2013 Modelers Annual

[BKLN]

I can only re-post my note from a couple of days ago:

"Russ,
I meant to write the following in a personal email, but I might as well share it with the rest of the crew. I don't want to get into the discussion of how the market has changed and all that, simply because there are a lot of things that I don't agree with. The most important point being, is that I don't believe that print media is dead at all.

And you have just delivered the most compelling and wonderful argument against your own point: This years Modelling Annual is probably the most amazing modeling magazine I have ever owned. I am not a train guy, and I subscribed to your publications late in the game, and only because of this forum. But the features in this issue are unrivaled by any thing I have seen in the market. Ever. Usually, there might be one or two highlights in a magazine, but this one has killer articles from the first to the last page. This is EXACTLY the publication and "year book" that this forum needs. Barely anything in there was news to me. Anybody who follows the forum has seen at least some parts of the featured projects, but the overall compilation is absolutely outstanding. Or with your own words, quiet satisfactory.

This issue reminds me of the times before the internet, when magazines and books were my key source of inspiration. Every once in while I would find a good book or magazine that opened a new world to me: One single magazine could inspire me for weeks and trigger new projects and ideas. I would read it over and over. This is what you have brought back to me today! Thank you, Russ!

I hope that feedback like this will encourage you to continue to publish a year book, without the stress of a regular production schedule. There is no doubt that Westlake Publishing has to adapt to the market changes, but you just offered a nice glimpse of what it could be."

Christian

[Hydrostat]

Christian,

I agree with you. Print isn't dead und probably won't die. But there's a big problem concerning the limited edition for those specialized books or magazines. Low edition means high cost for the customer or small income for the publisher - or even worse: both. I even do agree more concerning reading a book or something online: reading online gets me tired, reading a book starts my attention.

Maybe there are some more possibilities in the new media than publishing a pdf file online, which is nothing else than a book set online.

Wherever this may lead (maybe there could be a year book online: If enough people like it and are willing to order, one could make a printed book afterwards), I'm happy to have a high quality magazine like this at all. Thanks, Russ.

Volker

[finescalerr]

Christian (and others), Volker and I have discussed this issue a little by e-mail. He is very knowledgeable about print, computer graphics, and all aspects of modeling.

No, print is not dead and I hope it never dies. The problem, as Volker says above, is the high cost of producing material that few people want. To make matters worse, I have stopped accepting ads so there is no way to offset the production overhead. While my remaining advertisers were dependable and honest, they were not representative of most hobby businesses. And the vast majority chose not to support my publications, even when I had a very wide circulation. I never want to deal with advertisers or the model train industry again -- especially the American narrow gauge "fraternity".

For what may remain of my publishing "career", I think paper is out of the question. I would have to charge about $60 or more for a 116 page softbound book and sales would number in the dozens. It would cost about $5 to $7 each, probably more, to print a short run of books ... plus postage or shipping. Add up the numbers and you will understand how that is a recipe for financial disaster.

Guys, as a modeler who has embraced paper as a construction medium, I have quite a fondness for the stuff. My late father and I have printed a lot of photos, too, with results usually exceeding those of traditional silver halide. Paper is great for all kinds of things. But not for my publishing efforts.

Paper most likely will be the medium for more enduring kinds of books: History, art, classic literature. The railroad history articles Mal Ferrell writes for me are perfect for paper. Modeling articles, no matter how timeless the model, fall into the same transitory category as news, sports, monthly special interest magazines, and typical novels. As time passes I expect to see most of those become digital only and paper will be reserved for limited and special edition publishing.

Yesterday I spoke at length with a guy who manufactures limited edition laser cut, photo etched, and/or cast resin kits. He and his associates have embraced 3-D CAD, 3-D printing, and whatever other cutting edge technology apply to their products. They already know the days of paper as an everyday print medium are numbered, as do I. We know because we're "in the trenches".

I keep trying to explain this and some of you keep resisting. Unfortunately what you or I may prefer simply doesn't matter. Money has become the bottom line for everything in today's world. Those who resist will be trampled or cast aside by progress. Believe me, I'm as old fashioned about music as some of you guys are about modeling or printing. We're all out of luck. Really. And it frustrates me to no end.

Russ

[mad gerald]

Russ,

did you ever consider something like "book-on-demand"?

http://www.book-on-demand.de/

Seems you act (still) as an author/publisher, upload your files (even pdf), calculate (i.e. choose softcover or hardcover) and place a printing order, matching the exact number of books (pre-)ordered ... no matter, if it's going to be 1 copy, 20 copies or 100 copies ...

May be, this will enable you to combine your offered downloadable PDF with the request for a printed version ... ?!  

Cheers

[marc_reusser]

There are online publisher/distributors, such as 'Pocket Mags', that already have all systems in place to make online mags digitally available, and have a wide market distribution/presence. They have a basic charge per issue, as well as a percentage of each magazine sold. (the old AK interactive mag for instance, was handled by them) These companies have apps that are downloadable, for mac, pc, or Android, so that the mags can quickly and easily be purchased through existing online payment accounts (IE google play store, paypal, etc). I have suggested this to Russ previously, as possibly being a good option, the issue of course is covering the initial cost to the distributor. The benefit of suing someone like this is that they have athat large presence, and people are familiar with them, and while searching for sim. mags, people would also run across this one.....the hope of course is that that would lead to enough sales, to cover the initial cost paid to the publisher. No paper involved, no tree's harmed.

[BKLN]

Russ,
thanks for your thorough answer!

On-demand publishing would indeed by a very interesting alternative, even for a year book. I have printed books with blurb.com before. The supply the InDesign layout, so there are no bad surprises. The quality is excellent!

[nemmrrc]

I've thoroughly enjoyed the annuals.

Thank you Russ.

Jaime

[Bexley]

Fine! I'm gonna make my OWN annual then! But it'll be better! With blackjack! And hookers! In fact, forget the annual and the blackjack. Aw, screw the whole thing.

[finescalerr]

I'm with Bexley. "Screw the whole thing." It's really no fun at all to create a book. It consists of weeks of meticulous, tedious, fatiguing photo modification, editing and rewriting, page layout, and even analysis about the order of chapters. When I finish a book I don't want to think about models, go to meets, or do any other related activity. I need a total change of focus.

While I truly and deeply appreciate your positive feelings about the books, even the idea of tossing together a digital article is sort of unpleasant right now.

So bikini girls, fine cognac, and great music seem a rather more attractive alternative all the way around. And the less actual work I must do to create an article, the more likely it becomes that you will see one.

Russ

[Bexley]

http://youtu.be/z5tZMDBXTRQ

Huh, memory wasn't far off.

[TRAINS1941]

I'm with Bexley. "Screw the whole thing." It's really no fun at all to create a book. It consists of weeks of meticulous, tedious, fatiguing photo modification, editing and rewriting, page layout, and even analysis about the order of chapters. When I finish a book I don't want to think about models, go to meets, or do any other related activity. I need a total change of focus.

While I truly and deeply appreciate your positive feelings about the books, even the idea of tossing together a digital article is sort of unpleasant right now.

So bikini girls, fine cognac, and great music seem a rather more attractive alternative all the way around. And the less actual work I must do to create an article, the more likely it becomes that you will see one.

Russ

Wow it sounds like you don't want to do another book!!!!!

Jerry

[Hydrostat]

Finally(?) it hit Germany. Was worth all efforts  . I really enjoyed (and again enjoy) all the articles. And I'm very happy to have made it into the last printed one.

Volker

[Mike Engler]

I'm almost through the Modelers' Annual for the third time, and though I'm para-phrasing a comment I've seen here a couple of times, it is indeed the most incredible publication I own. Cover-to-cover the content is consistently at the highest level I have seen. If that is the last print version, Mr. Russ has gone out with a very loud bang.

The variety of modeling done is far ranging, and while I enjoyed all the "chapters" and the art therein, my favorite is Marc's cover article. The model and how he built it was as entertaining, informative, and visually attractive as such a piece can be.

I was left wanting one more how-to: How he detailed and weathered the blue wooden doors? Is there another thread that contains additional information? The faded and peeling paint is as good as I have seen.

Like Don Railton, I also attended the Finescale Expo last week in Pittsfield MA, and I presented a clinic and mentioned the Modelers' as a resource. The discussion and everything I heard later was highly complimentary, and that the books will sorely be missed.

Hearty congratulations to Russ and all the contributors for a job done as well as I can imagine. With that kind of talent we can be certain they will entertain us again in some medium or format. Makes me damn proud I got to be in one last year.

[kathymillatt]

Hiya

I've given up waiting for my supplier to get a paper copy in so have downloaded it.

It's a brilliant read. I thoroughly enjoyed the content and the quality is excellent.

I will miss it but know that when the time has come to pull the plug, it's best to go out on a high!

Kathy

[PhilMorrow]

Got my copy Down-Under this past week. It was waiting for me when I got home from three days of business travel, Thursday night.
Looks fabulous but I could only breeze through it briefly till today.
My heartfelt thanks to Russ for his effort and perseverance over these years. Just plain, bloody great stuff.
Russ, You are to be respected for the taking the difficult action you have.
My thanks to all who have ever contributed as well.

Regards
Phil Morrow