Here is what is in store for you in this issue.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.598960213474591.1073741828.287129054657710&type=1 (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.598960213474591.1073741828.287129054657710&type=1)
By now some of you guys should have received your book. I hope the ones going overseas don't take too long to arrive and are undamaged. One reader in the U.S. already received a book the post office mangled. I am so glad to say goodbye to the U.S. Postal Service! -- Russ
Hi Russ,
When will it be available for download?
I'm looking forward to the new issue.
Frithjof
I don't know , just as it starts getting good he goes and ends it . Some people have no sense of timing .
No sign in the UK , but that is no surprise . Hope to get mine next week
Nick
Wish I had one. *sniff* I assume it will be available in digital format at some point or I want the actual rag. NOW! Ok, guess I will have to search out a source. Supposedly this is one helluva damn incredable fantas... ok, of a really good rag for those of us who LOVE MODELS!
Max still in MI
Got mine last Thursday and I can't put it down.
It's incredible.
One of the best issues ever done.
I'll miss waiting to get my copies next year.
Got mine on Thursday!!!
Jerry
Check your hard copies. Mine arrived safe and in its polybag on Saturday but it ends at page 98. According to the ToC, Chapter 10 begins on page 98. The entire Chapter 11 and the advertiser section are missing. (There are no missing pages at the beginning.) I contacted Westlake Publishing and was told that there are no extra copies. Don't printers usually have an overage for spoilage, etc.?
I was offered the digital version but a complete hard copy of the 2013 Modelers' Annual is what I prefer. :(
Matt
This issue is milestone in the subject of model building. Bravo!
I've thoroughly enjoyed all the annuals, and the Modeler's Annuals have always been the best modeling magazines I've ever seen. But this issue tops them all, and I'm not just saying it because I'm in it. :)
Mine turned up on Friday. Russ you really finished this series with a great grouping of articles that cover all manner of modelling. Hats off to you Russ.
I agree, this one is exceptional. Having also seen the digital version, I enjoyed the real thing more. Not a quality isue at all, I just still like thumbing through a real rag.
So when will the hobby shops get there's in??
I got mine a couple of days ago. I am honored to be part of the last hard copy. It's nice being surrounded by pages filled with all of those great models.
Long before I ever had my first article published I picked up the annuals at my local hobby store. Compared to the other publications, it always had the highest quality works of art.
Don
so what is the release date? will there be a Hollywood release party, with a red carpet? Celebrities, media, and web hosting???
Or better yet just tell us when we can down load it, or,........what about a link, ooooooh yea a link
MPH
Gil,
Already happened. You missed it!
(https://www.finescalerr.com/smf/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.co.uk%2Fblogs%2Fmagazinemonitor%2Fmardi.595.jpg&hash=3245c522233246c7ad360728293874a731c94037)
And, after the activities in Marc's image, there will be a funeral at which all attendees will get very drunk and dance on my grave.
Thanks to everybody who has commented on the current book. Please give 30% of the credit to Marc for taking the trouble to put together the amazing talent who contributed to the book, 60% of the credit to yourselves for your outstanding artistry and for taking the trouble to create the articles. I'll take the remaining 10% for merely organizing the work.
Gil (and others): The digital version should be available within a couple of weeks. I need to prepare and upload the artwork for the home page and my web guru then must find time to get it online. The PDF will be ready for download when you see the new Modelers' Annual artwork on the homepage.
Russ
Darn!
I hate it when that happens!!!!!
MPH
Hobby store had it it in today.
Being the last physical one, I feel kinda bad I didn't try to get something into it. Ah, well.
It's already in stores? Wow. It shipped a month early. -- Russ
That's what I thought. I always remember it not showing up until December.
Quote from: finescalerr on November 05, 2013, 02:08:10 AM
The PDF will be ready for download when you see the new Modelers' Annual artwork on the homepage.
Russ
Russ, I ordered the PDF version, but I can't download it!
It does not work ... ??? >:( ::) ::)
Franck
Picked up my copy at my LHS this afternoon ;D.... Russ, this is one Great Annual.
Wow.....just fantastic! What a Grande Finale ::) ::).
I do have most of the Fine Scale mags. and of course all the Annuals, but this is the one! Salute to Russ and all the guys who contributed.
Anders
Even though I live in Po-Dunk (BFE) for some of you not familiar with Po-Dunk term
MLHS has tons of the 2013 Annuals and they also have handfuls of back issues. So even though it may sound crazy?
if there's one of you campers who can't live without a hard copy email me off list and I will see if I can't help you, otherwise I plan to buy them all and save them like fine wine and sell them for millions on ebay some day! Because it's the best annual ever built! congratulations to all the contributors and to you Russ for a great issue.
MPH
gflores1099@yahoo.com
BFE AKA Po-Dunk Idaho, U.S.A.
Gill, I to thought of buying all the copy's at my LHS so no one else could get one ::) and make big BUCKS selling them on E-bay. ;D ;)
Ran over to my local HS a couple of days ago and picked up the Modelers Annual. What a beautiful way to go out. Simply superb photos and test. Took it along to a medical waiting room, and some folks sitting close by saw little bits of it, and then moved over into chairs right next to me and engaged me in conversations regarding the contents, modeling in general, etc. None of them were modelers in any way and had never been, but exhibited a sincer interest and admiration for the work shown.
My congrats to Russ, and all you guys on the Forum who I've some to know over the years! I look forward to the next digital stage of publication!
Dave
just had a look at thr preview.
just the best looking modelling around pity it is the last.
kind regards kim
Russ - During one of the clinics at the Fine Scale Structure Show this weekend, a comment was made about the fact that your publication had just completed it's last hard copy. That was followed by a groan from the group of railroad guys who said that your book was the last American publication for modelers that was any good.
Don
How disappointing. I would have preferred a groan from a stadium full of beautiful girls in thong bikinis (each eager to cater to my every whim) sorry to enjoy less access to the world's cutest publisher.
Less seriously, and to put Westlake Publishing in context, I've heard that some guys on the RRLine Forum were rather pleased to see the books go. Indeed, some apparently were glad to see ME go ... and I don't even know them! At least 80-percent of Gazette readers couldn't care less. Roughly 99.7 of the model railroad hobby overall didn't even know the books exist.
Remember, those of us who post on the forum number only two or three dozen. While you guys may be the most talented and intelligent modelers on the planet, none of us is statistically relevant. We are square pegs.
Or, as my jazz mentor asked with a mischievous cackle 35 years ago, "Do you ever get the feeling you're 'out of step'?"
Russ
The girls are next weekend for a different kind of "model" convention.
Don
Russ,
If you are going to continue with any type of digital mag or articles...and really want to appeal to a wider audience, I think you need to have your "guy" change the meta-text on the website, because it talks WAAAAY to much about model railroading and prototype model railroads....and this text shows when the site is linked to social media sites:
"Westlake Publishing Company - Prototype and Modeling Information for All Scales - Superior Books...
www.finescalerr.com
Westlake Publishing's Annuals cover prototype railroads and all model railroad scales. Stunning photography of the world's best scale models, dioramas, and layouts."
.......and this may alienate and confuse much of the rest of the modeling community that you are trying to reach.
In short.....if the model RR guys don't care for you...why is your site pandering to them?
Remember, all this began as a model railroad magazine. It has only recently and very gradually begun to include other kinds of modeling.
But your point is valid: Now that railroad related subjects are merely one facet of my preference to support modeling in general, I need to modify my artwork. (That text is art, not html text.) At this point I might take some delight in alienating some train guys more than I have in the past!
But I need to attract more female models ... and I can't attend next weekend's east coast "different kind of 'model' convention." Nuts!
Russ
Pretty sure that text is HTML..it is part of the site meta-text....it's in the background encoding, and what identifies and helps describe the site n a search engine,....that is why it pops up in links as the description. Unfortunately I changed my OS, and in this version have not figured out how to view the html of a site/page, otherwise I could do a screen capture of it.
Quote from: marc_reusser on November 11, 2013, 02:07:19 AM
Pretty sure that text is HTML..it is part of the site meta-text....it's in the background encoding, and what identifies and helps describe the site n a search engine,....that is why it pops up in links as the description. Unfortunately I changed my OS, and in this version have not figured out how to view the html of a site/page, otherwise I could do a screen capture of it.
... you're talking 'bout the META NAMES/TAGS ... ?!
... et voilà ...
Russ,
Forget it ;D ;D ;D....female models have already been done and dropped by the A.K. Interactive "Weathering Magazine". Now they are featuring male models >:(.
How about some talented female MODELERS for the digital publication? Here´s a couple of very talented girls.
Emma Persson, Sweden. Science Fiction, Aircraft & much more.
Britt Persson, Sweden. Civilian Dioramas
Kathy Milllat, U.K. Railroading & Dioramas
I´m sure there are many more out there that I´m not aware of.
Anders
P.S. Forgot the "Paper Ship Girl" from Hungary? that posted here.
I'm all for good modellers of either sex! As long as we don't have to pose tastefully with our models strategically placed...
I'm honoured to be included in the list but not sure I'm up there with many of the modellers on this forum.
That reminds me, I must take some better photos and post what I have been up to.
Still waiting for the Modellers Annual to hit UK shores.
Kathy
Quote from: Junior on November 11, 2013, 02:27:27 AM
Anders
P.S. Forgot the "Paper Ship Girl" from Hungary? that posted here.
Doris
It didn't reach the French ones either, Kathy...
But the pics on the website are quite exciting (more than Russ' thongs...).
Frederic, how could you possibly think such a thing? Go stand in the corner! -- ssuR
Quotemore than Russ' thongs...
French knikkers ?????? ;)
Sometimes things that I think are so deep I can't understand them myself. Must be one of these times...
OK, OK I go to the corner...
Jacq, that sounds quite ascetic compared to Russ' Grande vie...
Well the annual hit the UK shores, think my postman wanted to read it first :)
Been waiting over a year now to read how Ray did his " styrene to wood" but it's been worth the wait,absolutely fabulous ;D
I agree, Ray's wood painting is spectacular.
It hit France too. A perfect achievement.
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
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
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
Russ,
did you ever consider something like "book-on-demand"?
http://www.book-on-demand.de/ (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
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.
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!
I've thoroughly enjoyed the annuals.
Thank you Russ.
Jaime
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.
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
http://youtu.be/z5tZMDBXTRQ (http://youtu.be/z5tZMDBXTRQ)
Huh, memory wasn't far off.
Quote from: finescalerr on November 16, 2013, 01:48:50 PM
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!!!!! ;D
Jerry
Finally(?) it hit Germany. Was worth all efforts ;D. I really enjoyed (and again enjoy) all the articles. And I'm very happy to have made it into the last printed one.
Volker
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.
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
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
Received mine here in New Zealand last Friday - thanks Russ.
With an accompanying glass of Merlot and a comfy chair it was a wonderful piece of relaxation after 6 weeks in Greece, Dubai and Turkey with SWMBO and what seemed like a million other tourists, crazy taxi drivers, donkey, camels and street hawkers.
To be honest it was a big fix of quality modelling, writing, photography and publishing following going cold turkey for that time without any modelling.
SWMBO said it probably did me some good. Jury is out on that though.
A great closing anthem.
Russell