Just got a video series from MR in the mail today, looks like a record club type idea, they send the video. you preview and if you like send the $$, you don’t you just return it.
Anyone else getting these?
Not to bad, I enjoyed the interviews with some of the layout owners, the how-to’s are okay, though would like some more in-depth to them, think I will keep this one.
Haven’t seen it yet. How much is it if you decide to keep it?
Be nice to know more about this “series”, but since it sounds like a test market thing, we may not hear much from official channels.
And we can speculate all we want, there’s nothing to stop us from doing that, aye? [;)]
I got one today in the mail, $9.00 to keep. Only watched the segment on George Sellio’s layout. It’s only about 5 minutes long, but well shot. The DVD also contains PDF files of past articles from MR. Can’t think of the series now. Looks like a pretty good idea, depending on the frequency, I’d keep dropping the 9 bucks. Not sure where they got the mailing list for this. A few years ago they did a 911 readdressing in our area and my house number went from 172 to 170. I refused to change my address with all my subscriptions, bills, etc…to include all my Kalmbach titles. Well this DVD came addressed as 170 blah blah RD. So I don’t think it’s being sent to current subscribers.
Hmm, interesting insight there, cs.
From a business perspective, if it’s going out to prior subscribers, then any income from it is gravy. Otherwise, it’s a kind of ad campaign to court previous subscribers.
Clever. [swg]
I am probaly considered a new subscriber as I subscribed back in Spet 04, though many years ago I uded to be a subscriber, but a completely different address.
I see these as a video magizine almost.
Kind of unusual that they would just send a DVD without being specifically asked. Depending on where you live there usually is no obligation to purchase anything that shows up in your mail out of the blue. Most likely if you don’t pay for the first, you won’t get the second [:D]
I just got my Dream Plan Build DVD yesterday and watched it last night.
In theory since it is unsolicited it is a gift and you can keep it without paying
If you pay you get on the mailing list for future releases which you get “on approval” – stamp collectors know what that involves. If you return it (postage is paid for you) they will send it to someone else. Unfortunately I ruined the box when opening it so I guess I will keep it. Question now is whether I pay to get on the mailing list
By the way you also get a collectable medallion with each DVD. Mine was of EMD’s FT
The DVD is in magazine format, meaning a large number of stories/articles. on using airbrushes, cardboard strip scenery, painting backdrops, a couple of layout tours, Northlandz, some prototype stuff (RPO cars in action and a UP yard), and some video extras including the world’s greatest hobby layout constuction featuring Milwaukee’s own *** Cecil.
TRue the stories are short but I bet if you printed them out it would come out to about the same amount of text as the average MR article.
There is a decided Milwaukee/Kalmbach focus – a couple of (excellent) local layouts are featured, and Jeff Wilson Tom Lund and Jim Kelly make appearances in how to segments.
The format is a lot like PBS’s “Tracks Ahead” except it is more technical at times. Some of the footage may in fact be from tracks ahead. The producers are the same – Milwaukee’s Channel 10/36 staff. Same narrator (fortunately – for some reason the Pentrex narrator’s voice is sooooo soothing that I fall asleep. I did not fall asleep during Dream Plan Build even though I had a couple of gin and tonics with dinner 
My overall impression is that this is finally close to something Russ Larson talked about years ago – that actually showing and talking can effecitvely take the place of the written word for some things like showing how to airbrush and showing how to make scenery or paint backdrops.
Prior Kalmbach
Sounds fantastic!
I received mine yesterday. I haven’t had a chance to review it yet, but the idea behind it is very good. The question I have is: This first one is $9.00 and others will be at regular subscription price, but what is the regular subscription price…also $9.00 each?? They don’t say. [%-)]
REX
Just finished reviewing the DVD and I am pleased with what I saw. If the subscription is $9/dvd, then they have me.[:)]
I saw that also, no mention of the “subscription” price.
I enjoyed the DVD and thought it very well done with quite a range of topics. Some sections were pretty brief but others, like the RPO segment, were particularly interesting to me. I think further interest will depend a lot on future content as well as price as others have mentioned. At $9, it’s a great bargain.
Charles
This might be a test market item, but I rather doubt it. The offer of more to come with the opportunity to purchase or return each DVD would indicate, to me at least, that this is a serious endeavor on the part of Kalmbach to broaden their appeal to the hobby as a whole. I do wonder about the lack of advertising portraying the merits of the DVD. Kalmbach generally does a good job of advertising their products, so the silence on this item is baffling. Speculation! Ain’t it grand?
Tom
How long does the DVD run? 60 minutes? 90 minutes? Or what?
Oooooh, this sounds neat, I wonder if i’ll be sent one.
Joe, the last look at the clock and just before the end was 1 hour 27 minutes.
REX
Okay, thanks REX.
That is a real bargain for $9.95.
Joe:
Yes, it is well worth the price. Keep in mind that it is about evenly divided into layout visits, prototypical operations, and instruction. It is very informative and enjoyable to watch, but does not concentrate long in any one area of instruction…a little of this and that.
REX
Rex,
Thanks for the info. Sounds like a very enjoyable idea this DVD thing. Of course there’s nothing wrong with “a little of this and that.” Sometimes all it takes is “a little” to get me interested in a topic that I would probably have skipped if I had to read volumes and volumes.
While I certainly would applaud such an effort and be quick to acknowledge its value to the modelling community, I have to wonder just what sort of “publishing” schedule such an enterprise could currently hope to have…quarterly, semi-annual? I certainly wouldn’t think it possible to do it as a monthly without enormous effort and expanded staff. Even then, I would expect it to require a considerable backlog of material be readily available before the first “official” issue was ever burned and sent to subscribers. Sounds very much like a “test the waters” project to me…which would also explain the lack of advertisement regarding it.
CNJ831