Confessions of a Mediocre Modeler - Now Available On CD! (See Below)

Regardless, I love building model railroads and (despite my limitations) I've somehow managed to put together a number of them over the years. No, I don't build grandiose wooden benchwork, I don't hand-lay track, I don't sculpt and carve majestic mountain ranges, I don't plot and plan every bush, rock and blade of grass, I don't scratchbuild magnificent structures, I don't model "prototypes". Hell, I don't even "operate" my railroads - I just like to watch my trains run around in circles. In short, I am a mediocre modeler.

The good news is that the model railroading industry has come a long way in the past thirty-some years, and there are now many quick and easy short-cuts designed for the great mediocre majority. Even limited modelers such as myself can now stumble along and somehow cobble together model railroads that are, well... I dunno... Adequate? Respectable? Not completely laughable?

Yep! These massively entertaining (and marginally informative) layout-building blogs are now available on CD-ROM! Sure, all you'll get is exactly what you're getting now (for free). But hey, nothing on the internet lasts forever - so secure your own personal "forever" copy today! With a CD you'll be able to peruse these timeless missives anytime and anyplace (up to and including that next interminable flight to God knows where). Better still - no more frustrating time-outs while my ISP debates whether or not it's up to the task of downloading all those fantastically gorgibeautious pictures!

Here's what some happy customers might be heard to opine some day -

- "Trains running around in circles? Now that's what I'm talkin' about!"

- "Mediocre?! Pshaw! This guy is every bit the equal of Gern Blanston, Art Vandelay or even Cal Varnson!"

- "I've always wanted to know how to spend a year building a model railroad and then sell it for half what it cost to build! And now... I know!"

- "Apart from all that blue water, these are some moderately unembarassing layouts!"

- "If it weren't so funny, it'd be kind of sad. But fortunately, it really is funny!"

So, what do you get? Well, I already told you; everything you see right here - IE, all of my layout construction blogs (up to and including the most recently completed one). All the pretty pictures, all the semi-literate text, and all in simple .html format (suitable for viewing with your favorite internet browser - just like you're doing right now). And all on one fantabulous CD!

But wait, there's more!

I'll also include (at no extra charge) my soon-to-be-massively-lauded "How To Build A Low-Voltage Lighting Circuit" article. Yes, you too will be able to enslave yourself to your layout, forever doomed to wiring up ever more frustratingly tiny lightbulbs hither and yon!

Not satisfied yet?

Oh... Well, sorry. 'Cuz really, that's it.

The cost is $25. And my apologies if that seems high, but it just wouldn't be worth my time otherwise Burning CD's, scrounging up packaging, staggering down the post office? Not my idea of a fun time. But hey, look at it this way - you'll be funding my next layout! Although having said that, don't feel like you can show up at my door and actually walk out with a small chunk of model railroad (my high priced lawyers insisted that I toss that in).

Shipping within the United States and Canada is free (or at least included in the $25). Shipping for Non-US and non-Canada folks is $5. My preferred form of payment is credit card or PayPal. This can be accomplished by clicking one of the magic "Buy Now" buttons below and following the instructions (you do not need to have a PayPal account to do this - just click on the "Buy Now" button and then click on the "Don't Have A PayPal Account" link if you don't have a PayPal account). Others wishing to use more primitive forms of payment will need to contact me via email and plead their case.

If you live in this US or Canada, use this button ($25)

If you don't live in the US or Canada, use this button ($30)

And so, you've surrendered your $25 and actually received the CD. Now what? Well, if you're not already way ahead of me, don't worry about it. It ain't rocket surgery. First, stick the CD into your CD drive. Chances are that at this point you'll be presented with the contents of the CD. And if not, just start up whatever system utility your computer offers for viewing files on a disc ("Windows Explorer" on Windows, for example). Once you've figured out how to view the contents of the disc, simply double-click on the file named "index.html" and you'll be off and running (your preferred internet browser will fire up with the main "Mediocre Modeler" index page). This CD is suitable for both Windows and Macintosh users (I know this, 'cuz I tried it out on both types of systems).

And if you're truly computer impaired and can't manage to figure out how to get things rolling, well... I first have to ask myself how you've managed to conjure up this page in the first place. But in any event, just send me an email and we'll get it all sorted out. No worries.