going to ru***o watch it. I need a block of time alone and uninterrupted so I can SAVOR the experience!

I hope this is a big success for you and another milestone and boone to our hobby, Joe.

Good luck!

[jfugate]

And here's a comment posted on the LD SIG list today ...
================================================================
From: "B Bond" <[e-mail]>
To: <[e-mail]>
Subject: Re: [ldsig] Siskiyou Line video series - any good?
Date: Wednesday, May 19, 2004 6:26 PM

Just got mine and ran it immediately, the family scattering for other
pursuits while Dad commandeered the DVD player... And I liked it a lot! The
train tour passes through some beautifully recreated prototype scenes, the
map-filled explanation for the "altered history" of the line was clear, the
videocam showing of mushroom benchwork cross-section with operators on each
side at different levels was the clearest explanation of mushroom's benefits
imaginable, and Joe's slow-paced, clear voice was easy to follow. Even the
latchbolt switchthrow clinic wasn't bad--very intuitive and similar to a
real throw. (Next time, start those screws in the l-girder spring mount
BEFORE crawling under the layout to drill and screw?) Anyway, I look
westward to the next four videos!

Chris Bond (Did I mention that there is NO annoying banjo music?)

[jfugate]

Got this in my personal email today, so I thought I would share it ...
=====================================================
Hey Joe-

I got mine today. I've only made it part way through the disk, just past
Roseville on running the train. Awesome. I'm really enjoying it. Some of
the scenes are really awesome. I would like to see some more of the
connecting stuff to however, and maybe a view where we get a better view of
the layout as we might see down the aisle, (That is when we aren't focused
ont he trains) just to kinda piece the scenes together. And the switch
machines - wow, I really like the door latches. Of course, I also liked the
article. Really really cool. I hope to get to finish it tomorrow night. I
just ran out of time tonight.

Great work,

Cameron Turner
Los Alamos, NM

[jjbmish]

I still haven't recieved my dvd yet, but I'm planning on watching it the first evening that I get it. I'm really looking forward to getting it, and I'll let you know right away what I think of it.

John

[jfugate]

Paul:

Get your video yet? Would like to hear from someone who has gotten a copy what they think, good, bad, or indifferent.

Most of the DVDs have shipped at this point. The VHS tapes are still at the duplicators and myMemoirs is rendering the PAL version for the overseas orders now.

About the concept of the video series ...

The basic idea is to do what the famous V&O series did in the late 1970s ... to delve into enough detail on a single layout that you learn many of the concepts and approaches you would learn just as if you did your own large layout. Learning by example, as it were.

On the first volume, for example, we show you the layout just as if you came over for a tour. That means you get to see way more of the layout than you would get in a typical Allen Keller video. I show the layout scenicked areas, unscenicked areas, under the benchwork, and so on. Our goal is for you to feel like you actually came over for a visit to the Siskiyou Line.



The series will do way more than just show you some "layout beauty shots" or just give you a couple of modeling tips -- which is the format used by Allen Keller in his videos.

While Keller's concept is a good one if you've only got 60 minutes, we've got 350 - 400 minutes spread across 5 videos. We'll be diving into many important topics around doing a large operating model RR, and do it in quite a bit of depth ... more than you are going to get in the typical magazine article or video.

If you feel like you have helped design, construct, scenic, and operate the Siskiyou Line when you are done watching the series, then we will have accomplished our goal. Armed with what you learn from that "experience" hopefully, your own modeling efforts will be more successful.