I was wondering if this DVD series has ended? I haven’t seen a new one since June.
I admit I have returned a couple of these over the last year or so as they just weren’t worth it, but I have bought over 15 of these suckers and that’s a tidy purchase. So I hope they haven’t just cancelled me because of the returns. That would really tick me off.
Has anyone received any beyond #15 or the Special Edition Painting Backdrops?
Thanks. Ken
My experience with the series pretty much mirrors yours, and I was wondering the same thing. The last one I purchased was Volume 12 and, likewise, haven’t seen anything in the mailbox since early summer.
The series is still alive and well. I have received Volume 14, followed by :
Great American Layouts: Paul Dolkos’ B&M NH Division
Real Rails Edition: Amazing Alcos
Rails Across America: UP Over Sherman Hill
Don Z.
received an actual DPB on models just last week.
contains DCC trouble shooting, wood structures, and weathering steam, …
I haven’t gotten my 2nd one yet.
I got #11 in August, nothing since.
I just received volume 11 last week. It’s still a good series althought some of the other stuff that comes with it isn’t that great. Now if only they would do something about railroad history showing how they grew into the systems they are today.
Irv
I’d like to see that, and another one on short lines.
I returned several that held no interest for me and was evidently dropped from the list–this was well over a year ago.
Oh well-----[:P]
Tom
I have been getting them once a month. The last one I recieved was the CP over Kicking Horse Pass. Most of them are the “Rails Across America” in the DPB series and very few are the Dream, Plan, Build, How -to DVD’s. I’ve kept them all and that’s why i’m getting them regularly. They usually show up a week or two after the newest issue of MRR magazine hits my mailbox. There is a phone number to call on the invoice if you want to continue to recieve them…chuck
It would be nice if they didn’t require you call them if you want to continue them. It would also be nice if they gave you an idea about coming attractions.
I’ve noticed that most of them say something about them being made in association with the local (to Kalmbach) public TV station so that may have more bearing on the availability of these videos than anything Kalmbach does.
I guess it’s something like the “Adventures in Scale Modeling” series that was sponsored by Testors and aired on many public TV stations years ago.
Irv
I kept a few really good ones. Sold the rest. (At a loss, got rid of them) And canceled it sometime earlier this year. My issue with them is how they send you one every three months for a few dollars. Then one a month for a few more dollars then 3 a month for much dollars and increasing. Enough.
The entire experience for me was a positive one overall. Now the People have rejoiced and we are moving on.
#12 arrived today![:)]
I returned the first one of these which they sent me way back when Custer was a plebe and I haven’t got another one since.
After receiving four of therm, I sent one back, and haven’t got another since.
I haven’t really looked at Kalmbachs website lately.
Do they offer them by single volumes on their website, so you can buy those you want?
TheK4Kid
I was watching #12 last night. In the garden railway in Florida segment there was this one shot where a bug was between the rails and he ducked just in time for a train to pass, then he popped up again. It couldn’t have been staged any better!
I also find Tony Koester’s segments particularly enjoyable. I like the way he explains things, and he slips in some pretty subtle humor. This DVD included a demonstration on Homabed. After watching Tony working with it, I think I’ll pass on using it. Still, the demonstration was good.
The last one I watched had Tony making a turnout from scratch. He makes it look so easy and it also seems to take no time at all. But that’s for him. I am sure manyothers would find it to be a chore that would take hours. [swg]
He also showed the FastTrax jigs which is kind of expensive unless you are going to make a dozen of the same size or more. Obviously its something for club to ibvest in unless you are independently wealthy in which case you could probably hire a whole crew to build you a layout.
Irv
I have all but the one on DCC (still an analog type of person) and haven’t really counted. Early ones seemed to be the Tracks Ahead series that ran on PBS featuring a nice mix of modeling/layouts/prototype information with some other things thrown in. The UP over Sherman Hill DVD was actually a Highball Production, something I noticed at the end, and I suspect there may be other previously sold under another label productions in there. I’ve been paying $24.90 including shipping for them since day one, a savings of $5 over the price from Highball before they add shipping. As a Euro-ferroequinologist who knows next to nothing about US prototype railroading I find them truly enjoyable. I can even keep up with a trackside conversation among other ferroequinologists.
While the DVD every month or so sometimes feels tired, I have no regrets. The modeling segments are also very helpful and downright agnostic when you get down to it. Dirt is dirt, detailing is detailing, scenery is scenery. The nuances may be slightly different, for example German architecture has different details, but the path to getting building a model is the same.
I like them. Then again I was raised on many a Time-Life series of books…
Peter
I’d only heard about the FastTrax jigs until I saw Tony’s demonstration. That point filing jig would have been worth whatever it cost back when I was hand laying my N scale layout (30+ years ago). Yes, Tony makes it look easy and video editing makes it seem quick, but it would be easier for a novice to build a turnout having seen how he does it. I like the way Tony explains things in simple terms. I think many inexperienced tracklayers might come away from the DVD feeling that they could build a turnout, too.
I sent them an e-mail and I guess I was not on the list. But that’s no biggie, moved to much. I got my mags and that helped pass the time. Not cool to watch vids at work, but mags are ok… I tried to look for them on the web site, no luck… anyone else find them?
In any case. Getting DVD’s for $25 each month is most likely going the way of brass rail, what with all the new formats comming… if ya know what I mean.
And I hate seeing the same video repackaged over and over.