Vail and Southwestern RR wrote:Dang it! I wasn't clear. I sent back Big Power, and have gotten at least a half dozen since. I just returned my second, waiting to see what happens.
Dang it! I wasn't clear. I sent back Big Power, and have gotten at least a half dozen since. I just returned my second, waiting to see what happens.
You were clear. But so were some others who said that they sent one back and have been unable to get them to send any others. Apparently, Kalmbach doesn't have any kind of policy on how they manage these subscriptions. That is too bad.
I said that I haven't sent any back because I don't want to get left out of any future volumes. I think it would be nice if Kalmbach would have a clear policy on this. I would also like to see the option to buy any individual DVDs based on a list of the contents.
FT
ft-fan wrote: Vail and Southwestern RR wrote: Dang it! I wasn't clear. I sent back Big Power, and have gotten at least a half dozen since. I just returned my second, waiting to see what happens.You were clear. But so were some others who said that they sent one back and have been unable to get them to send any others. Apparently, Kalmbach doesn't have any kind of policy on how they manage these subscriptions. That is too bad. I said that I haven't sent any back because I don't want to get left out of any future volumes. I think it would be nice if Kalmbach would have a clear policy on this. I would also like to see the option to buy any individual DVDs based on a list of the contents.FT
Vail and Southwestern RR wrote: Dang it! I wasn't clear. I sent back Big Power, and have gotten at least a half dozen since. I just returned my second, waiting to see what happens.
It would be nice knowing what they were going to do. And being able to buy 'back issues' would be pretty handy, too!
Jeff But it's a dry heat!
I definately liked the last DPB video on DCC.... I am in the process of building a DCC around-the-room layout, and I have all of the DPB series plus 10 or 12 other videos. Of those, the ones I would certainly NOT part with is the last DPB edition on DCC, and the Joe Fugates series.... as those five DVD's are "keepers" in my film library!!! At present I am eagerly awaiting the last in the Fugate series.... (I really hope it's not the last one !)
Bob/Ten Wheeler
I never could find a menu on the first DVD. All it would do was start at the beginning and keep going. So that was the end of that. The Model Railways (from England) and Joe Fugate's DVD's work just fine. I would like to see operating sessions.
Ralph H
Amargosa Railroad
I would like it if they would advertise the videos on their website, with the contents of each video, and let you select those you'd like to have.Just about every other video producer-supplier does this. Perhaps offer them like buy two, get a discount on a third one, or buy three and get a nice discount on a 4th one, something like this.
Kalmbach DPB people are you listening?
TheK4Kid
Kalmbach must have a lot of the "Big Power" DVDs sitting on shelves - I too returned mine (Had it been "Big STEAM Power" I'd have kept it, but diesels aren't my thing.
I got the next DVD right on schedule, though. They're still coming, and I look forward to each one.
My wife and I both enjoy them. We usually watch them twice, because we tend to fall asleep in front of the tube. We have to run them twice to see most of them once!
I get a real kick out of watching the Kalmbach crew on camera. The phraseology used (like David Popp, who really likes the word take, as in "first you take and paint the..."), the on-camera stiffness of some of the guys, the way a couple of guys are talking to the camera but looking everywhere BUT at the camera (a la early Carl Sagan), and so on make for a very entertaining ninety minutes or so. And no, I'm not trying to be critical of their on-camera skills. To me, that adds to my interest in the DVDs, it doesn't detract.
Mark P.
Website: http://www.thecbandqinwyoming.comVideos: https://www.youtube.com/user/mabrunton
I have around 14 of the series. I guess I made the "mistake" of sending back two of them recently,and have been kicked off the list. The steel production video was interesting,though it could have been more comprehensive.
Early on, I sent back #4. Now I've sent back the DCC video, which is a total of 4 rejected DVD's. But if I really don't need them,why buy them? I would like to continue to receive the series,but I'm not going to beg them to send more. I have been a modeler for a combined total of 18 years, so I'm not a rookie, but I have really enjoyed the original Dream-Plan-Build # videos. But then they started sending other "series", which is ok with me, as long as there is not a penalty for not buying. I loved the Conrail / Horseshoe Curve title. But the recent Tehachapi DVD is just a shortened version of an existing title from Highball Productions, so I don't need it.
I have absolutely NO interest in layout operations, yet I bought the DPM operations, the one with David Popp. It was an excellent layout, and in my opinion,well produced.It is certainly fun to watch. As for the "stiff" appearance of some of the people who are demonstrating and explaining techniques, I would rather see someone do this who truly loves what they are doing,than some polished professional actor who couldn't care less about our wonderful hobby.
I know it is a business decision to stop sending videos to those who decline to purchase,just as I had to make a business decision to send some back.
Thats too bad it worked out this way. Why can't they offer them for sale directly from their website, thereby eliminating the postage costs incurred by unwanted titles being sent back. And back titles, as already suggested by another poster. If they gave a fair description of each feature on the DVD, I'd be willing to buy if it was something that interested me.
Man, I sure was looking forward to receiving the coal production video.
Cascade Green Forever ! GET RICH QUICK !! Count your Blessings.
I tried to type this post yesterday but the plant started going south on me so i'll try it again today. I would like to refer back to what is good and what could be improvements made to the Dream Plan Build videos.
First of all, i find that the DVD series is and can be a good learning tool. I don't read much because it makes me fall asleep after the first few paragraphs and I usually miss the finer points i'm reading about. I find that watching the DVD's grap my attention and i retain more information watching a DVD rather than reading about something.
I find that not all, but most of the information they discuss is just too general and the information vague. What I think they should do to improve on the DVD's is to go deeper into a lot of the subjects they potrait even if it means more time spent on a certain techique. For instance Andy S's (I still can't spell his last name) take on car cards, AAR listings, and how to use them was an excellent, informative, narraration which has no equal. But then on the other hand, the narraration on the last DVD about DCC was just too broad. They didn't show how to wire locomotive lights, set CV's, or install sound decoders, nor did they show how to set up a computer for train detection. These kinds of things are very important to know and a step-by-step procedure should have been included if they are going to discuss these kinds of things. "Refer to the manual" is not an answer if they are going to introduce anything that may be new to a lot of modelers. They should have gone ahead and shown us how they did it with each item they discussed.
I think that they are always in a hurry to get out the next DVD and don't take the time to get into the finer aspects of the modeling techniques they teach. If Kalmbach would take the time to go into more detail, especially with high tech items such as DCC or train detection the DVD series would become a bigger hit with us modelers.
In my opinion, they started out slow but I do believe in the future the DVD's can only improve with each new one that comes out. ...chuck
jfugate wrote: Or at least say in black and white very promiently somewhere: "If you return this DVD unpaid, that terminates your involvement in the DPB series. No future DPB titles will be available to you."
Or at least say in black and white very promiently somewhere: "If you return this DVD unpaid, that terminates your involvement in the DPB series. No future DPB titles will be available to you."
I have turned down 1 special project edition (DCC), and all the real rails editions. I still get the DVD's on a regular basis!
That's about 10 DVD's I've purchased from them. And all the one's I kept, I find some useful information on. Sometimes seeing it done on live video is so much more informative.
Don - Specializing in layout DC->DCC conversions
Modeling C&O transition era and steel industries There's Nothing Like Big Steam!
In the mail today came a copy of Railroads and Coal DVD.
Sorry for my impatience !
I love the new slim DVD case it came in. Takes up so little space.
fievel wrote:Hey Brunton ! I hope you don't think I was being critical of your post concerning the "stiffness" of the Kalmbach people. I didn't see your post until I had posted mine. But it sure does look like I was making a smart aleck retort to yours. Sorry!
DigitalGriffin wrote: jfugate wrote: Or at least say in black and white very promiently somewhere: "If you return this DVD unpaid, that terminates your involvement in the DPB series. No future DPB titles will be available to you."I have turned down 1 special project edition (DCC), and all the real rails editions. I still get the DVD's on a regular basis!That's about 10 DVD's I've purchased from them. And all the one's I kept, I find some useful information on. Sometimes seeing it done on live video is so much more informative.
So it sounds like your mileage may vary ... maybe MR will be reading this thread and can help those who want to "get back in" to the DPB series.
Joe Fugate Modeling the 1980s SP Siskiyou Line in southern Oregon
Railroadrunner wrote:You know I sometimes find it difficult to fall asleep at night. It's awful when I just lie in bed with my mind racing. I believe I may have made a mistake by throwing my DPB videos out because all I have to do is put that on while lying in bed and I would be asleep in minutes. Those videos are like Ambien (sleep med) and can put any grown man fast asleep.
Cute, but not very helpful.
Why do you find the DPB videos so uninteresting? Are the production values poor? The topics not interesting? The pacing too slow? The "talent" presence not captivating? What?
Have fun with your trains
I can relate to those who fall asleep watching hobby videos. I don't have any of the DPB videos, but many with layout tours and prototype subjects. I like the subjects, and want to view them, but too often I drop off to sleep while trying to watch them! A good buddy of mine said the same happens to him too.
I think it's probably because I rarely watch the TV right next to my computer/workbench by itself. I'm usually doing surfing on the computer, working on a model or reading at the same time (multitasking?). I think its devoting all of my energies on watching the hobby videos. I never have the inclination to drop off to sleep when my wife and I watch dramatic video movies together on the upstairs TV.
One of those mysteries I guess!
Back to our regularly scheduled rant!
Bob Boudreau
CANADA
Visit my model railroad photography website: http://sites.google.com/site/railphotog/
Railphotog wrote: I can relate to those who fall asleep watching hobby videos. I don't have any of the DPB videos, but many with layout tours and prototype subjects. I like the subjects, and want to view them, but too often I drop off to sleep while trying to watch them! A good buddy of mine said the same happens to him too.I think it's probably because I rarely watch the TV right next to my computer/workbench by itself. I'm usually doing surfing on the computer, working on a model or reading at the same time (multitasking?). I think its devoting all of my energies on watching the hobby videos. I never have the inclination to drop off to sleep when my wife and I watch dramatic video movies together on the upstairs TV.One of those mysteries I guess!Back to our regularly scheduled rant!
Ok I have to ask, what is your FAVORITE "dramatic video movie" do you enjoy the most when your with wifee??
Schoolhouse Rock Trains?
Here is a famous example Preamble:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q_TXJRZ4CFc
Well instead of being negative, why don't we include suggestions of things we would like to see in future series.
For example:
1. How to wire a tortoise into DCC decoders
2. Longer review videos of available products. Maybe include tips on how to modify them or maintain them (how to remove shell, lube, replace lights etc...). Point out detail features and note for which perioid they are appropriate. Note their common use (passenger, yard goat, etc...) (ie: Mars lights would be on later edition F7 units)
3. How to kitbash various locomotives into other varieties. For example turn a VC16 tender into a VC12.
4. How to build trestle bridges from scratch.
5. Basic electronics like keep alive circuits for lights in cars. (On DCC and DC)
6. Animation- For example how to turn a walthers coal mine into a working coal dump.
7. How to build a helix
8. Histories of various locomotives like Y3 class, or Niagra, or C&O's H-8, or T-1, or the Pennsy K-4. I still can't tell the difference between a RS-1 and RS-3. (I stink at recognizing anything that isn't steam for that matter.) So a primer on various engine types would be nice.
These are just a few I wouldn't mind seeing....
Railroadrunner wrote: Ok I have to ask, what is your FAVORITE "dramatic video movie" do you enjoy the most when your with wifee??
Whatever is available for rental at the time - I'm talking about recent movie releases here. Among recent favorites of mine were "Transformers" (great effects!) and "Next" with Nicholas Cage.
Railroadrunner wrote:Ok you ever watch this Tv show on Spike TV on Saturday mornings where they spend an hour showing you how they hook up a truck or car? That is cool and interesting to watch because of the way it is presented and the two host. The DPB videos are so WEAK in deliverance and not captivating with some stiff guy showing you a procedure or something. It is in a quiet area that has a feeling of a jail cell (no I have never been in jail but I have watched MSNC Lock Up) The detail of the work not good. I am not lying about being boring. Yea I was making a joke before but it is to me really boring. maybe they should use a loud black guy to present the videos with 70's Motown music in the backround. Or maybe Peter from Family Guy that would make it great! LOL
Brunton wrote: Railroadrunner wrote:Ok you ever watch this Tv show on Spike TV on Saturday mornings where they spend an hour showing you how they hook up a truck or car? That is cool and interesting to watch because of the way it is presented and the two host. The DPB videos are so WEAK in deliverance and not captivating with some stiff guy showing you a procedure or something. It is in a quiet area that has a feeling of a jail cell (no I have never been in jail but I have watched MSNC Lock Up) The detail of the work not good. I am not lying about being boring. Yea I was making a joke before but it is to me really boring. maybe they should use a loud black guy to present the videos with 70's Motown music in the backround. Or maybe Peter from Family Guy that would make it great! LOL You're certainly entitled to your opinion, but fortunately, not all of us need 2X4s slamming us in the side of the head, or an obnoxious, overbearing jerk of a host who insults everyone in sight, to find something interesting. I for one appreciate the lack of attention-deficit-inspired gimmicks designed to hold the focus of the sub-average intelligence male that is the target audience of Spike TV (I'm also entitled to MY opinion ), because it allows me to concentrate on what the presenters are actually presenting. And I must admit I'm curious - what does the race of the host has to do with whether or not his/her presentation is interesting?
Curiosity killed the man. Anyways, The race of the host has as much importance as the option of the fat white guy named Peter throwing insults to everyone in sight. What a question. I used TWO funny examples of different host to use and you stick to the race one? Get over it, it was a joke. Why didnt you ask me what difference in cartoon characters have to do with what makes the video interesting or not?
I kept the first one because I felt the price was acceptable relative to the material it contained. I sent back the next two because I didn't think they were worth $25 each, and I was removed from the mailing list. So it goes..
First, I'm a noobi and I'm an information sponge. I'm constantly searching for material that will improve my construction skills. If I want to observe visits to model railroad empires accompanied by dry interviews, and that I will never be able to build in this lifetime, there are numerous ones to be had already available. Same goes with videos of real trains going around curves, up grades, and over bridges. And, I don't care how tank cars are manufactured. By #3, I was totally turned off with the series. I wanted articles and segments that would give me the information and skills I needed to make my layout the best I can make it. My first impression after subscribing to MRR for 4-5 years, downloading several of their on-line products, and finally reviewing three of their DVD's is that they make a lot of money recycling articles between magazine issues, selling PDF downloads and using them as fillers on DVD's. How many ways can material be marketed before it "runs out of steam"? Pun intended..Were some the segments informative and helpful? Absolutely.. Were some of them useless to someone wanting to build a model railroad? Yes on that one also.. If Kalmbach decides to do another series, I hope it will be comprised of articles pertaining to projects, how-to's, how not too's, and in general information that is actually useful to a modeler. I'm willing to look at it, but if it's the same type of information, presented in the same format those will be going back also. How about something besides an article that appeared years ago that the editors think no one will remember...
For what it's worth, Kalmbach isn't the only guilty one. I purchased a Woodland Scenics DVD at a train show that turned out to be little more than a $25 video promotion of all their products. I've learned more from friends than I have from any of these videos.. You can buy a pretty nice kit for $25..
jfugate wrote: Railroadrunner wrote:You know I sometimes find it difficult to fall asleep at night. It's awful when I just lie in bed with my mind racing. I believe I may have made a mistake by throwing my DPB videos out because all I have to do is put that on while lying in bed and I would be asleep in minutes. Those videos are like Ambien (sleep med) and can put any grown man fast asleep.Cute, but not very helpful.Why do you find the DPB videos so uninteresting? Are the production values poor? The topics not interesting? The pacing too slow? The "talent" presence not captivating? What?
Joe, I think most of what you pointed out is the issue for many viewers. I personally most enjoyed the video on operating David Pops (I think) Nagatuck Valley. It was a bit fast paced yet he was thorough, it seemed to me. I watch it most often than any of the others.
John
jfugate wrote: Sounds like an all or nothing approach to sending out the videos ... Once you turn one down, you appear to be considered a liability to the program, so you get axed ... this approach may "lower costs" in the short term, at the expense of longer term customer good will. The fact you can't get back in later feels like you're not that important to them as a customer, once you become "tainted" for the purposes of this program. If true, it doesn't exactly give you a warm fuzzy ... I wonder if Kalmbach is aware of how the DPB program is being perceived by modelers once they get a disk they send back? It appears that this "one strike and you're out" philosophy leaves a bad taste in people's mouths. It would be nice if that's what they're doing that they said so up front. One would like to think that if they were aware of the frustration this causes, they might change it. I'd like to think so ...Or at least say in black and white very promiently somewhere: "If you return this DVD unpaid, that terminates your involvement in the DPB series. No future DPB titles will be available to you."Maybe someone back there at Kalmbach will read this and decide to do something about it ... we can always hope!
Sounds like an all or nothing approach to sending out the videos ...
Once you turn one down, you appear to be considered a liability to the program, so you get axed ... this approach may "lower costs" in the short term, at the expense of longer term customer good will. The fact you can't get back in later feels like you're not that important to them as a customer, once you become "tainted" for the purposes of this program. If true, it doesn't exactly give you a warm fuzzy ...
I wonder if Kalmbach is aware of how the DPB program is being perceived by modelers once they get a disk they send back? It appears that this "one strike and you're out" philosophy leaves a bad taste in people's mouths. It would be nice if that's what they're doing that they said so up front. One would like to think that if they were aware of the frustration this causes, they might change it. I'd like to think so ...
Maybe someone back there at Kalmbach will read this and decide to do something about it ... we can always hope!
Here's what happened to me. Let me first say that I am not a Kalmbach basher, nor do I like to spend time on here complaining or reading a lot of complaints. However, I started receiving the DPB series from the beginning. I hot the first four, and I sent the fourth back, remembering that they were advertised as having no obligation to buy nor any minimum purchase (their words, not mine). I was cut off for returning one. I called to get back on, I got a really hard time from an operator about how they couldn't afford to continue sending them so someone who returned them. The said they would restart me with the one I sent back. They did...14 months later. I got one, bought it, but never received another one. I think they would probably do better if they just advertised each video on the website with its chapters listed and sold them by order. $25 every 6 weeks did get a bit pricy for me as well.
Ron
Owner and superintendant of the N scale Texas Colorado & Western Railway, a protolanced representaion of the BNSF from Fort Worth, TX through Wichita Falls TX and into Colorado.
Check out the TC&WRy on at https://www.facebook.com/TCWRy
Check out my MRR How-To YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/c/RonsTrainsNThings
Railroadrunner wrote:Curiosity killed the man. Anyways, The race of the host has as much importance as the option of the fat white guy named Peter throwing insults to everyone in sight. What a question. I used TWO funny examples of different host to use and you stick to the race one? Get over it, it was a joke. Why didnt you ask me what difference in cartoon characters have to do with what makes the video interesting or not?
I'm not trying to start an argument here or disparage you or anything, but if I'm not missing some key part of where you're coming from here (and I certainly hope I am), the implications of your posts are very disturbing.
Maybe we should just let this go.
n2mopac wrote: jfugate wrote: Sounds like an all or nothing approach to sending out the videos ... Once you turn one down, you appear to be considered a liability to the program, so you get axed ... this approach may "lower costs" in the short term, at the expense of longer term customer good will. The fact you can't get back in later feels like you're not that important to them as a customer, once you become "tainted" for the purposes of this program. If true, it doesn't exactly give you a warm fuzzy ... I wonder if Kalmbach is aware of how the DPB program is being perceived by modelers once they get a disk they send back? It appears that this "one strike and you're out" philosophy leaves a bad taste in people's mouths. It would be nice if that's what they're doing that they said so up front. One would like to think that if they were aware of the frustration this causes, they might change it. I'd like to think so ...Or at least say in black and white very promiently somewhere: "If you return this DVD unpaid, that terminates your involvement in the DPB series. No future DPB titles will be available to you."Maybe someone back there at Kalmbach will read this and decide to do something about it ... we can always hope! Here's what happened to me. Let me first say that I am not a Kalmbach basher, nor do I like to spend time on here complaining or reading a lot of complaints. However, I started receiving the DPB series from the beginning. I hot the first four, and I sent the fourth back, remembering that they were advertised as having no obligation to buy nor any minimum purchase (their words, not mine). I was cut off for returning one. I called to get back on, I got a really hard time from an operator about how they couldn't afford to continue sending them so someone who returned them. The said they would restart me with the one I sent back. They did...14 months later. I got one, bought it, but never received another one. I think they would probably do better if they just advertised each video on the website with its chapters listed and sold them by order. $25 every 6 weeks did get a bit pricy for me as well.Ron
Same exact thing happened to me esxcept I sent back video #5, which for me was "Big Power".And I never received another video, and I was not impressed with the way I was treated on the phone.Almost thought about cancelling my subscription to MR, but decided against it because I really do enjoy the magazine.Perhaps the people who produce and send out the DPB series videos, are a different crew than runs the MR magazine.My family has been in business for years, and even though a customer may be wrong, we always abided by the saying"A customer is always right" and always treat them this way. ( whether they are or not)Apparently Kalmbach and MR doesn't feel this way or adhere to this.I'd REALLY LIKE if someone from MR or Kalmbach would come on this thread and give their views on this issue.We all have opinions and feelings, and I'm willing to listen to theirs!
Is this fair enough guys?
Kalmbach and MR , we are waiting for you to speak, we will listen to your views.Here's your chance.Would you please come forward and explain your views and policies regarding the DPB series?
Thankyou