Well, that might be a bit harsh. I am still a beginner, so I am still enjoying it. Not all of it is interesting to me, but enough that I keep getting them. I am finding plenty of ideas in them and as a "visual learner", I find that I can understand how to do something better by watching it, then doing it, than just reading something in a book or on the forums. So I will keep getting them for a while.
BTW, I only have gotten Volumes 1-7, plus the special on "Big Power".
FT
CJBeard wrote:I have now got the first nine issues of this series and Iam becoming bored. Does anyone think there is any reason to continue with this beginners series. Does anyone think the series will get better? $27.00 every other month buys a loco pretty quick.
Good question. While I enjoy the visual presentation, I am on the fence as to whether it's worth the price. I know there's a production cost that has to be amortized over a small run, so I doubt MR can lower the price. But it is costing me about 8 times as much per dvd as one issue of MR (at the subscription rate). Not sure how long I will continue with it.
Enjoy
Paul
As a professional camera operator/editor I can NOT stand watching them! The foundation of information is great and the idea is good but the production is.....well.....lack luster. They need better lighting, better audio, better shots and editing.
I would actually buy them if they were better produced.
EspeeEngineer wrote: As a professional camera operator/editor I can NOT stand watching them! The foundation of information is great and the idea is good but the production is.....well.....lack luster. They need better lighting, better audio, better shots and editing. I would actually buy them if they were better produced.
I do agree to a point. I am not a pro but I have noticed a few oportunities. The piece on airbrushing the track and ballast could have been better. The airbrush was held oposite the camera so I could barely make out the effect.
I like the series primarily for the layout tours although brief I enjoy. Occasionally there will be a helpfull tidbit but I do hope they become more detailed and advanced. Leaving out a few key points could cause major frustration.
John
I enjoyed the one on Horseshoe Curve--since I've been there, and around NS's shops as well. It could have used a bit more PRR/PC content, instead of just focusing on Conrail. However, I thought it was pretty good anyway :-)
I liked the first demo that they sent--"liked" not loved, and though I'm a beginner, and I'm sure I could definitely have learned some things from some of the other videos, I just didn't feel like the price was worth it. I do like the idea of having visual "how to . . ." sessions, but I feel like I can get enough hands on experience at my club--might feel more inclined to have bought the series if I didn't belong to one.
Jim
I have them all, I will probably continue to get them. I have a couple of young, novice friends who get alot out of them. If for no other reason the $13.50 per month is worth it to me as it helps to keep these younger people interested in the hobby. Anything that is good for the hobby and getting/keeping youngsters in the hobby is good by me.
Look at what NMRA has done for the hobby, and continues to do. They are spear-heading an effort to mount a legal Patent battle in the DCC arena. I sure hope they win, or where is DCC heading? They are trying to get the funds from all the DCC manufactures as they can not go this alone. Have you priced a good Patent Lawyer lately? I've been a NMRA member since 1974 because of what they do for the hobby.
In any case what is good for the hobby is good for me, even if it is not the NYC in Dayton Ohio in 1967. I can still appreciate good work. If it is not a good value for you don't buy them. Let The market decide the viabillity just like every other product.
Dayton and Mad River RR
P.S. I like the coins also, and I am disappointed when I don't get one.
sfrr wrote:Don't complain to us.....we don't care about your feelings for the things "we" love, you don't like it then stop paying for it and spen your money on somehting else...
medic_149 wrote:ANybody know how to get the series. I have checked the kalmbach web site and there is no series for purchase. any info would be appreciated as I would like a few of the dvd's
Originally, I think they sent an introductory disc to all their subscribers. Maybe they still do that when you start a subscription. Try emailing them and asking.
I've sent the last two back, but that doesn't mean that they might not have valuable applications for others. I'm pretty specialized (steam/brass/DC) but I've found a lot of things on most of the DVD's that I think I can use, so I'm keeping them for reference.
But I think the series is meant to appeal to a broad spectrum of the hobby, not just what I'm interested in, so I can't judge them just by how they appeal to ME.
If the entire DVD isn't worth it in your opinion, send it back. I'm sure that there will be others that will have valuable hints on it that will make you want to keep it. Just watch them, be open and see what you'd like to keep.
None of them are going to please everyone 100%, we're too individual as modelers to really expect that.
For myself, I've enjoyed enough parts of most of them to keep most of them.
Tom
Tom View my layout photos! http://s299.photobucket.com/albums/mm310/TWhite-014/Rio%20Grande%20Yuba%20River%20Sub One can NEVER have too many Articulateds!
I have recieved some of the series that were pre returned and I returned a few duplicates that kept arriving. My situation was a little unique was I recieved a few of the series when they released it way back when... late 2006 I think and I had them stop issuing for a few months and then contacted them asking if they could go ahead and send me the rest of the series.
From my perspective they did good.
Will I get more in the future? It depends on the DVD and it's contents, I have learned to be very selective in what to keep and what to return. I tend to favor Steam related items and operations of layouts in detail such as 2 and 4 cycle waybills.
Remember, if you choose to keep the DVD you might be billed for it at whatever the cost was for it. You only have like 10 days to decide.
mopman and cwclark,
30 years each as model railroaders? Maybe the two of you should be out there making dvd's. Kalmbach's efforts are purely a business enterprise (that's not a slight, Kalmbach is a business whose purpose is to make money; how else could they pay their employees). From your posts you sound like you really care about other model railroaders needs and with your experience you could certainly be a great help to beginners and experienced model railroaders alike.
We enjoy the variety of personal layouts. It is just another source of infomation.
Sue
Anything is possible if you do not know what you are talking about.
My LHS has 1 to 7 and I have watched them all and and learn somethings that I have used and want to use.
How many are there anyway? Where do I call or go to how to get them? I will check E-bay as well. LHS said there where only 7 made, I think he just did not want to keep forking out $27.00 per DVD. When I have them I watch them over and over at the end of run time.
Cuda Ken
I hate Rust
cudaken wrote: My LHS has 1 to 7 and I have watched them all and and learn somethings that I have used and want to use. How many are there anyway? Where do I call or go to how to get them? I will check E-bay as well. LHS said there where only 7 made, I think he just did not want to keep forking out $27.00 per DVD. When I have them I watch them over and over at the end of run time. Cuda Ken
If you have Roxio software, you should be able to duplicate the DVD's for your own use. My own DVD's are backed up as allowed by owners of computer media onto the hard disk.
Heck, Im in the process of converting the old obselete VCR tapes onto DVD.