This paper mill scene by Mike Confalone is the April MRH cover story (yes, that's next month's issue). Mike sent us 2 hours of raw video footage with his article, which was just too much for the magazine. We couldn't stand the thought of letting much of this excellent how-to video footage end up on the cutting room floor, so we decided to make this special DVD available.

Mike's scenery modeling techniques have to be seen to be believed. They're amazingly simple yet effective, as this photograph testifies. This is a must get DVD for your video library if you want to take your scenery modeling to the next level.

I actually prefer the downloadable version, but when will either be made available?

Planned release date is April 9th for both the DVD and the downloadable version. I actually prefer the downloadable as well, but some people prefer DVDs, so we're accommodating them, as long as you don't wait around.

Producing physical media is expensive, so by doing limited run DVDs, we can get the costly physical media out of the way quickly and move on.

We're moving to limited-run DVDs to start the process of moving to downloadable-only in time. For our current DVD titles, once we have all of them available as downloadable, we will be stopping production and only offer downloadable.

Put me on the unofficial pre order list for the download.   The thing I like about the download option is I don't have to wait for the mailman to get here.

It also sounds like there may be some thing else in the pipe for this route so that maybe another plus for us!

Steve

The preorders of this DVD are rolling in! Reserve your copy - we won't charge your card until the video actually ships on or around April 9th.

Our preference is to do just downloadable videos, but we've decided to also do a limited run of 1000 DVDs for those who prefer DVDs.

It's just easier for us to do a block of DVDs all in one shot and then be done with them than to try keeping a DVD title in stock, paying office help week in and week out to keep shipping out a few DVDs, etc.

So if you are a DVD person, don't wait too long if you want this excellent video in your modeling how-to library.

By the way, Mike's layout is in the 2012 Model Railroad Planning - great reboot on his layout plan!

This is a ton of scenery how-tos in one video - running time is almost 3 hours! There's a LOT of stuff you can use on this video ...

Count me in for a download! Can't wait for the next issue.

I hope he shows his snow techniques. I took some notes from a clinic he gave but would love to see it in action.

Chris

Yes, there will be an HD version for the downloadable. Will be $12.99 instead of the $9.99 DVD format price. Mobile format (smartphones) will be $7.99.

And yes, he covers his snow modeling techniques in the video. I can't believe how darn simple the melting snow piles technique is. Yet the result is stunning. The guy's techniques are just amazingly effective - that's why we couldn't pass up putting all this great video into a DVD / video download set.

And as you can see, this is volume 1. Mike's already discussing more articles and video projects with us. I for one, can't wait to see more from Mike.

Will it be locked in any way?  I would like to burn it to my own blu-ray disks.  So I can watch them on my Flat screen TV.

Count me in for a DVD.  I have your complete set and find them well worth the expense.

Downloadable video files are not locked. Burn them to whatever you like, as long as it's for personal use.

Put me down for a copy of the DVD Joe.

How about PayPal as a payment option though?

Thanks.

Okay Kevin, Paypal added as a payment option.

Can you please post here when the download ver is ready for us?

Steve

Downloads and DVD both available on or near April 9th.

The anticipation is going to kill me waiting for what looks to be a "model railroad, must have" resource!  The almost a month wait is far to long!....... 

Joe I think this DVD & Download are going to be extremely successful!  That DVD cover scenery is just amazing!

Jas...

...Joe.  The ad at  the top says this DVD is $29 but here you say "...Will be $12.99 instead of the $9.99 DVD format price...".  Typo?  Thanks...............BTW, count me in...!

Peter

I suspect the 12.99 is for HD download vs 9.99 DVD DL. I think the 29.99 is for the 'hard' dvd.

Chris

Peter as I read it -

A DVD that comes in the mail - $29.99  (waiting on the snail man - although MTV has GREAT Shipping)

DVD format that you download $9.99  (plus NO WAITING)

HD format that you download $12.99  (plus NO WAITING)

I'll be getting the download version - my ability to wait & patience is worse than Jason's!

Steve

Yep, Steve got it.

Physical DVD that gets shipped to you: $29.95. Only doing 1000 of these.

Instantly available download:

DVD format (856 x 480 pixels): $9.99

HD format (1280 x 720 pixels): $12.99

Mobile format (428 x 240): $7.99 (great for smartphones)

Here's a size comparison chart on the downloads. This chart shows the video image full sized.

For a video this long (3 hours), we split it into chapters and each chapter is about the size shown on the chart in the link above.

We're talking about 15 or so files of this size, so if you get the HD version, it will take you about 40 hours to download everything at typical broadband speed (less if you have a really fast connection). You can probably download the full DVD file collection in about 10 hours, and the mobile video version will take you just over two hours to download it all.

Video files are huge, so you need to be patient - we're talking 3 hours of video here, so it will take a while to download!

If you're still on dialup, then get the DVD. Even the mobile version will take you almost 24 hours to download on dialup, which is not my idea of fun.

With files this large, I recommend you buy and use an internet download manager - it will allow you to schedule downloads to happen while you sleep - and if a download dies partway through, it will allow you to restart where you left off instead of having to start over. An IDM typically costs about $30 and they're worth every penny if you want hassle-free downloading of large files.

An ftp link would be nice.

........thanks.  Wow I had no idea how many zeros and ones there are in a 3 hour video!!  Boggles the early Sunday morning mind?!

DVD mailed for me.  I know Patty at MTV well after my Ion-Generator project-good people.

Peter

An ftp link would be nice.

Ditto here. I'll be going for the HD download. FTP is designed for file transfers (hence the name, "File Transfer Protocol"). And with free FTP clients such as FileZilla, there is no need for a download manager, it is built in.

Please?

This Outside the Box sure looks to be a good one but................

I've got stacks and stacks of DVDs I don't need anymore, so I'll wait for the Download.

Ed Ursem

I'm just back from vacation, so I'm a little late to the party but count me in (HD download).  Looks like there's only a pre-order for physical DVD's, correct?

Also, is using Filezilla an option for this download, or is that something MRH has to set up?

Yes, preorder for the physical DVD only, since it's a limited run of 1000. If you want the DVD, I wouldn't wait too long, they're selling about twice as fast as we expected, so they're not going to last.

We'll make as many of the downloads as people want (wink and grin).

Joe any chance you would consider a subscriber perk of an early download?  Say a week or so (April 1st maybe) before the "general public" can get it?  I'm guessing by then it will have to be ready so you can start burning the 1000 "highly collectable" and 'limited edition" hard copy DVDs - which are going like hot cakes in the pre order. 

Maybe a stepped release?  DVD quality on April 1st to get the bulk of the folks in and out, the HD version on the 2nd for the bulk of the band width needed for them to help band width over load that  has to be coming

Also I'm sure it would look good in the weekly MRH e mailer.

Anyway, just a thought

Steve

Hi Joe,

I'd be more interested in the downloadable version.  Will it be less expensive than the dvd one?

Thank you,

Vianney Roge

France

France,

Here's a quote from Joe that is earlier in this post:

"

Yes and yes

Yes, there will be an HD version for the downloadable. Will be $12.99 instead of the $9.99 DVD format price. Mobile format (smartphones) will be $7.99.

And as you can see, this is volume 1. Mike's already discussing more articles and video projects with us. I for one, can't wait to see more from Mike.

Joe Fugate
Publisher, Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine"

Hope this helps answer your question.

Rick

I'll Take one of the 1000 DVD's is it in the MRH store for pre order?

Dan

Ok I've paid for my DVD pre order, this is going to be a great Spring.

Hurry Guys if you want the DVD it looks like the 1000 hard copies may be gone before they even ship the first copy out.

Is Paypal a payment option? Interested in the HD  downloadable version. :)

TedM,

From earlier in this same thread posted by Joe: 

"

Okay, Paypal added

Okay Kevin, Paypal added as a payment option.

Joe Fugate
Publisher, Model Railroad Hobbyist magazine"

Rick

Preorder is for the limited run DVD, and it's selling about twice as fast as expected and now looks to sell out swiftly. If you're a DVD person and you'd like one of these for your library, don't sit on this.

For the downloadable versions, we're not doing a preorder because we'll make as many of those as needed (wink) ...

Short 1.5 min preview of Mike's late spring parking lot weathering from the new video ...
Full video is almost 3 hours of techniques like this!

I ordered my copy on DVD..Can't wait!I was and still am totally blown away by the Art work for the cover of the DVD,Since i am in the progress of building a "Full-size" switching layout,I could help but be in total awe of the scenery detail.That's what i'm going for when i start building the scenery.Looks Awesome!!!

I would like to see a DVD produced of this layout in operation,that'd be cool,I'd buy it!

I am so excited about the new video and with the weekend almost here and I am wondering if there is any possible chance the downloadable version might be available early.

Thanks so much, Joe

Gary

Expecting the downloadable will be available tomorrow.

You are the man!!! Thanks so much...

Gary

I can't seem to find where to purchase the download version of the video.

Is it available already?

Downloadable will be available later tonight.

The biggest problem is the upload time - it takes over 6 hours just to upload all these video files. Download will be faster, and you generally won't be doing all three versions - Mobile, DVD, and HD!

Still uploading ... with about 40% still to go - and it's past our bed time ... looks like sometime tomorrow. Sorry, this is the first time we've released an entire new video (3 hours long at that) and we've forgotten how slow uploading all these huge video files can be.

A couple of the HD chapters are each almost a gig in size all by themselves ...

Well there goes my plans for tonight.

You keep loading and we'll keep waiting.   I'm sure it is more than worth the wait.  Besides, we are still getting the download a day earlier than was expected.

Be sure to spend a little time with the family and not too much time babysitting the upload.

Steve

It has got to feel great knowing so many of us are breathlessly awaiting the new video! Hopefully soon the upload will be finished...

Gary

We've posted some MRH reader buy now downloadable links here!

It's The 16 th have you started shipping the DVD's yet?

Dan

DVD started shipping on April 9, but please allow up to 2 weeks for your order to ship.

Yes we do have DVDs left, we've sold about a third of the limited run already and the video's just been out 9 days as of this post.

Of course, the downloadables will be available indefinitely, and they're cheaper, too.

Received my copy a acouple of weeks ago and I watched through the chapters in leisure paice. I recomend this DVD to anyone who are to scenic their layout!

Ollie Ahokas

Orsa Sweden

Joe.....

I am interested in owning one of these DVD's.  Is there any left and how do I order one.

I would be paying with a Discover Card.

I think your magazine is great!!

Thanks

Rich