Yesterday in the mail I got another Dream, Plan, Build DVD titled: DCC From Start to Finish. It was ok but quite a bit on the generic side. (If you’ve ever read anything about DCC then you should know all the information that was in the video beforehand.) It featured mostly a digitrax super chief system (I presume because it is the most widely used system) so if you use any other system it didn’t have much down and dirty nitty gritty information about installing them that I would consider useful. Did any one else get and watch this DVD?
More like Another BORING Dream, Plan & Build DVD out. Im sorry but they are so boring. I happen to get three of them from a lot I bought. I litterally threw the DVDs away. They awere not worth keeping or sharing with anyone. Sad but true.
I sent mine back. I now have another. I made the mistake of adding up how much money I had in those DVDs and discovered that I could have bought a nice brass engine for the cost. They will have to be pretty good before I keep many more.
Here is what I wrote on another thread the day before I sent it back:
I got the DPB DCC DVD last week. I’ve watched it over the last few evenings, and I think I’ve decided to send it back. The things I was hoping would be interesting were too Digitrax centered. I understand that the block detection and signalling scheme used are loconet based, but that pretty much says the info is not relevent if you are not using Digitrax.
I also though that in several cases where there were opportunities to really explain something, it was glossed over. Installing a wired decoder made no mention of isolation of the motor, and was boiled down to soldering one wire. There was little of no discussion about lighting effects, which could apply to many decoders.
There were a couple things that really made me cringe, the most significant being referring to the track outputs as common and hot. That concept has caused so much confusion and misunderstanding about how DCC works that I was very disappointed to see it in this video.
On the whole it was a reasonable introduction, but in my opinion it ended up glossing over most of the things that would be useful to a beginner trying to choose a system. I thought the section on components was much too rushed, and yet took the time to show how to build a six wire phone cable. And while I understand why, it turned out being too much of a Digitrax advertisement for me.
I think that a follow up might be appropriate, with a lot more actual how to. This one was, in my opinion, claimed to be how to, but almost always stopped short of showing how to do anything.
By the way, I don’t mean at all to criticize the effort, or the work of the host. I just don’t think the concept really worked, in the end.
An example of one that worked, for me, was David Popp’s Operations DVD. I though it did actually show how to operate a model railroad.
They’re still making those?
What a waste of resources.
I most certainly don’t think so!
Although I havent’ seen any in a while now, I actually found the first couple in the series pretty helpful and inciteful. Yes, perhaps a bit dry on delivery. But there were portions that are helpful for both the newbie just starting out, as well as the veteran who’s stuck on a particular aspect of modeling and needs some tips in order to move on.
Tom
I also don’t agree!
The whole idea of video how-to’s I believe is critical to the future of the hobby, especially if you are going to interest the next generation.
Being a video producer myself, I can see areas in Kalmbach’s DPB video production that IMO could be improved, but hey – they have to start somewhere. Over time, they will only get better.
I own the entire series, if for no other reason than to keep up on what MR’s doing in this arena. I personally find the content runs from moderately interesting to a few very interesting chapters. But I have yet to find anything that I would call a total waste.
If you’re one of those who thinks this whole thing is a waste, I’d like to know why you think that?
Is it the production values are too poor, the topics aren’t of interest, the content is poorly scripted, or the pricing is too high for what you get?
What WOULD interest you in the way of how-to DVDs?
They’ve been doing it for several years now and I see far more complaints than compliments on this board.
How long will it take for them to “get better”?
Midnight:
You ought to know the complainers always outnumber the positive posters on any forum, and it’s considered “cool” by our culture to be someone with a “critical opinion”. Plus speaking in generalities is always easy: “it’s awful, a waste, …” yada yada yada".
Let’s talk specifics. If the DPB series is so “bad”, what’s wrong with it? Do the DVDs cost too much for what you get? Are the topics not interesting? Are they too dry and basic? Are the video production values poor? What?
It’s always easy to tear down the effort of others – the real heart of the matter is can you describe what YOU would do that would be better if you had the power to make it happen?
MR’s reading this, so here’s your chance to maybe get your wish!
Hi Joe,
I have the first few DPB dvd’s but sent one back, and couldn’t get them to send me anymore. I called( phone) and I wrote, but to no avail, so I gave up on them. However I have purchased a couple of your PDF HOW -TO videos through MR, and found them very good and I learned what I was looking for. Laying flex track was very educational for me. Maybe you are not interested, but perhaps MR DPB production people should use you as a consultant.
Perhaps that would help them to improve their videos.
I feel your knowledge and experience would be of a great help to them.In my opinion, you have an overall grasp of the whole scene in MRRing. I know you have a career, and are located far from Kalmbachs studios etc, but you might give it some consideration.
Not onl
I appreciate the kudos, Ed, but I’d like to know specifically what the Dream Plan Build DVD series is doing right and wrong … and keep this thread on MR’s video work, since this is their forum.
I have some thoughts, but then I’m probably biased. I think we all could benefit from some honest and specific critique of the series and how it could be improved. Just posting vague bellyaching isn’t helping anyone.
They have only been doing them for 2 years now and they have been getting better. I was really suprised (even if it was as generic as it was) that they went into such detail with the digitrax system on their latest DVD. I’m going on my 30th year in the hobby and can truly say that I have still learned a thing or two from the DVD’s as a whole. I plan on collecting them all.
For one thing, they can be shown on home layout tours that just might interest others that are hobby fence sitters just enough to trigger an interest causing them to dive into the hobby with both hands and feet once they see how easy a technique can be done on any of those videos. They’re also great for referencing old techniques for those of us that forget the finer points of any given modeling technique after a good night’s sleep. I say: Keep them comming. I’m a hearing type of learner and they grap my interest and my attention better than just visually reading about a modeling technique in a book or magazine.
Joe,
What I personally feel would be a way to improve is to focus less on layout tours that are far beyond the capablities or finances of many of us.
Start by doing more “HOW-TO-VIDEOS” using not only Digitrax equipment, but some of the other leading brands.Explan a sunbject such as building a “reversing loop” in DCC, and do it showing several solutions, not just one.
Show a “HOW-TO” on correcting turnout problems with let’s say Atlas turnouts, and any others that might have problems.
Have a HOW-TO on building your own turnouts , using different manufacturers turn out kits.
Have some more HOW-TO on installing DCC decoders and sound decoders in various brands of locos , both diesel and steam.
Have HOW TO on picking a possiblity of different layout schmes on a 4x8 or a combination of larger layouts.
I see these problems addressed again and again here on the forum.How many times do we see this question?
Which DCC system is the best?
This would maake another great video, compare the pros and cons of various DCC systems.
Reading about is one thing, but seeing is something altogether different.
Hope I made some sense with my suggestions.
Ed
Great response, Ed!
One caveat with doing DCC videos as compared to other how-to video topics – DCC content ages quickly. For example, if you go back 5 years in MR and read a DCC article, much of the content is now obsolete.
One very good point you make Ed is for MR to look at the common questions that appear on this forum and to make videos that address those questions! That’s one of those forehead slappers … now how obvious is that? [swg]
I’ll go ahead and put in my 2 cents worth. It may or may not be worth that much.
I have found that most of the DPB DVDs have some good information, especially the normal volumes with tips on different aspects of modeling. There are usually 2 or 3 chapters in any given volume that look very worthwhile and I expect to use them as reference when I get to that point.
I think the project videos are outstanding. The operations on David Popp’s layout is the best DVD of all of them. It gave me a good idea of how to run an operating session, something that I didn’t get by reading Tony Koester’s books (I did think those books were good, but seeing it in action helped me a ton.) The DCC video is also good. Even though it is somewhat biased towards Digitrax, I think there is some good information - the nitty-gritty may be different, but the concepts are presented fairly, I thought.
I also have four (4) Real Rails Editions, one (1) Industries In Action and one (1) Rails Across America edition. I did not find these to be as good. They are more prototypically oriented, and if that is not something that you are interested in, then the videos are really not that helpful. I don’t expect to have a steel mill on my layout, for example, so that whole video, while interesting, doesn’t help me at all on my layout. Nor do I play to model the Tehachapi Loop, so, while the video has some railfan interest, it is not one I would get if I saw it in a video store, as it has no useful information for me.
The other day I got the newest DVD, a Great American Layouts Edition. It is okay, but I thought this is the least important video I have. It is basically a tour of a very nice layout, with a few minutes of how-to on a couple of aspects of how this layout was made. There is really no discussion of planning, how he came up with the track plan, how he decided what to leave off the railroad, or how the layout was built (benchwork, electrical,etc.). I thought this was Kalmbach’s version of All
I find this to be a useful thread about a useful product that should address the needs of only some of the critics here. It is probably those who have moved somewhat further into the hobby, and who have refined their tastes and experience to the point where much of the intended purpose and content of these DVD’s is largely irrelevant to them that offer most of the criticism. The DVD’s are not intended for the more mature modeller, they are a slick and quick introduction to the hobby for those who have little experience and know-how.
I would think that Joe’s fine product is intended for a more mature audience…so to speak. And Joe is right; electronic products age every year, just like cars do. While it constitutes a substantial effort to produce any DVD, if the subject matter is on a moving platform, any single edition will quickly be dated. So, let that dating be taken in stride by more dedicated, current, and interested hobbiests who want to know, and let the DPB product entice the would-be modellers, our new blood, to look further into the subject for themselves.
It has to be a blend of marketing and information, not just a how-to product, as I see it.
[quote user=“ft-fan”]
I’ll go ahead and put in my 2 cents worth. It may or may not be worth that much.
I have found that most of the DPB DVDs have some good information, especially the normal volumes with tips on different aspects of modeling. There are usually 2 or 3 chapters in any given volume that look very worthwhile and I expect to use them as reference when I get to that point.
I think the project videos are outstanding. The operations on David Popp’s layout is the best DVD of all of them. It gave me a good idea of how to run an operating session, something that I didn’t get by reading Tony Koester’s books (I did think those books were good, but seeing it in action helped me a ton.) The DCC video is also good. Even though it is somewhat biased towards Digitrax, I think there is some good information - the nitty-gritty may be different, but the concepts are presented fairly, I thought.
I also have four (4) Real Rails Editions, one (1) Industries In Action and one (1) Rails Across America edition. I did not find these to be as good. They are more prototypically oriented, and if that is not something that you are interested in, then the videos are really not that helpful. I don’t expect to have a steel mill on my layout, for example, so that whole video, while interesting, doesn’t help me at all on my layout. Nor do I play to model the Tehachapi Loop, so, while the video has some railfan interest, it is not one I would get if I saw it in a video store, as it has no useful information for me.
The other day I got the newest DVD, a Great American Layouts Edition. It is okay, but I thought this is the least important video I have. It is basically a tour of a very nice layout, with a few minutes of how-to on a couple of aspects of how this layout was made. There is really no discussion of planning, how he came up with the track plan, how he decided what to leave off the railroad, or how the layout was built (benchwork, electrical,etc.). I thought this was Kalmbac
It just proves that FT is a generous man with his money. [:D]
Tom
Im not sure but didnt this come up sometime ago in another thread?
I enjoyed that DVD but found it to be a bit dry. Then we met the man who narrated that little peice.
Usually a bit more meat and taters in those DVDs without trying to wrap everything up neatly at the end of the hour or whatever limit of the DVD would be nice.
I do a little bit of rough video and can only imagine the shooting that needs doing for everything that does make it onto one of those DVDs.
I havent seen a DPB for a time. Maybe there is one coming I dunno. We will find out when and if it does arrive. I like surprises in the mail.