The Roving Reporter Photo Collection (CD) – Mick Thornton reports with Good News!

Volume 3 is available at last!

I am pleased to be able to announce that, after a delay of 2 years, and over 6 months after a notice was published in 009 News that it was “nearly ready”, Volume 3 of the Roving Reporter Photo Collection is indeed now completed and is at last available!

The first two volumes of the Photo Collection covered photos of narrow gauge layouts and models that I took during my visits to model railway shows over a period between 1997 and 2003. The two CD’s contained over 2800 photos in total, with supporting text that I had compiled in the form of offline websites and were intended to be viewed on PC systems as electronic books. The success of these CD’s encouraged me to continue from where Volume 2 finished and to keep the same successful style and format. The latest Volume 3 features 147 different layouts photographed during 27 outings with my camera over the period 2004 – 2005 and a record total of over 2100 images – most of which are not blurred!

The CD is a “must” for all narrow gauge model railway enthusiasts; it provides not only an unequalled forum of modelling inspiration, but also an historical record of the best layouts that could be seen on the exhibition circuit during this period. All your favourite layouts and models are included – plus many more!

PLUS! – Volumes 1 and 2 were completed some years ago, using older PC technology and screen viewing resolutions that are now considered to be out of date. Accordingly, to give newcomers the chance to “catch up” and for those who have original Volumes an opportunity to upgrade, I have completely re-edited the coding of both the original Volumes, which are now also available as re-introduced Upgraded Editions.

Volume 1 (subtitled “The Jaggie” era) covers 1997 – mid 2002 and was taken on a first-generation very low resolution camera (hence the subtitle). The photo quality by today’s terms is very poor, but I have nevertheless achieved some improvements over the original by increasing the size on screen of both the images and the texts. You cannot make a silk purse out of a sows ear and you should not expect modern quality crisp photos from this Volume, but it does still provide over 1500 photos of the best layouts of the period, much of which is now historical.

Volume 2 covers late 2002 and 2003 and features approx 1300 photos taken using a good quality camera that was purchased for Roving Reporting duties by the 009 Society as well as the final reports being done using a professional quality digital camera that I bought for myself. I have improved over the original issue by re-editing all photos for balance and colour, and have increased the size of the texts, considerably enhancing the readability of the reports.

Despite inflation and rising postal costs, I have kept to my original pricing structure and Volume 3 is available for just £10, which includes UK post and packing. As a special offer I am also prepared to provide the Upgraded Editions of Volumes 1 and 2, when ordered with Volume 3, for ONLY £5 each. That is: Provided one of the CDs ordered is Volume 3, order 1 CD for £10, 2 for £15 or ALL 3 for £20.

The CDs are available by post only, please write your name and full address clearly when making your order, together with your specific instructions on which Volume(s) you require, plus of course the appropriate fee to:

Mick Thornton
Roving Reporter Photo Collection
12 St Leonards Avenue
Blandford Forum
Dorset. DT11 7NZ

All payments should be by cash or cheque drawn on a UK bank and in Sterling currency (GBP) payable to “MA Thornton”. Overseas customers are requested to include 2 x International Reply Coupons or sufficient extra money to cover the additional postal charge.

Please allow 14 days for delivery, although I do endeavour to respond by return of post.

Mick Thornton